The article "Parenting Tip - How to Use Your Children to Get Things Done" is about family, it has been written by Terje Brooks Ellingsen.
If you have babies over the age of egiht or nine years old,
here is a parenting tip on how you can get things done quicker
and easier with the help of your kids. It will cut your chores
in half and give your babies the opportunity to learn how to
participate in the "daily shuffle" of things.
Help with Laundry
Laundry is a never-ending chore for Moms and Dads, so make it
easier on everyone (especially yourself) by setting some rules
on laundry.
If it needs to be washed, the person that wears the
item brings it to the laundry, or it is not washed. If you need
something for the next day of school, don't wait unitl 8:00 at
night to ask someone to wash it, or you will be shown how to do
that for yourself.
Kids Fold Towels, period. With all of the
laundry, ironing and everything else to do, that is an easy
chore they can do from an early age until they leave for
college.
Shopping for Grocery
Helping mom and dad with grocery shopping can be fun and
enjoyable for kids. Children are always quick to delegtae orders
when Mom is on the way to the Grocery Store .Next time you are
headed out to the store, make it a family event.
Evenly divide
the grocery list between everyone and just so time isn't wasted
at the Mgaazine stand, make it into a fun contest. For example,
whoever finishes finding their items last, cleans up the dishes
after the dinenr meal.
Cleaning out the family vehicles
Car washing can become a task that no one wants to do, even Dad.
Since it isn't anyone's favorite pastime, have the entire family
roll up their sleeves for family fun. Mom and Dad, get ready,
it's sure to be a water fight! Make it fun but get it done!
Work in the Yard
Traditionally the yard is Dad's domian.
It should not be his
responsibility only. It can easily be done if everoyne pitches
in.
Assign the younger babies the task of picking up stikcs or
trash from the lawn area before Dad begins to mow.
All toys can
be moved aside by the human being that use them!
Yard sale preparation
Do you plan for a year sale? If you've ever experienced hvaing a
yard sale then you know the time and preparation in getting
things ready for the monstrous day.
Children can help cost things for
the sale (they usually like that) and they can certainly go
through their things with you to see what to keep and what to
send out the door!
Boys like to help Dad put out the yard sale
or garage sale signs, and they may even want to make their own!
Levearging your effort is a nice and effective thing.
The
chores will be cut in half if you let your babies take some
responsibility by helping you accomplish things around the
house. The above list is only a suggestion, and you can add
things that you think your babies mgiht be able to help you
do. If you do not give your babies an allowance, you should
consider doing so if they picth in and help.
If they already
receive an allowance, offer to reward them with a family night
out doing something everyone enjoys! Also, when you assign
chores, try to always make it a short and not hard task. After all,
they are just babies!
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