Get the Kids to Do Their Housework by Setting a Daily Routine
Housework is a great way to teach children responsibility, regardless of their age . By establishing a strict “once upon a time” work schedule, you increase the chances that their work will get done without fuss.
Children, like many of us adults, do not like to be ordered. They feel like they have no control and instead of doing what they are asked to do, they try to find a way out of it through negotiation. To make your life easier, Amy McCready, founder ofPositive Parenting Solutions , suggests you avoid this with a when-then routine:
Structure your child’s less desirable tasks to be completed earlier than highly desirable … For example, ” When you finish your daily family donation, then you have time on the phone.” Or: “When you finish adding and removing the laundry, you can enjoy 30 minutes of television time.” Now, after you have clearly marked your “once” (and here is the key) – leave the room or do whatever you need to do to block the protests or negotiations that will surely follow. Then stick with it.
In the end, they will realize that there are no negotiations, and the only thing that stands between them and what they want to do is themselves . Plus, it will help them form a positive habit because they will feel fulfilled and rewarded when they complete their tasks. The hardest part is enforcing the new routine, but if you can, it will definitely help you avoid complaints in the long run.
Do children like to clean their rooms? It can happen for you! | Pure mom