Tag Archives: chores

Quick and Easy Cleanup at the End of the Day

Home schooling kids is rewarding, but it can also be messy. Having children around the house all day long rather than away at school for six or more hours means that we need to clean up several times a day rather than just once. Parents are notorious for trying to be superheroes and tend to do everything themselves. Whether it’s vacuuming, doing dishes, laundry, or cleaning the cat box, it’s often easier to just do it ourselves rather than listening to the kids moan and groan. Not to mention, we often have to prod them a thousand times before they’ll … Continue reading →

Help, I’m Feeling Overwhelmed with Housework

Most of the time my home is in company-ready condition. It is far from a showcase or spotless, but I can usually open the door to unexpected company without too much embarrassment and at worse, a dish or two in the sink, a couple of toys on the playroom floor, or some mail sitting neatly in the foyer. Today I can’t say that at all. There are toys strewn all over the living room, along with a shopping bag full of presents for a birthday party we are attending, two garbage bags full of boys clothes that were generously given … Continue reading →

Chore Wars: A New Way to Do Housework

Is there a way to making cleaning more fun? When I first heard of Chore Wars, I admit that I was a little skeptical. Sure, it might be effective for a day or two, but would it really have any long-term effect on the housework? In this blog post, I’ll share information about Chore Wars. What is Chore Wars? Chore Wars is an online “game” that keeps track of chores that you do around the house and rewards you in a very simplified manner. It uses a sort of Dungeons and Dragons type model in that you form a party … Continue reading →

Do Chores Have to be Done All at Once?

While I tend to be the sort of person who likes to get in and get a job done, I have learned over the years that it does not always have to be that way. In fact, it can add extra stress and pressure trying to tackle big jobs and fit them in to a busy schedule. Sometimes, the best thing for time management is to actually split chores up and do a little here and a little there, or even do half a chore now and half later… I still prefer to get a chore or errand done all … Continue reading →

Ask a Baby Blogger: Chores for Two Year Olds?

Question: I want to teach my child responsibility and feel its important that she has chores and allowance. She will be turning 2 in a month. Do you have any suggestions? Whoa nelly! Take a deep breath and repeat this sentence: She will be turning 2 in a month. She is still, technically, 1. I have written in forums before how we start our children quite young on doing chores. Yes, my twins who are about 32 months, have to help clean up. Certainly teaching your child to help and be responsible with his things is never a bad idea … Continue reading →

Kids Need REAL Chores, Not Busy Work

We talk here in the Parents Blog periodically about how important it is for kids to participate in family responsibilities in order to build esteem and character, but it is important that kids have REAL responsibilities and do valuable work and chores, not be given busy work just to keep them occupied. The other day I was out and about and I noticed a parent give a five-year-old a few books to carry, saying: “What a big helper you are!” The child looked at the parent with a combination of confusion and boredom. It was not a terribly challenging “chore” … Continue reading →

Let Kids Take on Some of the Holiday “Chores”

In single parent families, we parents do not always have to DO it all—this time of year there can be so many “chores” to do—gifts to wrap, cards to address, cookies to bake, etc. Instead of trying to be Super Parent and juggle all the balls, we can let our children in on the action. It can be another opportunity for our kids to help out in a useful way and get involved in the season—and by sharing the load we can also build a stronger, more bonded family… Over the years, my kids have not only gotten used to … Continue reading →

Paying Kids to Help You

Now that Tyler is receiving his allowance and saving a large portion of it, he has a new appreciation for the power of the almighty dollar. As he sees his stash grow, he wants more. Not just his allowance but he also wants payment for services rendered. Take washing the car. One problem with being back in New Orleans is the preponderance of sawdust. Each time I leave my house after someone has been working, I leave with a thick coat of sawdust. And don’t even get me started on the bird poop! One day last week after I finished … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: October 8 – 14

How is the weather where you live? Does it feel like fall or do all these autumn articles feel a little out of place, considering it still feels like summer in many areas? I find myself having a little trouble really getting into autumn, especially on days when it’s in the 80’s and 90’s. It seems as if it’s going to start cooling down now, and then it may begin to feel a bit more like fall. Not that I’m complaining about the beautiful weather, not at all, it just makes it a little harder to realize that we really … Continue reading →

Do Your Pets Help With Chores?

Murphy, Mr. Meow, and Tabby do. Or at least they like to think they do. Mostly they just keep me company, but to a great extent that helps. It makes my chores go faster! Wayne’s always been amazed how consistent they are with helping me. Each of them picked the tasks they like helping me with best and every time I do them there they are, my little helpers. Murphy Helps With… Almost everything. He helps me: 1) bring in the mail 2) mail stuff out 3) bring in groceries 4) load up recyclables for dropping off (Which sometimes he … Continue reading →