Housework with Toddlers - Here
Comes Trouble!
Comes Trouble!
It's so interesting that once our babies start toddling
around, creating a lot more mess in their insatiably curious
and neverending activity, we expect ourselves to have a
perfectly tidy home. When your baby was younger you
probably imagined that once she started sleeping through
the night and playing independently you would get a handle
on the chores. Surprise!
Mothering a toddler is fun but constant vigilance. Not only
are you concerned with her physical safety but you are
rightly concerned with her emotional health as well. You
want to have fun and play with your little one but as an
adult, you have a need for some order. What to do? Here
are some tips that have worked for many other Moms.
Rethink Housework & Define Your Minimums
Try to lower your standards a bit. If your house could pass
the white glove test before you had kids and you try to
keep up that standard now, you could drive yourself nuts.
If you have a lot of trouble doing this, then think for a
moment about why. Are you trying to live up to someone
else's idea of what your house should look like? Are you
worried about what your mother, mother in law or neighbors
might think? In any case, if you're feeling judged, take a
look at that and decide what's more important to you. Do
you want a perfect home or do you want to have a happy
toddler whose Mommy has time to play?
Decide what is important to you and figure out how to do
those tasks as quickly and easily as possible. For instance,
you may hate to feel dirt under your feet when you walk
across the floors but a little dust doesn't bother you.
Keeping that chore done consistently will make the house
feel clean to you.
Make Some Lists
Grab a sheet of paper and decide which chores can be
skipped, which chores can be simplified, and which chores
you can get help with. Is it really essential to fold underwear
or can they be placed neatly in a drawer? Can socks be
tossed into a drawer and the wearer match them himself? It
is really necessary to separate all the kid's laundry or can
most things be washed together?
Clear out clutter as much as possible. Clutter makes
housework more difficult, time consuming and downright
dangerous (like when you are tripping over things in the
basement or having items fall on your head in closets). Go
through your house with a large trash bag on a regular
basis and throw things out if they don't make you smile
when you look at them. Donate it to charity and feel good
about yourself!
I Helped!
Your toddler can do a surprising number of household
chores and will probably be delighted to imitate you. When
you dust, hand her a microfiber dusting cloth and let her
"help". Toddlers love to splash their hands in water. Maybe
she could "wash dishes" in the sink next to you. She may
not be so great at folding laundry, but can she dig out all
the socks and put them in a pile for you? Perhaps she can
help unload the dishwasher by handing you the spoons
and forks. At this stage, the point is not to have her doing
chores but rather to keep her happy and close while you
get some work done.
Can you hire out some of the household chores? Don't
dismiss this right away. If your budget is slim, you might
know a teenager who is in need of some extra cash who
could come over and help you out. Or maybe you would be
willing to forego a dinner out here and there to pay for an
occasional housekeeper.
Make Cleaning Convenient
Keep non toxic cleaning products and tools handy so that
when you have a moment or two, you can go a quick task.
When your toddler is in the bathtub you have to be in the
bathroom to supervise her anyway. Why not clean the floor,
sink and toilet while you're in there? Baking soda sprinkled
in the sink and toilet will scrub effectively and sweeten the
air too. For an inexpensive multi purpose cleaner that you
can use around little ones: fill a 32 ounce spray bottle with
water, and add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
Keep It Fun
Make picking up a game by asking your child to "find all the
red things and put them into the toy bin". Or have them pick
up 5 things then come find you for a great big bear hug or
tickle. You can also plan something fun after cleaning to
create a natural incentive to get things done. "As soon as
we pick up all the toys, it will be time to go to the
playground!" Kids respond well to quick cleaning sessions.
The "10 second tidy" where everyone picks up and puts
away as quickly as possible work well. And the effect is lost
on me, but a lot of kids love to sing the Barney clean up
song when they're tidying.
Life with little ones around is a bit like using spaghetti for
bookends: fun but certainly messy. Enjoy it while it lasts!
around, creating a lot more mess in their insatiably curious
and neverending activity, we expect ourselves to have a
perfectly tidy home. When your baby was younger you
probably imagined that once she started sleeping through
the night and playing independently you would get a handle
on the chores. Surprise!
