How To Make Chores Fun With Kids: Yes, it can be done!

Ever been accused of liking cleaning too much?  If so, please feel free to stop by my house.  You and your love of cleaning are always welcome.  For the rest of us folks, listen up...Cleaning can be fun, even with your children!  Yes, you heard me correctly.  Let's find out how.

Now, don't get me wrong.  I don't dislike the actual cleaning process.  I have to admit there is something rewarding about working hard and having a nice, fresh home.  What I struggle with is how to get that cleaning done with three young children at home.

I have a dear friend who is a wonderful homemaker.  She is organized, her home is tidy, she has birthday gifts purchased and wrapped months in advance.  She is a well-oiled machine and a great mom, but like all of us, she has an area where she would like to improve.  While watching the chaos in my house as I folded laundry and had kids' craft projects littering the kitchen table, she commented that she wished she played more.  I, on the flip side, have been known regularly to cast aside chores and maybe play a little too much, finding myself stuck later with a list of housework that seems insurmountable.  How do we strike a balance?

Make housework fun for the whole family!

Fun may look a little different for your family as you're planning how to tackle your work, but I'll show you some of the ways my kids have a blast while doing chores.

1. Laundry Races

I have this theory that my neighbors sneak into my house and pile on their laundry a little at a time; after all, what other explanation exists for this sight?

Or, it could just be that 5 people go through a lot of clothes, especially when some of those people wear half their meal on their shirts.  (I'll leave you to speculate as to who falls into this category!).

What's a mom to do?

First, I have the kids help sort the laundry, which is a great way to learn colors.  I'll send them on a top secret mission to go through the house collecting all red clothes.  It's amazing how calling it a mission makes it fun!

Once the laundry is clean, I fold it and sort it into piles on our kitchen island.  The racers are then summoned.  Each racer is handed a stack of laundry with the assignment to keep it folded and place it in the appropriate drawer.  We have several "rounds" or a relay until all the laundry is put away.  Little guy is currently in the training phase under the tutelage of his big sibs.

Exercise for the kids: check; fun for the kids: check; laundry complete: check!

2. Character Role-Playing

I discovered a new way to make cleaning fun after I had surgery and was under restrictions and unable to clean the house.  Little Miss K, my 3 year old girl, loves princesses and pretending.  Enter a spray bottle, a cleaning rag, and spots on the floor.  Since I couldn't mop, but I could sit on the floor with my daughter, we played Cinderella (the pre-Prince Charming version).  Before you go citing child labor laws as I have my child scrubbing the floor, I have to tell you we had lots of fun and did the work together!  We scrubbed the floor while singing songs from Cinderella and making up our own stories too.  When the spot cleaning was complete, we continued our pretend play by getting ready for the ball and playing princess dress-up.

3. Incentivize!

When you're fresh out of creative play for cleaning, just incentivize.  We have used chore charts in our home.  The children understand that in a family everyone works together, but it is also encouraging to them when they receive a reward for their hard work.  We chose to institute an allowance system to be able to begin educating them on money management concepts including tithing and saving.  They earn a nickel for each chore such as feeding the dog, putting dishes away, picking up toys and putting away laundry.  The end of each week is pay day.  Ten percent of their earnings go directly to their tithe jar, which we save until the summer and then give as an offering during Vacation Bible School.  The rest of the paycheck goes into their banks, so they can save up for future purchases.

If you are not ready to start the allowance/money game, just find another reward that keeps your children focused on working hard toward a goal.  It could be a special family movie night, an outing or event, or any reward that shows your children that when you work together as a family, there's more time for fun when the work is done!

4. Model Joyful Service

Lastly, and surely most importantly, we have the wonderful opportunity and responsibility to model what joyful service looks like for the little ones in our lives.  I wasn't created like some people are to have that innate desire and gift of tidiness; however, I was created to bring my God glory.  I can bring Him glory and show His love by serving those around me with a joyful spirit, including my family.

I know that when I grumble about chores or demand recognition, three sets of  little eyes are watching.  What message does that attitude send about service?  Does it imply that I don't value their needs?  Does it reveal a heart that's focused inward?  Does it show them love?

If I approach the folding of clothes for the thousandth time with an attitude of joy and gratitude that we have clothes to wear or if I cook a meal praising our provider for giving us food to eat, what will my children learn about love, about life, about their mother, and about God?  I'm still working toward this goal, but to quote one of my favorite songs from Brandon Heath, "He's not finished with me yet".

Although it's not always easy, I'm going to try to perform my chores with a heart of joy because the pay-off is well worth it.  Joy begets joy and love begets love and I want my children to pass on a legacy of joy and love, and to have some fun in the journey!

"The Joy of the Lord is my strength"  Nehemiah 8:10

Many thanks to my friend Lauren who inspired the idea for this post!

How do you make chores more fun with your family?

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