Starting with Some Small Chores

Since chores haven’t been a big part of my kid’s lives, I’ve decided that we need to start small. Like 5 minutes small.

For starters, I’ve made a list of chores that can all be completed within 5 minutes. Each day, in theory, we’re going to spend 5 minutes each doing any chore we want from the list.

• Empty the dishwasher
• Clean out a litter box
• Clean the toilet
• Wipe down the bathroom sink
• Sweep the living room floor
• Collect dishes from around the house
• Vacuum the hallway
• Clean the bathroom mirror
• Take the garbage out
• Pick up shoes and put them away
• Go through the mailbox
• Take the garbage out
• Clean out the microwave
• Wash a porch window
• Empty the inside recycle bin
• Hang up coats
• Brush a cat

These are all simple things and most won’t even take 5 minutes but I want them to get in the habit of doing something every day.  Even if they do the same thing over and over every day, it will help.  Instead of taking me a half hour to do it myself, we’ll get it done in 5-10 minutes.

I was never taught how to clean and so it’s the one parenting skill that I really struggle with – teaching my kids how to clean.  I can clean but I’m not good at teaching them to do it.  None of us have ever gotten into the habit of doing any routine chores.  It’s more of a mad dash when it’s an emergency that it gets done or I have an hour or so to work on it.  I’m hoping that this will help when we are finally clutter free and can concentrate on normal every day cleaning.

I have one young adult who likes to pretend that she’s a teenager still and will spend an hour arguing with me about doing something that would literally take 5 minutes for her to do.  She’s done it her entire life which is probably why she still lives with me instead of on her own.  Maybe this technique will help her too.  I think she has some ADD and has a habit of turning really small tasks into big ones because every little thing distracts her. I’m hoping that setting a timer and telling her she’s done after 5 minutes will keep her on task.