5 Chores for School Aged Kids

When our kids reach school age, we often expect them to help out around the house.  Ideally they will have already been doing some small chores for a while.  Starting chores young makes it much easier to get them to do more substantial housework as they become capable.

You might be surprised at the chores a school aged child can handle.  If you can find tasks that they both enjoy and can do easily, it will make chore time much easier.  Here are some good chores for young school aged kids:

* Setting and clearing the table – Kids are often eager to help at mealtime.  Setting the table is a simple but important task that they can perform.  You can make it easier by using placemats that have outlines of where the plate and utensils go.  You might also want to consider getting plastic plates and cups to help avoid breakage.  After the family eats, your child can help clear the table.

* Folding and putting away the laundry – The laundry can be quite a chore.  Enlisting the help of the kids to get it folded and put away can be a huge help to a busy mom.  It’s usually unrealistic to expect a young school aged child to fold an entire load of laundry on her own, but she could fold her own clothes and put them up.  She may not fold them as well as you or put them exactly where they belong, but there’s no need to make a big issue out of it.  The important thing is that she is trying.

* Dusting – This is a very simple task that kids usually enjoy.  Give your child a duster or a sock to wear on her hand and let her have a blast.  If you’re worried about breakable items, move them all to a safe place before she begins.

* Help with the dishes – The dishes may go more slowly when you have a child helping, but things will get better once she has helped a few times and gotten the hang of it.  If you have a dishwasher, your school aged child can help with the loading and unloading.  If you wash by hand, she could rinse and dry the dishes.  Storing them in low cabinets will allow your child to put them up herself as well.

* Pet care – Kids usually prefer playing with their furry friends to assisting in their care, but having your child help with pet care is a great way to build her sense of responsibility.  You could start small, having your child give the pet food and water.  Once that is mastered, she could clean cages or litter boxes, and perhaps help with grooming if the pet gentle and even-tempered enough.

School aged children can help around the house in many ways.  Your child may be able to take on more complex tasks, or she may need some coaching on the simpler ones.  Either way, making housework a part of your child’s routine will make your life easier in the long run.

Create Stress-Free Holidays & Special Events

Many women stress over holidays and special events, such as their children’s birthday parties or family reunions.  It can be hard to find the time it takes to get ready for these events when you are already pressed for time on a normal day! Here are some tips to help you streamline this process:

* Start planning for these events early.  If your child’s birthday is in August, it is okay to start planning the celebration in June.  That way, you’ll have plenty of time to get things done and you won’t feel rushed when the day draws near.

* When you start the planning process, start with the end date and work backwards.  If the party is on the 20th, you’ll want to send the invitations out by the 2nd, so you’ll need to buy them on the 15th of the prior month to make sure you’ll have enough time to prepare them. Use this method to plan each aspect of the party.

* Most stores are packed the week before Christmas.  Avoid this shopping rush by purchasing your gifts ahead of time.  Start shopping in September and October or avoid the stores all together and shop online.

* If you are hosting a party at your house, don’t waste time cooking all the food yourself.  Instead, make it a pot luck and cook only the main entrée; ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert to pass.  If you are going to hold a large event, you may even want to consider having it catered. This doesn’t have to be formal; this can be as simple as getting a large party sub and a few salads from the deli.

* Many times, people will have several small celebrations for one event.  For example, a mom-to-be may have a baby shower for her side of the family, another one for her husband’s side of the family, and a third one for her friends.  If possible, hold one large shower and invite everyone. This will save you lots of time.

* If you work a lot of hours and simply do not have time to plan a party, consider hiring an event planner.  They specialize in this and can take the work off your hands, freeing you up to focus on other things.

* If you don’t want to worry about cleaning up after your guests, rent a space for your party, such as a conference room in a restaurant or an outdoor area in a park. If you want to hold the party in your home, you can always schedule a maid service to come over the day after the party and take care of the clean-up.

Create Stress-Free Holidays

Many women stress over holidays and special events, such as their children’s birthday parties or family reunions.  It can be hard to find the time it takes to get ready for these events when you are already pressed for time on a normal day! Here are some tips to help you streamline this process:

* Start planning for these events early.  If your child’s birthday is in August, it is okay to start planning the celebration in June.  That way, you’ll have plenty of time to get things done and you won’t feel rushed when the day draws near.

* When you start the planning process, start with the end date and work backwards.  If the party is on the 20th, you’ll want to send the invitations out by the 2nd, so you’ll need to buy them on the 15th of the prior month to make sure you’ll have enough time to prepare them. Use this method to plan each aspect of the party.

* Most stores are packed the week before Christmas.  Avoid this shopping rush by purchasing your gifts ahead of time.  Start shopping in September and October or avoid the stores all together and shop online.

* If you are hosting a party at your house, don’t waste time cooking all the food yourself.  Instead, make it a pot luck and cook only the main entrée; ask your guests to bring a side dish or dessert to pass.  If you are going to hold a large event, you may even want to consider having it catered. This doesn’t have to be formal; this can be as simple as getting a large party sub and a few salads from the deli.

* Many times, people will have several small celebrations for one event.  For example, a mom-to-be may have a baby shower for her side of the family, another one for her husband’s side of the family, and a third one for her friends.  If possible, hold one large shower and invite everyone. This will save you lots of time.

* If you work a lot of hours and simply do not have time to plan a party, consider hiring an event planner.  They specialize in this and can take the work off your hands, freeing you up to focus on other things.

* If you don’t want to worry about cleaning up after your guests, rent a space for your party, such as a conference room in a restaurant or an outdoor area in a park. If you want to hold the party in your home, you can always schedule a maid service to come over the day after the party and take care of the clean-up.