When kids hear that they need to do chores at home, there are a few different reactions that they might have. For those who enjoy keeping a clean room and staying organized, they often find that chores can be exciting. On the other hand, there are children who tend to shy away from chores and hide until the work is done by someone else in the home. Here are a few ways that you can make these tasks fun for your kids so that they want to help clean.
Play A Game
Instead of making chores seem like work, try to play games with your kids so that they can see that cleaning can be fun. See who can toss the most clothes into a hamper or how many toys can get into a box in a certain period of time. Set a timer to see who can clean their room the fastest. If you make chores a challenge so that kids can compete against each other, then they might begin to step in and help without being asked. While playing games, you can hide treats for your kids to find under laundry piles or toys.
Reward Systems
When your children show that they can complete their chores on their own or after being asked only one or two times, offer a reward. The rewards that you give should be age-appropriate and should go along with the chore completed as you don’t want to offer a movie night or money for something simple like picking up a piece of clothing. Another option would be to get awards from companies like Trophy Outlet so that each child receives a special gift for the skills that they demonstrate, such as helping with the laundry or organizing the bathroom.
Scavenger Hunt
Make separate lists of items for your kids to find in the home. Send your children throughout the home to find items that need to be put on shelves, in the hamper, in a toy box, or in the trash. The first one to complete the list can get a treat.
Cleaning Supplies
Make each child a cleaning tub. This is a small container that holds items that can be used in the bedroom or to help you with some of the larger chores including sweeping or dusting. You can also spend an afternoon letting each child personalize their containers with markers or stickers.
If children see that chores aren’t always considered a job that needs to be done, they will usually begin to complete them without being prompted over time. A few games can get your home clean and allow for spending time with your kids as well. After chores are complete, make sure your children know that they have done a good job with the work they have done.
