How to get your kids cleaning and learning all at the same time
Kiddies are experts in how to make a mess, and we all know how fun it is to clean up.
We’ve come up with some our top chores for kids that will not only have your house in tip-top condition, but make the process fun and a learning experience for them, too.
Here’s some of our top tips for getting your child involved in chores:
Before you get started, getting your little one involved in chores is a fantastic way to:
- Provide a safe, engaging and nurturing environment
- Promote trust in themselves and the world
- Allow them to make independent decisions
- Gain the skills to handle everyday life
So, here are some of the fun ways to get your little ones cleaning faster than you:
Chores for toddlers (2-3 years old)
1. Big broom, mini broom
Having a mini version of a broom and a mop is a great way for the little one to learn that we need to clean the floors. Pop on their favourite song and have a sing-along whilst you both sweep and mop the floors!
2. Dirty socks Olympics
The dirty socks Olympics doesn’t need to be just for socks—it’s a great way to introduce a little bit of friendly competition to make sure dirty clothes make their way to the laundry bin! You can also add fun challenges along the way, like doing a star jump each time you find a pink sock, or clapping your hands when you find a blue one.
3. Rubbish race
The older you get, the less you want to take out the bins! But we can make it fun for our little ones and have a rubbish race instead. Each person has their own bin bag, and whoever fills it up with the most rubbish and puts it in the outside bins first wins!
Chores for preschoolers (4-5 years old)
1. Plant watering log
Encourage your child to water houseplants regularly, and keep a diary of their growth. Drawing pictures of their plants at each stage is a great way to motivate kids to keep up the habit. It makes a lovely little keepsake, too.
2. Audiobooks as you clean
Clearing away the table after meals and making their own bed are great chores for 4-5 year olds to get involved with. Putting on an audiobook of their favourite book whilst they clear away means they can enjoy a story at the same time.
3. Musical statues whilst clearing up
Lego all over the floor? Turn on the speakers and play a game of musical statues whilst clearing it away to encourage little ones to take part (just make sure not to step on any Lego!).
Chores for school-aged kids (6-11 years old)
1. Leaf-sweeping competition
Around Autumn there’s bound to be lots of leaves in the front and back garden that will need sweeping. Introducing a little competition to see who makes the biggest pile of leaves is certain to get kids sweeping twice as fast!
2. Turn the kitchen into the Masterchef studio
Encourage older kids to help prepare meals (with supervision) by trying out new recipes that you’ve chosen together. Finding recipe videos that kids can follow will help foster independence. (Bonus, picky eaters will be more likely to eat something they’ve helped to cook!).
3. Scavenger hunt
Like an Easter egg hunt, encourage your kids to scavenge around the house to find hidden gems that you’ve hidden under clutter. In the process, they have to clear up things along the way in order to find the little prizes.
