We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. Please see policies for more information.
One thing I wasn’t great at was slowly introducing chores to the boys. They would help around the house when they wanted to, but I usually just ran around doing everything quickly. I really want them to know how to do everything themselves: cleaning, cooking, laundry, fixing things around the house or on their cars, etc. They now have daily and weekly chores around the house that they do on their own. Some chores they do together and some are better off a one-person job.
One of the “struggles” I had at first was the excuse that they didn’t know where the cleaning supplies were or what to use for each chore. A new organizational strategy we’re trying is cleaning kits. A kit (all stored in the same place) for each room that needs to be cleaned (or one kit for several rooms). They take it with them when they go in to clean and put it back when they’re done.
Since we’re ALWAYS at Target we often use the up & up line of cleaning products. They are just like the name brands (or better) and are priced better too. There’s usually a Cartwheel coupon for the things I’m buying as well, which makes the deals even better! For the bathroom kit we use (among other things) the up & up Disinfecting Wipes as well as the up & up Disinfectant Spray. The bathroom of 2 boys is not the cleanest place in the house and often needs cleaning more than once a week lol!
Especially during the cold & flu season I want to make sure the bathrooms are getting cleaned well without me having to go back in and clean up after them. They like the wipes for around the toilet (easy disposal). They kill common household bacteria and are safe to use on hard non-porous surfaces. The spray we use for the counter, floors and tub since it’s a good all around deodorizing cleaner for lots of surfaces.
The kits have been working well so far. We haven’t had the “I can’t find the cleaning supplies” excuse and it makes chore time run that much more smoothly!
How do you make chore-time work in your house? Leave an answer in the comments below and you will be entered for a chance to win one $100 Target GiftCard!
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 10/22/2014 – 11/22/2014.
Be sure to visit the Target’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
140 Comments
I have taught the kids how to do things the way I do them. (Or, as I like to call it “The Right Way”)
I did things with them at first – it was almost like a game. Of course, the older they get the more they resist doing anything at all.
We have a lego reward drawer for our oldest. He’s 6, so if he puts away his pajamas his dirty clothes or helps out when instructed he earns 2-3 legos towards the set we purchased ahead of time. By doing chores he earns a full Star Wars lego set.
Chore time does not work well at my house! I ask for 15 minutes a day of some type of cleaning from everyone. Sometimes I have to tell them exactly what needs to be done otherwise they don’t have a clue.
Link to tweet:
https://twitter.com/catholicfanatic/status/525122441375277056
Thank you!
I love the idea of putting the labels on the bins with exactly what needs done and the items needed in it!
GREAT ideas! My task oriented first born LOVES crossing off lists!
I love the bucket idea with all the supplies right in each bucket, with the buckets stored in one common place . I have a chore chart that my two children (7 Currin and 8 Ella) and I work off of everyday. It helps keep me accountable and the kids like to keep themselves in line with being able to mark off what they have finished. (The favorite part it using the marker to mark it off) Simple joys
We have set days of the week and month when chores get done. For instance, my daughter does the cat litter 4x a week.
Kids are grown now but my grandkids love to help out with cleaning.My grandson would rather cook than clean. lol
We have our children do age appropriate chores and I try to get the most done early in the day to relax later on.
My twins are still babies and are not able to help clean yet. However, my husband and I split the chores. It makes it a lot easier. I also drink coffee before I begin, it helps boost the energy! lol 🙂
I make chore time work in my house by keeping a organized leaning cart of everything I need to clean and keep up the house.
Tweet- https://twitter.com/lil_lady_dz/status/526434008398184449
I assign tasks to everyone
https://twitter.com/sweetums82/status/526781217354444801
We have a chore chart. I love the idea of having a kit with everything they need!
Tweet: https://mobile.twitter.com/Kristisdeals1/status/526794879150870530
I just have to give my son chores that I know he will do a good job at.
I have kids and hubby help out on daily basis from taking the trash out, putting laundry away…etc.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/527300412911943680
we’re just starting to implement chores with our kiddo, so this would be great to add to our new routines!
We have specific chores my son is helping us around the house .. they are simple like take up the trash from rooms/bathrooms, unload dishwasher, and help with his dirty/clean laundry. Simple steps but hopefully this will stick with him when he is older. Thank you for the chance.
We are starting small with the kids bring little. They mostly have to clean up their own stuff. We’ll move up from there!
tweet here:
https://twitter.com/plz16/status/527609255314980864
I recently purchased the totes with a handle to keep three sets of cleaning supplies so we can all work together. I make checklists to keep everyone organized. I also let my kids play their favorite music really loud and find it gets all of us motivated – plus I find out what type of music they are listening to these days.
This is a great idea! Thanks for posting! I love the chore jar idea someone wrote about, too.
WE HAVE A “REWARD” SYSTEM CONNECTED TO “ALLOWANCE” THAT SEEMS TO WORK VERY NICELY =)
https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/529072532042047488
I created a behavior chart (using supplies from Target, of course), and one if the ways my 3 y.o. can earn prizes by moving his “guy” to the top of the chart is by helping with chores.
The children have their own chores they do every week. Once they have completed their chores then they get their
allowance.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/529457738162909184
my hubby help me a lot!
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/529465503249465344
We divide and conquer the chores around our house. We also rely on a cleaning lady every two weeks – keeps us on top of things!
We make it into fun time, letting the kids use spray bottles, using timers to see who gets done with a chore first, working together with the kids also makes it fun for them just because they love the time they spend with you .
In a word “Rewards” we all work for rewards
Change it up.
Sometimes I charge for chrome that aren’t done. Other times I text messages with chores list. Other times I leave detailed cards with option to choose from.
Change it up.
We dont. Its been a disaster implementing chores on my daughter & niece. Eldest niece will only do her own things (her own dishes, her own room) which doesnt send a great message to daughter.
I’ve tried to implement chores, but laziness runs abundant in this family
Everyone has different chores to complete.
We split them up through out the week.
https://twitter.com/618mom23boys/status/530941058080071680
Clean on certain days and delegating.
https://twitter.com/disneyfan40/status/531275820011356160
I make it work by giving everyone very basic chores and timing them as a who can be fastest challenge (its fun to them)
tweeted https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/531537754304167936
Actually I do pretty much the same as you do, except with open buckets instead of closed boxes. Everything is in plain sight, and goes right back in the bucket when finished. No more excuses!
dont really have chores around here except feeding the dog
I try to just clean as I go. If I’m already in a room, I’ll try to clean up a bit here and there. That way it doesn’t seem like as big of a project!
When my kids were small I used chore charts with stickers to keep them motivated.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/532604391996792832
We usually crank up the music and get the work done together:)