- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- twins today articles
- twins today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Play the Cleaning Game
Sweep Your Child off the Couch
By Laura Cone
When cleaning or playing the game of musical chores, try to play music with an upbeat tempo, says Hill."You will also find if you keep an upbeat tempo of music while you are cleaning they don't stop as often," she says.
Hill suggests putting hooks on walls and using clear containers with no lids so your children can see what objects should go in a certain box. She says not to expect too much of your child or create a complicated organization system. "The idea is don't ever let it get so far behind that it's a gigantic chore to clean it up," she says.
By definition, chores are not something most people look forward to doing. But if children can learn to associate good feelings with helping out, they may be more inclined to clean as stress relief or to help the family as they grow up. "It's a great lesson to learn, that if you put your mind to it, you get it done and move to the next thing," Hill says. "There are some things in life that you have to do whether or not they are fun to do."