Wow! My parents taught me to help around the house. I knew it was important for my kids to learn to clean, and yet my husband and I usually have been doing 95% of it, with the kids "helping out" now and then. This book (I just got it and am only halfway through it) changed my way of seeing things, and made me realize I HAVE TO make my kids clean because it is everyone's job to clean the house. It is not mom's job that everyone helps mom to do. He tells you ways to motivate them, and has many ideas from other moms for how to get the kids to work. I always wondered what the secrets of some women were, who always had clean houses. Now I know! The secret, mom, is IT IS NOT YOUR JOB! Expect them to do it and take no guff. They live there, they use the dishes, they dirty the floor, they mess things up every day. If there are 5 people in the house over age 1, each one has to do his or her best to help keep it clean.This is what motivates my 7 year old daughter: Do these things, and if someone (mommy trusts) invites you to play or sleep over, you will be allowed to go, or you can invite a friend over.If you don't do them, you will not go anywhere fun and will not invite a friend over.
This is what motivates my 5 year old son: Pick up one group of things, get 5 minutes of TV/ video games/ computer time (2 hour total limit on the media). Groups: All the clothing items, all the megablocks, all the Little People, etc.
My 2 year old likes to wipe up spills, put her dishes away, help load the dishwasher and clean up toys.
Lucky for me, my husband has always helped.
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