Tips for Delegating Household Chores among Kids

Delaying all the household works because busy with the kids? Let them help you! If you train the kids early with household chores, you’ll instil great habits in them that will last a lifetime and significantly cut down chore time. Here are some tips on how to distribute work among your little tots.

1. Make a Chore Board

Create a chore board in an area where everyone can see, like the kitchen area. Colour code the chores so everyone can keep track of their chores in a quick glance. Update the list weekly and try to rotate the work in an age-appropriate way to avoid boredom and so that nobody gets stuck cleaning the toilet week after week.

2. Let Them Help In the Kitchen

During mealtime, younger children can help bringing the ingredients and setting the table. Older kids help by packing lunches and with the weekly meal plan. If you’re lucky enough to have teens who are interested in cooking, train them and let them cook a meal on weekends. If you’re not, still let them help in the kitchen for some essential cooking basics.

3. Fix Their Own Room

Set a new rule: Everyone cleans his own bedroom. For your little ones, this could mean picking up their toys and putting them in a basket. For older kids, have them make the bed when they get up in the morning and put away their clothes. Teens can assist you with the bigger chores like vacuuming, dusting and folding and putting away of clothes.

4. Teach Them the Laundry Basics

This is an opportunity to teach your teens important skills when they decide to get their own apartment. Walk them through the basics, and then assign certain laundry tasks they can do. The younger kids can bring the clothes to the laundry and sort them by colour, while your teens can help with the washing.

5. Make It Fun

Chores for kids shouldn’t feel like work. Let this be an opportunity for you to bond and have fun with them. To make chores more fun, use a reward system. It doesn’t have to be in monetary rewards, it can be in a form of computer time, television time or edible treats.

Getting kids involved at home is beneficial to you and to your children. In addition to having cleaner abode, you’re training your kids for domestic duties and sense of responsibility, which will be beneficial later in their lives.