Turn Chores into Playtime By Pamela Caywood

Pam, Bill & Grace

Everyday presents the same challenge: so much to do, yet so little time. So, I have found a wonderful way to kill two birds with one stone...figuratively of course...I can't throw to save my life. Here are some of my proven tricks to make chores go faster while keeping your child entertained. You say, "I don't believe it!" Well, I am going to make a believer out of you!

LAUNDRY:

Doesn't it seem as if the dirty laundry fairy is always filling up the same basket that you just emptied? Let's show the laundry fairy that we don't care. We love laundry!!! Place your infant near you and play peek-a-boo as you fold the laundry. Some will enjoy playing with the strings on a bib or hiding under Dad's undershirt. Your toddler will have fun folding the laundry just "like you!" She will also have fun trying to match socks or deciding who wears what. There are a few hazards to beware of: folding some items twice or straightening a knocked over pile. However, when the laundry is folded and put away and you still have a happy child, you will see that it was worth the extra effort. As time goes on your child will learn how to be more helpful. As a reward for a job well-done, give your child a ride around the room in the EMPTY laundry basket.

CLEANING:

Once your child is walking, she becomes your second shadow. Not only does she follow you, she wants to do everything that you do. So, give her a cleaning job. Children are great dusters. Give her a small cloth or when she is ready a dust mop and let her dust away. She will hit areas that have never been dusted. When she tires of that, you can give her a small empty spray bottle and let her pretend to clean a door or a window. A small dust pan and brush is fun too! You can get your cleaning done while they are busy "cleaning" too!

COOKING:

Let your child in on the kitchen fun. Pots, pans and spoons can entertain and provide background music as you cook! As your child gets older add cereal or pretzels to the pan so they can create their own pretend meal. Let them put it on a plate and snack on it. Your child will appreciate actually helping prepare parts of the family meal e.g. stirring the batter, pouring in the sugar or counting the onions. At mealtime, you can let the family know that Billy made the muffins! He will be so proud and will enjoy helping again.

CLEANING-UP TOYS:

No one ever warns you to be prepared for the rooms of stuff that a child "comes" with when they arrive. It is amazing. Somedays it seems like you put the same doll away 5 times.(You probably did!) Teach your child to clean-up as soon as they can play. It will help to sing a song. The Barney "Clean-up!" song is great. You can also make a game out of clean-up. "Your friends are ready to go to bed. Let's put them in their special spots." Try to sort toys into bins, baskets, crates, fishing tackle boxes, laundry bags etc. Whatever works, use it. If you have same toys in a certain bin, it makes clean-up fast AND efficient. Your child will be able to find the "toy that he has to have" the following day. It will save frustration for both of you. Plus, your house will look like adults live there too!

So, chores aren't all that bad after all. Okay, they are still chores but these games will help lesson the monotony. Who knows, maybe your child will learn early that chores are fun and he will offer to clean up his toys without any nagging. It is always worth having a dream! It worked for Cinderella!!

Pamela Caywood is the proud mother of 3 year old Grace and is expecting her second child in October.