Mothering a toddler is fun but constant vigilance. Not only
are you concerned with her physical safety but you are
rightly concerned with her emotional health as well. You
want to have fun and play with your little one but as an
adult, you have a need for some order. What to do? Here
are some tips that have worked for many other Moms.
Rethink Housework & Define Your Minimums
Try to lower your standards a bit. If your house could pass
the white glove test before you had kids and you try to
keep up that standard now, you could drive yourself nuts.
If you have a lot of trouble doing this, then think for a
moment about why. Are you trying to live up to someone
else's idea of what your house should look like? Are you
worried about what your mother, mother in law or neighbors
might think? In any case, if you're feeling judged, take a
look at that and decide what's more important to you. Do
you want a perfect home or do you want to have a happy
toddler whose Mommy has time to play?
Decide what is important to you and figure out how to do
those tasks as quickly and easily as possible. For instance,
you may hate to feel dirt under your feet when you walk
across the floors but a little dust doesn't bother you.
Keeping that chore done consistently will make the house
feel clean to you.
Make Some Lists
Grab a sheet of paper and decide which chores can be
skipped, which chores can be simplified, and which chores
you can get help with. Is it really essential to fold underwear
or can they be placed neatly in a drawer? Can socks be
tossed into a drawer and the wearer match them himself? It
is really necessary to separate all the kid's laundry or can
most things be washed together?
Clear out clutter as much as possible. Clutter makes
housework more difficult, time consuming and downright
dangerous (like when you are tripping over things in the
basement or having items fall on your head in closets). Go
through your house with a large trash bag on a regular
basis and throw things out if they don't make you smile
when you look at them. Donate it to charity and feel good
about yourself!
I Helped!
Your toddler can do a surprising number of household
chores and will probably be delighted to imitate you. When
you dust, hand her a microfiber dusting cloth and let her
"help". Toddlers love to splash their hands in water. Maybe
she could "wash dishes" in the sink next to you. She may
not be so great at folding laundry, but can she dig out all
the socks and put them in a pile for you? Perhaps she can
help unload the dishwasher by handing you the spoons
and forks. At this stage, the point is not to have her doing
chores but rather to keep her happy and close while you
get some work done.
Can you hire out some of the household chores? Don't
dismiss this right away. If your budget is slim, you might
know a teenager who is in need of some extra cash who
could come over and help you out. Or maybe you would be
willing to forego a dinner out here and there to pay for an
occasional housekeeper.
Make Cleaning Convenient
Keep non toxic cleaning products and tools handy so that
when you have a moment or two, you can go a quick task.
When your toddler is in the bathtub you have to be in the
bathroom to supervise her anyway. Why not clean the floor,
sink and toilet while you're in there? Baking soda sprinkled
in the sink and toilet will scrub effectively and sweeten the
air too. For an inexpensive multi purpose cleaner that you
can use around little ones: fill a 32 ounce spray bottle with
water, and add a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.
Keep It Fun
Make picking up a game by asking your child to "find all the
red things and put them into the toy bin". Or have them pick
up 5 things then come find you for a great big bear hug or
tickle. You can also plan something fun after cleaning to
create a natural incentive to get things done. "As soon as
we pick up all the toys, it will be time to go to the
playground!" Kids respond well to quick cleaning sessions.
The "10 second tidy" where everyone picks up and puts
away as quickly as possible work well. And the effect is lost
on me, but a lot of kids love to sing the Barney clean up
song when they're tidying.
Life with little ones around is a bit like using spaghetti for
bookends: fun but certainly messy. Enjoy it while it lasts!
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About the Author
Somehow, Carrie Lauth of
http://www.NaturalMomsTalkRadio.com found the time to
write this article in the midst of picking up after 4 little ones.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Lauth
Somehow, Carrie Lauth of
http://www.NaturalMomsTalkRadio.com found the time to
write this article in the midst of picking up after 4 little ones.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Carrie_Lauth
By Carrie Lauth
