Little Guys Can Do Big Things Too...

I can't find the video for it, so instead I will substitute this one because 1) Pirates are awesome and 2) They're lazy, which isn't the same as procrastination, but still.



Also, isn't it ironic that I'm looking up Veggitales instead of writing this blog post? And I'm writing this blog post instead of watching more of my online conference (though to be fair, I've already watched 2 presentations tonight).

Back to the topic! Little Guys Can Do Big Things Too!

Tonight's blogpost is inspired by the fact that I am sitting on a HUGE treasure (see? Pirates!), and am in danger of losing it if I don't use it.

My kids LOVE chores.

They're at the age now where they LOVE to help out and it's a "treat" for them. My youngest adores helping with laundry (though it's hard when we have a top-loader. I miss our front-loader of our old house if only for that) and my oldest is almost 6, and can be very handy when I remember to use her! When I remember, they make their own beds, fold laundry (AND put them away), and clean up their toys. When I remember...

I've always had the problem of asking for help. It's easier for my brain to figure out how to get something from the top shelf, rather than ask someone taller. It's not an automatic thing for me to ask for help, and assigning chores seem to fall under that category. But I don't have the "luxury" of doing it myself. I need to teach my children to tidy, organize, and clean, even if I'm still learning myself. They need to learn to take care of their "homes" (rooms), just like I want to take care of mine. They need to learn to help out around the house, and help keep the house neat and tidy.

What it all will boil down to is chore charts. Just as I'm making one for Hubby and Me, the kids will each have one too. Both will have one in their rooms with words and pictures to guide them to get up, get dressed, make their beds, pick up all the books (from the night before - we have a communal library in the hallway), and pick up a number of clothes/toys/items, all before we head downstairs for breakfast. This will also mean I need be up as well (something I talked about before - getting up when I WAKE up), as it'll take some time before it's a habit for them. Of course, this might all change in the fall when my eldest starts full-day school, but let's not focus on that right now...

Then downstairs I can also make a list of daily things they can do around the house - fold laundry, put away toys, set the table, empty the dishwasher, clear the table after meals, etc. Still working on the details of how to assign the chores, or how to encourage them to complete them, but right now they're excited to help out around the house.

I'll report back as it progresses!