I can’t believe my babies are actually growing up; some days it’s pretty hard to believe. They’re semi-self sufficient,
can clean up after themselves, are able to pitch in and help with housework, but they don’t. As I type this morning, I’ve already seen toothpaste smeared all over the sink, a tissue thrown on the coffee table, and their cups from last night still on the kitchen counter.
So I’ve finally realized that they are capable of helping, but how do I get them to pull their fair share? I’ve found some great tips that I’ll be implementing starting today. First and foremost, I have to be crystal clear about what I want them to do and how I want them to do it (Brott, 2009).
I am going to come up with a daily list for each kid that’s age appropriate and fair. First on that list is the toothpaste on the sink 
) You know, I’ve actually thought about buying that toothpaste dispenser from the infomercial (hey, it’s my pet peeve).
I’ve contemplated rewarding them for completing their chores each week but agree with Brott; nobody gets paid for working around the house; they should do it because they live under this roof. The second technique that Brott suggests is leadership by example. This shouldn’t be a problem as both my husband and I evenly distribute the housework and keep the place pretty clean (he’s obsessive about organization and cleanliness, it’s actually kind of nice sometimes). The final suggestion is to allow for some flexibility. This is understandable; if Mal isn’t feeling well I don’t expect her to vacuum her bedroom and scrub the sink.
I’ll let you know how the process goes and whether or not it works. In the meantime, check out Keepkidshealthy.com for more information on how to get your kids to pitch in and help with the housework. The article I read can be found at: http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/parenting_tips/dads/chores.html
