Many hands make light work: Let the children help around the house.
YOUR little people may also be responsible for the biggest amount of mess in your house, but that’s no reason to exclude them from housework.
Younger kids are often willing to help but the longer you dismiss them the harder it will be to get them to lend a hand.
I’m not talking about scrubbing the shower grout or anything like that, but even toddlers can use a dust pan or feather duster.
Here are some of the chores Misses 6 and 4 do:
1) Miss 6 makes her own sandwiches for school — this has the added bonus of her being more likely to eat it.
2) Both unpack the dishwasher, feed the dogs, make their beds each morning and put away clothes that don’t need to be hung.
3) Both love helping to clean the drains using what they call "science": put a heaped tablespoon of bicarb of soda down kitchen or bathroom sinks, followed by a cup of white vinegar. This creates a huge bubbling mass which clears out drains. After this dramatic bubbling subsides tip down two cups of warm water.
4) They both clear their plates and cups after each meal and put them in the dishwasher.
5) Miss 6 sometimes helps vacuums while Miss 4 is partial to the occasional spot of washing up.
6) Miss 4 knows how to dust and they both enjoy raking leaves.
7) Both enjoy helping to prepare meals: washing salads, chopping potatoes, getting ingredients from the fridge and pantry. It’s all about learning life skills.
Do you let your kids help around the house? Why/why not?
See more food ideas and recipes at thehungrymum.wordpress.com/