Chores, yuck! Nobody likes doing them, but they have to be done anyway. By making things a little more interesting, you can get your family to pitch in without begging. While it makes sense to assign specific chores to specific family members, a good way to mix things up is to allow each person to trade chores occasionally. A change of pace can help lighten things up and make completing chores a little less monotonous.
Another option is to make a game of it. Have each person begin a task and after a few minutes blow a whistle. When the whistle blows, everyone switches places and picks up where the other person left off (you can set a timer if you don’t have a whistle). It is simpler to keep things moving if you designate who is to trade positions with whom before beginning. This is a great way to get through those dreaded spring cleaning tasks.
It’s also a good idea to let kids trade a chore here and there with a sibling or even with Mom or Dad. If your daughter is sick of clearing the dinner table, she may prefer emptying the trash for a week instead. No one likes a monotonous routine, and household chores can quickly become drudgery for everyone. Stirring things up once in a while, gives everybody a chance to look forward to change.
You might also want to make a rule that allows each family member a free day, such as on his or her birthday. The rest of the family should then pitch in to take care of that person’s chores. Divide the chores as evenly as possible amongst everyone else. It’s really nice to get a break once in a while, particularly on a special day.
Give this idea a try. You might like the change as much as your kids do!