Laundry Day Fun!

While I was tackling the laundry this afternoon, Emily did some of her own. Somehow her laundry was a lot more fun than mine! Special thanks to Elise of Inspiration Surrounds... Creativity Abounds for reminding me of this fabulous activity. When I was a little girl, our family gave my cousin a play laundry set much like this one, and she absolutely loved it! Emily also enjoyed hers very much!

We gathered items we already had around the house: some buckets, clothes pins, a few yards of laundry line, a tiny version of a laundry basket, and a box of play laundry soap made from an empty Jell-O box. I sewed a small drawstring bag to keep the line, pins, and play laundry soap in. I stamped the words "wash day" on it using a fabric-safe ink pad. We used bubble bath instead of laundry detergent, and it worked very well!

This was so much fun, and kept Emily well occupied while I got my own laundry done!



She was so proud of herself, and she keeps going outside to see if her laundry has dried yet!

10 Chores for Preschoolers and up

Have kids? Think you need a maid? Think again! Put their boundless energy to work! Chores are a great way to teach kids about responsibility, and help build self-esteem. Here's a list of some suggested chores to keep the kiddos busy.

1. Make the bed -- Younger kids can help strip the bed, fluff pillows, and get fresh sheets from the linen closet.


2. Fold socks and/or towels -- This is a great way to introduce kids to folding their own laundry. 


3. Sweep the floor -- This is one of Emily's favorite chores.


4. Wash windows -- Another favorite. A soapy sponge and a towel works well.


5. Pick up toys -- Emily started doing this from the time she could walk, and now I am so grateful that she knows her toys are her responsibility. If possible, make this a habit from an early age.


6. Weeding/Watering Flower Beds -- Emily has kid-sized gardening gloves and small gardening tools to make this job a little more fun. She also loves picking up twigs, and raking leaves with a kid-sized rake. Teach your kids how to water the flowers, and you will be teaching them about science and nature too.


7. Dusting -- I get the high spots, and Emily gets the low spots. She loves using the feather duster!


8. Clean the car -- The car is frequently over-looked, but it is really an extension of your home. Kids can pick up toys, wash windows, and help give the car a good washing.


9. Set the Table -- I usually take out a stack of plates, and hand them to Emily to set the table for us. She can get the silverware herself, and Mark gets the glasses and drinks.


10. Clearing the Table -- Teach the kids how to scrape their plates, and place them by the sink or in the dishwasher. This can be a big time-saver.

For more great tips on Spring Cleaning with Kids, check out Sunny Side Up!

Have a great kid-friendly chore that I forgot to add? Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!

Kids not doing their chores? Try Handipoints!

Are you having a tough time motivating your child to do chores?  Looking for a way to organize weekly allowances, or rewards for your child's hard work?  If so, try Handipoints.  From the site:

Handipoints is a free service to help parents and kids manage their chores and allowance. Easily create your own printable Chore Charts for all your child’s tasks. Set fun goals to motivate your kids. Shop for all kinds of rewards or create your own. Handipoints puts you in control.

I think this is a great resource for older kids, but for now my four year old is happy doing her chores "because I said so" and I am not about to mess with that!  How about you?  Have trouble getting the kids to do their fair share around the house?