Helping Hands

My friend (who is also a mother of a pre-schooler) visited me once and while having coffee she mentioned “I am really surprised to see your neat and tidy house. How do you manage it with kid? Doesn’t she play with or spoil the things?” I answered “of course we do. She rides bicycle inside the house, plays dress up in hall,  plays with sand in gallery and sometimes with water too. But when we are done I have most harmonious and reliable helping hands that knows how to enjoy even house hold chores and inspire me to clean up all these small things with fun.” She wondered helping hands!!  I explained yes my 4 year old helps me in cleaning not only with mess she did but in my house hold chores too. Surprising shocking or astonishing but I will say that’s the way kids are!!!! It’s not special in my daughter actually all kids ages 1-7 years enjoy to do small house hold chores which individually don’t take much effort and time but together will be big relaxation for you. There are many small things to do that actually take 40% of your entire day but these helping hands can make it in 10% if you know how to utilize them. 

If you are parents who think this is their age to play not to do all these chores then here are some reasons why you should offer them to help you:

Proud: Normally people treat kids as they can’t do anything which is definitely not true and they too know this truth. When you ask for help they feel that they too can do something real and they are needed that makes them proud and add confidence.

Part of family: When they do something useful for you and you appreciate it they feel that they are getting enough attention and they too are equally important part of the family.

 Increase Empathy: Family is where life begins and love never ends…..and this they will understand with the loving caring sharing and helping environment of in house. The feeling of “We are one” builds empathetic kid.

Teach them cleanliness and hygiene: all parents want their kids clean and healthy and all these house hold chores are just a part of how to make your place clean so they will get practical approach and idea of importance of cleanliness and hygiene not only of their body but of the surrounded environment too.

Improvement in skills: To fulfill these house hold chores they need to use their body parts like hands fingers legs and so it will improve gross as well as fine motor skills of kids as well as extend their memory and instruction grasping power.

It’s just a play: For kids everything is just a part of play if they are ready to do the things that means they are enjoying it and any how you are going to ask for help only you are not going to force them that you have to do this or why didn’t you do this so they are free to decide whatever they want.

Here are few house hold chores where your kids can help you:

1.   Clean up: Well I will not say kids like to do clean up but if you will say you need help then they feel powerful and will try their best to help you. When it’s time to clean up just simply divide the things for example if s/he had played with sand play, you should say you put stones and creatures in the box and I will take care of sand. If its water you say I will put the water toys back would you please empty water. If its room you should say I will take care of bookshelf you put your toys back, I will take care of art kit you put table n chair back. It’s only about the right directions you just need to find the interesting part of the clean up and ask them to do that.
2. Laundry: the most boring work for grownups and most loving activity for little masters. They can separate clothes from the basket; put it in washing m/c and you just need to start it!!! They can dry and fold all the small clothes and you need to deal with big ones only and that decreases half of time.
3. Vessels: Arrange your kitchen in a way that they can reach up most of the necessary vessels and get whenever they want or you ask for help. As all kids love to play with kitchenware you can ask them to empty your dishwasher and see how enthusiastically they accomplish it.
4.   Set the table: Before meals ask them to help you to arrange table they can set the plates and you get food. After meals ask help for cleanup. You clean up the kitchen and till that time s/he can cleans up table.
5.   Watering plants: showering water to plant is the most interesting activity for kids and so you show it couple of times and leave it on them and trust me they will do that same time same way without any single miss.

When you are done with the work with their help don’t forget to reward them by singing and dancing on a song “we did it we did it…..” from Dora Or find your special way to celebrate it.