Housework

[waterdreamer]

Hi Guys!
I know we are a bunch of busy mom's. I know housework is not one of my strong points. Especially that up until the end of the month I've been a working mom. Now that I'm switching my life around and running a dayhome for a few babies, I need to learn how to make this more of a priority then it is. How do you guys schedule in your daily housework and at what age do you guys have your children helping out with family chores

[L and J]

I Want to know that too I was going to post right now the same question...
Please, some help       

[nhockaday]

I do stuff during the day while my son is around. He sits on the couch while I vacuum, plays while I wash dishes, dust or do other chores. I have a small vacuum that he absolutely loves to use. He'll vacuum the kitchen for an hour and then have a fit when I say it's time to stop. He actually has a fit if he wants to vacuum and I don't let him.

You can start getting them to help with simple things when they are old enough to follow directions. Start with simple things like wiping up messes or dusting low shelves. If you have a vacuum with a telescopic handle, put it to the shortest level and let your child vacuum. You can also teach a toddler how to use a dustpan and brush. My son also feeds the dog in the morning and helps me wash the car. They can do a lot once you show them and let them practice!

[marimari]

If you intend to work, I advise you to find someone to help with your housework or else you´ll be stressed and your child doesn´t deserve it. You can put on a scale and measure if it compensates to work or not, depending where you live in. In my case, I work, but I have a trustful homemade.

[waterdreamer]

My work is going to be in my home, hiring a house maid is out of the question as finantual it is not possible.

[mtb999]

One of my work colleagues advised that you should "outsource" before divorce!  However if you're going to be looking after babies and financially not in a position.

Maria Montessori, as does Gina Ford and some other toddler book authors, suggests that children can start helping out with housework.  Especially wiping things, tidying up, sweeping.  I don't know how old the babies are but you can start teaching them to put toys away when they're over a year old (my daughter's childcare centre is Montessori based), they can also help with cleaning up their dishes after their meals, cleaning up any messes they make ...

I'd recommend reading the book "Speed Cleaning" by Shannon Lush and another author.  It has some great suggestions on how to keep your house tidy with minimal fuss (essentially everything should have a place where it 'lives')

Good luck

[waterdreamer]

Thank-you! I will look into that book.

[kmum]

I also have a housekeeper  that comes once a week to do the major things like vaccuming, mopping & cleaning bathrooms. Not only does that help, but it is a weekly deadline for us to have the house straightened up!

[tatianna]

i'm naturally a very messy person
but having kids has made me want to change my ways
i read that you can teach children to be messy and disorganize
so i try to stay on top of things for my daughters sake 
i have my three year old help as much as possible
she cleans with me every day
we water the plants, cook, sweep and pick up her toys
doesn't always work though   

[goodnightmoon]

My older son started cleaning up after himself while he was just barely walking. It was just a game of "where does this toy go." He is now 4 and helps out with everything from cleaning his room to doing dishes. Maybe I have to redo some of those dishes, but I think he knows how much I appreciate his effort and I feel better with someone else helping me even if it is done to the standards of a 4 y.o.

[heyblue41]

My children put the dishes in the sink after eating, my 5 yr old sweeps the floor, and my 3 yr old waters the cats.  They also help with the laundry, the younger one sorts it before I wash and the older one helps put it away.

[AussieMumofOne]

As children my siblings and I were doing all the chores you could imagine in a home, including cleaning bathrooms and toilets! I appreciate the lessons we had as children but Mum did get a bit stressed when they weren't done to her standards and this usually ended up with us getting into trouble. So I plan to get BC involved in chores and helping me out around the house as soon as he is capable, but I hope to do this in a fun way and like goonightmoon suggested, I want to make sure he always knows that we appreciate his help! I don't see any reason why children can't help out around the house, as long as they are always appreciated and the parents don't expect a standard above that of which the child is capable.

[Mela Bala]

I am a stay at home mom with a husband who doesn't mind helping me maintain the house during the week.  Every weekend we do a thorough cleaning of our entire place so that the work does not pile up and become overwhelming.  It also helps that we are both very organized, do not keep clutter and put things away in their proper place.  As of now it is fairly easy but once our baby boy starts moving around and making his own messes we might have to clean thoroughly more than once a week.  I also do not like to handle my son after I have been cleaning with lysol etc. because of the chemicals.

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