Element of Fun in Chore Time!
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun, and - SNAP - the job's a game!" ~ Mary Poppins
As a parent, I find I'm always looking for a balance between teaching my children what they should do "because they should" be it eating vegetables, doing chores, brushing their teeth, or learning new things... and teaching them that doing those things can be enjoyable and rewarding. I want to raise children who are disciplined adults who continue to eat their veggies even when there is no cookie after dinner and brush their teeth even when the toothpaste no longer tastes like bubble gum. I'm counting on the fact that as adults they'll have come to learn that the reward in veggies is the nutritional value not yet grasped by my preschoolers.
So it's the balance between doing it "because you should" and doing it because you understand and recognize why you should. Understanding the why is tough for the pre-K set (at least at my home).
And so, we seek out ways to make chore time more pleasant and successful for everyone. We have a Melissa and Doug Magnetic Chore Chart and my daughter loves checking things off the list - a trait I know she inherited from me. She also loves singing the "Clean Up Song" learned at the library and will encourage her sister to join along. For chores that are a team effort, like cooking, she loves to jump right in and help me.
However, I am finding more and more occasions when I need her to do a chore "unsupervised" and know it will be done. This can be something as simple as putting away her toys or shoes or even helping sweep up after dinner (she loves the small broom and dustpan set we have), while I'm busy taking care of her younger sister. I follow up to make sure she completes the task, but she has to do it herself.
Recently, we tried the Deck of Chores a new card game to inspire chore time. The game comes with several options for play. The cards are structured like a traditional deck of cards with Aces - Kings in all four suits, but on the face of each card you find a chore. You can play traditional card games with the deck and choose who does chores according to who wins the game or which cards are left in your hand. Or you can have players draw from the pile.
Our favorite method of play, at the moment, is to select six chores (I choose chores that either my daughter or I can complete - she's not ready to wash the car just yet!)... and we each randomly choose three. Then, we race to see who can complete their chores first. The winner chooses which book we read next from the library.... another win-win!
I know I want my children to do "right things" because they are right... but I also want them to start to grasp WHY things are right... that once chores are done, we have a nice clean place to play (something my daughter DOES appreciate) and we have nice clean clothes to wear... and we can relax and cuddle up with a good book without the torment of dirty dishes and crumbs on the kitchen floor (something I appreciate)!
I agree with Mary Poppins... we all need an element of fun!
So, how do you structure chore time at your house? Is it fun and games or "let's get down to work"? Do tell!