Play Around the House With Young Children
I know that housework is a chore . But take that from Mary Poppins, OG Supernanny: “There is an element of fun in every job that needs to be done.” To escape the drudgery of your daily chores, you must find this element.
With young children, this shouldn’t be too difficult. They love games! And they love to help! This is a very promising scenario. Here are some ways to keep yourself entertained with household chores. Done, done … clean!
Swiffer Ice Skating
Glue Swiffer rags to your child’s feet and let him pretend to be the next Adam Rippon on your wood floor. (My friend Alicia says her mom let her “skate” with rags and Murphy’s oil soap mixed with water, but that was in the 80s and “now I think we could sue for threatening for kids”).
Food-packaging tetris
Jason Kottke from Kottke.or g plays a Tetris shape in his head while stacking food. “Quickly stacking all of these different types of food – with their different shapes, sizes, weights, fragility, temperatures – into the smallest possible number of bags … it’s a pleasure,” he writes. Children can do this by putting pantry items or old toys in donation boxes.
Where is the magic spot?
Brandi, a schoolteacher, plays a game called Magic Spot with her students: “I usually look around the room and choose something to do (fix pillows, pick up abandoned Lego, rubbish on the floor, fix desks) and then I say to my students that I found the Magic Spot, but I cannot tell them where it is. Then I give them three minutes to clean and fix everything in the room, trying to be the one who “found the Magic Spot” and fixed it. After three minutes have passed, I am trying very hard to announce who found the Magic Spot. The winner receives a sticker or chewing gum. There are TEN students of mine and they are eating it. (Now that I’m going to be a mom, you bet your last Magic Spot dollar will be played in our house!) “
Super crazy cleaning song
This is easy to do every day. You put on a fun, upbeat song, and everyone should take it out as quickly as possible so that the song is complete. Don’t forget to say, “It’s time for the Crazy Cleanup Song!” You have to sell it.
Bullseye sweep
Classic Pinterest.
1) Take some masking tape. 2) Use the tape to create a square or small bull’s-eye shape on the floor. 3) Have your child sweep as many crumbs as possible. Sit in amazement.
“One arm is broken”
Give your child a physical challenge. Can only be cleaned with the left hand. You have to walk on tiptoe. You should fold all of these shirts in the dark (if your folding standards are low). Of course, it will take longer, but if you have the time, children love to overcome difficulties.
Cleaning sport
Imagine that your child is participating in a cleaning sport and you are a commentator. “Right now, he is putting away his socks. See how he carefully opens the drawer. Hope it doesn’t drop. He doesn’t! The crowd cheers! Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Color or letter scavenger hunt
Pick a color and have your child pick out the best they can from that color. Or choose a letter of the alphabet and do the same.
“I’m looking for a superhero who will make everything on the floor invisible. Do you know about one thing? “
That’s all you need to say.