From a very young age, my daughter showed interest in doing whatever I was doing. I think most kids do. As soon as they learn how to move, they follow mommy or daddy around constantly. Then, when they learn to talk, you get the “what’s that?” question or the “what you doing?” My daughter recently upgraded to the “what do you think you doing?” This is how we sometimes teasingly ask her if she’s doing something she’s not supposed to. But she just says it to find out what we really are doing.

Well, what is mom doing 75% of the time? Answer: housework. Washing dishes, putting dishes away, sweeping the floor, vacuuming, washing, drying, and putting away laundry, picking up toys; the list goes on.

When my daughter first wanted to help, I was reluctant. It was so much faster to do it myself. But then I realized two things A) she’s not always going to want to help, so I should take advantage of it, and B) if I teach her, she will get good at it.

Whatever chore I am doing, if she wants to help, I let her. So far her favorites are laundry and dishes. I let her take the clothes out of the dryer and put them on my bed for sorting, push the wet clothes into the dryer (I pull them from the washer and drop them on the door), put the dryer sheet in, push the button on the washer, and close the closet doors.

For dishes, I let her put the spoons, forks and measuring cups in the dishwasher, push the start button, and put the clean forks and spoons in the drawer.

Bonus: she actually likes these chores so much, I can use them to distract her from something else. “You wanna watch Frozen for the hundredth time, how about you help me with dishes instead?” And it works!

A month or two ago we started teaching her to put her shoes away as soon as we got home, and the other day she did it without me asking. I was so proud!

She also likes to push buttons (if you couldn’t tell from the laundry and dishes stories) so she also gets to open and close the garage door (with our help) if we are leaving or when we come back.

I only have one kid who can help, so I don’t know if this will work with every kid, but here are some tips for keeping kids interested in chores.

• If they ask to help, ALWAYS find a way. I’ve been working on a diy rug (info to come) and even though she can’t help with the cutting, or even roll the fabric into a ball herself, I sit her in my lap and guide her hands.
• Say please and thank you. Your child will pick up your good manners, and it’s important to remember that they are a person too; everyone appreciates recognition for their efforts.
• If you assign them a job or chore, be consistent. For example, it is now my daughter’s job to put her shoes away when we get home. I help her take them off, and she puts them away. If she doesn’t want to, I reminder her that it’s her job and that she can do it. If she still doesn’t, I let her know that I will do it but then we won’t have time to read stories before nap/bed, or something else she wants to do. I’ve only had to do that once, and she chooses to put her shoes away.

Here is a list of chores little kids can do:

• Help with dishes
• Help with laundry
• Throw things away
• Close (possibly open) doors
• Pick up toys/books and put them away (depending on your set up)
• Get a diaper/binky/wipes case (extremely helpful when you have a baby and a toddler)
• Push garage button, or other buttons
• Dust (I haven’t tried this one yet, but I’ve read you put a sock on their hands and let them go)
• Putting clothes in the laundry basket
• Carry in groceries (small, light bags)
• Sweep (not one I let her do, I really need to)

In my opinion, having a helper makes housework not so bad. Especially when she tells me “good job, mama”, or is really excited and says “I did it”, or, my favorite, when she tells herself good job. Now I just need to find a way to have her help clean the bathroom…