Saturday, August 23, 2008

The importance of working together

Family Moments Monday
Have you noticed lately how little kids know about work? It's concerning to me since my parents taught me how to work yet my baby sister (9 years younger) moved in with my oldest sister (9 years older) when she was 16 years old and had no clue. One night my two sisters were cleaning the kitchen together and my older sister said, "okay I'll wash the dishes, you rinse the dishes." My older sister started washing the dishes and they began to pile up in the opposite sink when my younger sister picked one up and looked cluelessly (is that a word?) at my sister and said, "So do I just get the bubbles off these or what?" Imagine my older sister having a really good laugh at this point. My youngest sister was 16 years old and had never rinsed a dish in her life. Of course after living with my oldest sister for 2 years she learned quickly. Needless to say it made a great point for me of making sure I teach my children how to clean. So for a great Family Moments Monday I have decided to have a BBQ with my boys and then as a family pick up the yard together. It's amazing how much younger children are willing to help if you just give them the opportunity and make it fun. My boys are more likely to clean if I'm right there by their side helping them out than if I just tell them to go do it on their own. I think it's really important to teach our children to work and Family Night is a great time to get started. During the day my boys and I like to turn on music and see if you can get an entire room or floor or whatever cleaned before the song is over. As a side note, I do this with my kids in the morning (Children's Miracle Music) and it is a fabulous stress free way to get your kids ready and out the door with a smile on their faces and at the same time teaches them responsibility. So look around your house or yard and see what needs to be done and then get the family together for dinner and after the dishes are cleared put your work gloves on, turn the music up and have at it!

5 comments:

Lyndsie Miles said...

What a great idea! I was just thinking I need to have my little ones help more around the house so they don't have they same experience your sister had.

Melissa said...

what a great idea to get them to clean. Have a BBQ for fun adn then after wards help clean up... so simple and genius! I love it!

cate said...

Thanks for the reminder that I should be teaching my young kiddos to clean and not just yetlling "GO CLEAN YOUR ROOM!" I forget that the skills they learn now, will benefit them later.

Mandy said...

Let me tell you the earlier you start the better it will be for you and your kids! I did everything for my now 9 y/o and he whines anytime he is asked to do anything. My 5 and 2 year old can clean amazingly!!! I wish I started earlier with my first but he will get it, like it or not! :-) Great family night idea! I am currently working on a post of top 10 chores for a 2 y/o to do; I will post in a couple of weeks. Thanks for stopping by!

Andrea said...

My dad used to have us help with yardwork by making contests (i.e. whichever kid pulls the most weeds wins). We actually enjoyed doing it!