Comments on: Teaching Moment: Getting The Kids To Help Clean

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By: Small Means

Small Means — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:19:04 +0000

I LOVE the Gobbler Box idea! Super fantastico! That one’s getting put into place at our house, pronto!

By: Carol

Carol — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:20:30 +0000

Thanks for the great suggestions! Some we do in the family, and some I need to try. Now can we get a list on how to get the hubby to clean???

By: Stuff on Saturday | Home Ec 101

Stuff on Saturday | Home Ec 101 — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 11:26:17 +0000

[...] did you see Ivy’s post on getting kids to clean? No? You missed out. Fix [...]

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:15:35 +0000

I forgot to add that he has also started “helping” with other chores. For example, he sits on the counter and helps me make dinner–putting the cut up ingredients in the bowl and such. He thinks this is really fun, and I think it keeps him occupied with something more productive than whining and pulling on my leg! I have to keep reminding him to sit down, don’t get into the cupboard, etc. with the “threat” that he’ll have to get down and not help, and that pretty much stops any misbehaving.

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:12:36 +0000

Well, my son’s not even two yet, but he has “jobs” already, and as far as he’s concerned, it’s fun. He has 2 jobs so far: 1. Go pick up the dog bowls from the porch and bring them to Daddy to fill up and feed the dogs, 2. Go get your towel so you can take a bath. He is very happy to do both. Obviously these don’t save me a lot of time, but I really believe in getting him started early with the idea that everyone helps and that he will have family work to do, period. However, when I told my students (high school freshmen) that he has “chores” a few of them were shocked, as if I was putting him to forced labor or abusing him. I guess their parents didn’t/don’t make them do much to help!

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:04:04 +0000

You aren’t kidding about the patience. I’m kind of a control freak, so it takes every ounce of self-control I have to not chase people away so I can do things “right.”

By: gracie

gracie — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:41:25 +0000

children do what you inspect not what you expect…….. and that said i got a lot of great advice from the book ‘managers of their chores’ by the maxwell’s

i also don’t give out privileges till chores are done. (emphasis on the period)
— no you can’t go out and play ______ isn’t done,
— you want computer time…….are your chores done?,
— tv? chores done?
— dessert? chores done? oh and done correctly?
— get back over here this isn’t done, you lied, finish the chore, 5 min in the corner for lying then you can go back and play

i sound like a broken record (showing my age there), but i know one day it will pay off when they are adults – lol

starting children early, making it a game, teaching them that it’s part of helping family and being nice to everyone……. that’s the hard part

being consistent as a parent helps too, i’m not expecting perfection here, but sloppy doesn’t count either, and it’s the same chores every day, every week…….so there is no arguing over who’s turn it is to walk the dog, do puppy bomb patrol, pick up the outdoor toys in the evening……… and so on

i keep a list pinned up where the children can see it and a separate one in my home management binder — the one that is pinned up disappears for some reason every once in a while –

but i really need to work on the daily tiding chores we all should be doing…………

By: Becca

Becca — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:06:00 +0000

I try to set an example by cleaning up after myself as I go along through my day. I insist that the house be picked up BEFORE bedtime. I prefer for rooms to be neat before TV time.

With five kids….no ONE thing works. The 3 year old and he 13 year old are actually the best cleaners (oldest and youngest, go figure) but I can get the other three to pitch in with the right verbage.

The big sayings around our house are: “We don’t have a maid….I am NOT the maid”. I am also fond of “clean up as you go along and the mess will never take too long to pick up”.

Perhaps I shall embroider those on a pillow?

By: Heidi @ CarolinaDreamz

Heidi @ CarolinaDreamz — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:25:00 +0000

Great post!

We had a “gobbler box.” We would call a 10 minute group clean up and anything left out, got gobbled.. even shoes and socks. (I’d randomly call it 3-4 times a day, depending on if I had clients/customers/visitors coming over..)

We had a ticket system for good deeds, chores, being helpful.. and you could redeem tickets for prizes or money, as they got older.. but not until you bought back your things, even the trash, that was yours, in the gobbler box.

It worked like a charm when they were little. Now teenagers.. I know mine know HOW to do it.. but the incentives and bribes are much bigger.

Now I give them allowance, on Mondays, in advance, and just tell them “you owe me,” and that works 1/2 the time. (I do, repeatedly, talk about “your part as a member of this family,” too.)

~Heidi @ WithaZ.net