Families For Life | 5 Ways To Make Chores Fun For Kids
Do your kids drag their feet and complain at the mention of chores? While chores are a crucial part of our lives, it doesn’t mean that we enjoy doing them, even more so for our kids who just want to play. However, with a little creativity, chores can turn into fun tasks that teach valuable life skills minus the reasons to nag. They also offer you and your kids a chance to create fond memories and forge close family bonds. Let's explore effective and fun ways to motivate your kids to pitch in around the house!
Why Chores Matter For Kids
Besides the immediate benefit of a clean home, chores offer good moments to instill positive values like independence, responsibility, and accountability in your little ones. Kids pick up the value of teamwork and cooperation when working together with you on chores. They get to also learn practical life skills that will benefit them in their adult years.
5 Ways To Make Chores Fun
Before we share these 5 ways, there are some things to remember that can help your kids have a positive relationship with chores:
Ensure chores are age-appropriate. This is key to building their confidence and ensuring their safety! Younger kids can help with chores like picking up toys or replenishing a pet’s food bowl while older ones can try taking out the trash or putting away dishes.
Don’t expect things to be done perfectly. It can be hard to get chores right on the first try, so expect the same from your little ones! You can let your kids do chores in small steps first, then learn the rest later when they are more confident.
Give specific instructions. Rather than “clean your room”, which can be interpreted in many ways, suggest steps like “put away the toys on the floor” or “rearrange your pillows”. This gives your kids a clearer idea of what is expected of them when they do a specific chore.
Praise them frequently. Hearing your words of encouragement gives your kids the push they need to finish their chores.
Lead by example. Children perform best when they follow the people around them. Take charge of your own chores and your kids will do the rest!
With that, here are 5 ways to turn boring chores into a fun time!
1. Play music in the background
Turn up the tunes and turn chore time into a lively, energetic activity! Create a playlist of you and your kids’ favourite songs to keep spirits high while everyone pitches in.
2. Add some entertainment
Chores don’t always have to be done by the book. Spice it up by turning them into opportunities for play. For example, you can assign chores to sides of dice and get your kids to roll to decide who does what. Another way is to play pretend, such as being workers at a clothing store when folding laundry or hotel room service when making beds.
3. Set up a chore chart
Visualize chore time with a fun and colorful chart. Let kids track their completed tasks and earn rewards. It's a tangible way to celebrate their accomplishments and stay motivated.
4. Give them sole responsibilities
Kids like to feel special and important. You can help them feel this way by tweaking your request. For example, before you ask your child to water plants, you can start with “I have a special favour to ask that only you can do.”. They are more likely to take that chore more seriously, and feel a deep sense of responsibility for the “most important” jobs.
5. Make chores a family affair
Kids can feel like it is unfair if they are the only ones doing the dirty work. Setting aside some time a day for all family members to do their chores together can make the experience more enjoyable. Plus, it gives everyone a chance to spend time with each other and creates stronger family ties.
Chores don’t necessarily mean a boring, draggy experience for kids. All it takes is a little flair to turn them into fun, memorable family events. Remember to consistently cheer on your kids’ along the way, and occasionally try different approaches to introduce new chores to them. With this, you can nurture essential life skills in your children while keeping your home clean and tidy.