Making jobs around the house more fun
Getting kids to do jobs around the house is often a challenge unless there is some fun in it. Fortunately, there are some interesting and entertaining ways to make cleanup time, an event to look forward to.
Kylie-Jane Shannon, owner of Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre and proud mum, discusses how to encourage kids to complete their jobs in a fun way.
Grab a small bucket and add some paper towels, a sponge, a cloth, a small dustpan and broom and some vinegar and water in a spray bottle and suddenly kids have their own cleaning caddy. Allow them to personalise their cleaning caddy with their name and some drawings. Then, when it’s time to cleanup, let them use their own cleaning caddy and watch as they take responsibility for the job ahead.
When making the bed, pretend the pillows, cushions or soft toys are balls and let the kids toss them to you as you place them on the bed. “Have the children organise them by size or colour before they pass them,” says Kylie. “Or, better still, let them have ownership over how they arrange them on the bed,” she adds.
Encourage kids to organise their toys and belongings based on size, colour or types of toys. This supports their learning as well as keeping things tidy. Extend this to the kitchen and let them organise their cutlery, cups, plates, and bowls when they put them away after a meal. “Teaching kids that everything has a place and should be put away after use, will become a life-long habit,” says Kylie.
Similar to cleaning up after playtime at their play centre, cleaning up after a play session at home can be a fun activity. For added fun, put on some music for 5 to 10 minutes and have a race to see who is quickest at tidying up in the given time.
Create a job list that provides each member of the house, adults and kids, with their list of jobs. Jobs completed can result in a gold star, or sticker. Whoever has the most gold stars or stickers at the end of the week, can receive a special treat or a prize, and can also be given the title ‘job master of the week’.
These exciting tips are just a few of many exciting ways to incorporate fun into completing jobs about the house. “Getting kids into the rhythm of cleaning up helps them become independent and proactive as they get older,” says Kylie.
Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre continues to dedicate its expertise and delight to serving families within the town of Wallan, Victoria.
Check out their full range of services and current featured promotions at junglekids.com.au.Visit their Facebook page to view all their activities and special offerings. Jungle Kids Indoor Play Centre is open seven (7) days a week and is open until 5:00pm on weekdays during the school holidays.
As part of their Play-all-day Single Admission, adults and babies attend free of charge. 12 months to 3 years old attend at $8.50 and 4 years old to 12 years old attend at $10.00.
Written and syndicated by: YDMA Group
