I'm almost sure most of you feel like Cinderella from time to time. No matter how hard you try to keep the house clean and put the kids' stuff on its place - it never succeeds and the job never ends...
You mopped the floor and wiped the table only to see it dirty again after kids have eaten their dinner. You segregated their toys into boxes just to see them scattered on the floor the same day. Doesn't it sound familiar?
You feel exhausted and crestfallen. Is there any way to escape this vicious circle?
Yes!
I was considering whether my kids aren't too small (they're 3 and 5 now) to engage them into some household chores. They aren't!
The sooner you begin the better effects you'll receive. When the kid is 8 or 10 it's already too late to teach him/her responsibility, order and being helpful. At that age kids repeat and strengthen reflexes they were taught in the past.
It's up to you whether you'll bring up a little helper or somebody who only expects to be served and entertained.
You may start with easy things: cleaning the dust, mopping, putting dirty clothes into a laundry basket or toys into boxes, making the bed, vacuuming, carrying the shopping home, cleaning up what they've dropped while eating, etc.
Surely, at the beginning kids are doing it in a slowly and clumsy way but don't give up. You may show them first (or, come on, they saw it thousand times), support and praise them once they're finished. I know, it might be a hard job at first but you won't regret it.
To find some inspiration I read articles regarding kid's duties written by experts.
Feel free to make use of them :)
http://alysonschafer.com/home-responsibilities-by-age/
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/tasks_and_chores_involving_kids.html
https://www.care.com/c/stories/5219/9-tips-for-teaching-kids-responsibility/
