Let’s be honest—chores are not exactly a blast. Back in my freshman year of college, I may or may not have gone an entire year without washing my sheets. Yep, they were a lovely shade of beige by the time I finally tossed them. My roommate at the time, Emma, joked that I had come this far, so why not just keep the streak going? So, I did. Come summer, I finally threw those bad boys away and promised myself I’d do better. Spoiler: my “better” still involved a lot of procrastination when it came to cleaning.
Fast forward to today, and while I’ve become a bit better at tackling chores, my aversion to them—especially laundry and dishes—hasn’t changed much since 2003. I do it now mostly for my kids, who, thankfully, I care about a tad more than I did about my own cleanliness back then.
Growing up, I think my sister and I were a little too pampered. My room was often tidied up for me, and laundry was a rare task I ever took on. I don’t really remember doing chores as a kid. While I see the value in letting kids be kids, I also believe that involving them in household tasks helps prepare them for adulthood.
So, even though my daughter, Lily, is just about 5 years old, she has her own set of responsibilities. This is partly because I refuse to be the only one cleaning up after everyone in the house until I’m old and gray—or until they move out, whichever happens first. Plus, with one baby wanting to be fed and another creating chaos, I’m in no position to turn down any help. Here are eight chores you should totally delegate to your kids whenever you can:
- Wet Swiffering: Kids love anything involving water, which makes this chore a perfect fit. You can relax in another room, phone in hand, knowing the kitchen floor will be at least a tiny bit cleaner when you return.
- Toy Bagging: Don’t limit this to just the holiday season! We do this multiple times a year. Frame it as making space for new toys, so they’ll be bagging up items before you can even think twice. It’s a win-win—clearing out clutter while teaching them about sharing.
- Cooking/Baking: Allow them to help with age-appropriate tasks like pouring and stirring. While it might create a mess, it’s also a fun way for them to learn. Who knows? Maybe one day they’ll whip up dinner for you. Wouldn’t that be nice?
- Sweeping: My little one could sweep all day if her attention span didn’t vanish after a few seconds. While she might not be the most effective sweeper, at least the mess is out of sight, if not completely cleaned up.
- Putting Away Clean Clothes: If your kid is anything like mine, they know exactly where their clothes go. They may take their sweet time, but there’s no reason a 4-year-old can’t tidy up their own clothes. If they don’t, well, let’s just say I have my own creative methods to encourage them.
- Getting Dressed: Let them pick their outfits! Sure, it might look ridiculous, but letting them choose saves you from morning battles. Who cares if they walk out mismatched? It’s a small price to pay for your sanity.
- “Doing the Dishes”: Quotation marks because, let’s be real, no dish is actually getting clean. But it gives you a break to scroll through your phone while they splash around in the sink for half an hour.
- Feeding the Baby: My little helper is always ready to take the bottle when I’m pumping. If only she could manage the pumping part too!
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In summary, involving your children in household chores not only helps lighten your load but also teaches them valuable life skills. It’s a win-win situation, giving you a break and preparing them for adulthood!