getting kids to chip in on chores :: summertime edition

Summer is here! With the end of the school year just around the corner, now is the time to get your kids to start helping around the house! I love lazy summer days–going to the pool, playing outside, water balloon fights. But I don’t like the aftermath–which often includes a mad rush to try to make dinner (or just ordering pizza again) followed by a flurry of housework after the kids are in bed. Trust me, I don’t want my kids to stay inside all day or give up their carefree summer, but with just a little help from the kids, I can keep my house somewhat clean and have dinner on the table most nights.  Here are a few tips for getting your kids to chip in with chores.

1.  Let go of expectations of perfection.  This is the hardest one for me.  I am one to always say “I can do it better and faster myself.”  But then your kids will never learn to help!  Not only will you always have to do it yourself, but your kids won’t learn how to take care of their own house someday!
2. Find some age appropriate chores AND invest the time teaching your kids how to do them.  Saying “Clean your room” really doesn’t mean anything to a child unless you’ve made sure to show them what that means.  For my three-year-old, that means the books are on the bookshelf and toy cars are in the bin.  For my ten-year-old, I expect the bed made, clothes hung up, craft supplies in their appropriate bin, etc.
3. Make some chores mandatory and some “bonus” chores.  My kids are expected to do some chores just because they are expected.  Kids are expected to clean up their own room, the play room and the craft room.  They also occasionally helps set the table, get drinks for dinner, etc.  These chores must be done before they can do any “bonus” chores.  Bonus chores include cleaning bathrooms (my 8 and 10-year-olds can do this fairly well on their own.  My 3-year-old can use a spray bottle and cloth to clean out the tub or wipe down the floor while the rest of us work on the other parts of the bathroom), cleaning floors, dusting, wiping down counter tops, “poop patrol” for our dogs in the back yard, etc.  Many kids are also helping with laundry at this age.

1. Find some kind of incentive.  Last year, my kids earned a very small amount of money for doing bonus chores.  This year I’ve decided to make up some “Mommy Bucks” they can earn instead.  Then I will have a “store” where they can spend their bucks.  The store will have a few things I’ve picked up on sale that I know they’ll love (bubbles, puzzles and sand toys for my youngest, sports gear for my middle and craft supplies for my oldest) but it will also have “coupons” they can save up to buy like a date night with Mom to get ice cream or a pedicure, a date night with a parent to dinner or a local baseball or soccer game, or stay up 30 minutes past bedtime with Mom and Dad to play games, etc.  I am pretty sure these things will be the hot ticket items for my older kids and my husband and I will enjoy a little extra one on one time with them as well.  You can do these incentives as big or small as you want.  The staying up late to play games costs nothing, so if you’re on a budget like me, you can think along those lines (i.e. invite a friend to go to the park, take a bike ride after dinner with Dad, etc.)

Do your kids help out around the house?  What tips can you share with us?