4 Easy Ways to Get Kids to Help Around the House

Let’s face it, housework is kind of like visits to the dentist, no one likes it, some even dread it, but it has to be done. When you’ve got kids, doing the housework can seem like an impossible (and never-ending) task. Getting the kids to help is an ideal solution to this frustrating problem. Not only do you get the jobs done more quickly, you keep the kids busy and happy — that’s the dream, right? Here are four easy ideas to get the kids to help around the house.

Give Rewards

Bribery may not be ethical but it sure does work –— especially with kids. If they’re reluctant to help with the housework try implementing a rewards system. One hour of help gets one hour of their favorite TV show, two hours and you’ll make their favorite dinner. You could even make a fun chart to track their rewards.

Use Fun, Colorful Products

When giving kids cleaning tasks, think cute and fun rather than gross and boring. Instead of dust cloth, give them a feather duster. If they’re wiping down surfaces, help them mix up their own spray using common household products instead of toxic and expensive supermarket brands.

Team Effort

Boring tasks are always more bearable when you’ve got someone to do them with. If you’ve got more than one child, give them chores they can do with you. This way, the jobs will get done faster and they’ll have more fun doing them.

Healthy Competition

There’s nothing wrong with a little healthy competition, so why not set up chores as games? This will require a little parental intervention to make sure each child gets a win, but it’s a surefire way to ensure the kids have fun — they might even forget they’re doing housework!

This article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love