“Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.” —Dalai Lama.
The goal of parenting is to provide both roots and wings for your kids.
Roots to know where they came from, and wings to make the most of their lives when they leave.
To accomplish that, here are 15 cleaning tasks to teach your kids that will help them create a peaceful, stable, and life-giving home in the future.
1. Make beds.
And change the sheets.
2. Put away their own stuff.
For best results, start at a young age teaching kids everything has a home.
3. Wash and fold laundry.
Whites, darks, lights, delicates. Wash, dry, fold, and put away.
4. Clean toilets.
Not the most enjoyable cleaning task in the world, but an essential one for cleanliness and health.
5. Wash the dishes.
Both by hand and the dishwasher.
6. Take out the trash.
7. Vacuum.
They don’t have to be able to spell it, but they need to know how to do it.
8. Mopping.
Don’t overlook this.
8. Cleaning surfaces.
Dusting, sure. But also countertops, tabletops, and stovetops.
9. Declutter.
Teach them early how to declutter the things they don’t need. Whether that be toys, clothes, collections, or artwork.
10. Scrub the bathtub and shower.
In fact, if you need a refresher, here you go.
11. Wash the car.
Both exterior and interior.
12. Pet care.
13. Wash windows.
Again, if you need a refresher, here you go.
14. Clean out the fridge/expired foods.
Teach your kids what to look for and how you make these decisions.
15. Clean the blinds and/or window treatments.
And if you’re wondering what chores are age-appropriate for kids to get started around the house, WebMD has a helpful breakdown that I think is entirely appropriate.
Please NOT the so-called Dalai Lama. A little investigation will reveal he is just another politician no matter how many books he authors. Consider the Lamas under his authority and their predations. No response on his part.
To clean your blinds, first remove any dust by wiping down the window frame and then wipe down the blinds themselves. Next, use a damp cloth to wipe away dirt and grime. Finally, apply a small amount of glass cleaner to the top of each slat and let sit for about 30 seconds before wiping off excess liquid.
I would add “do not waste food” …
To keep your refrigerated foods up to date….I write with a Sharpie date opened and expiration. Goes with the FIFO rule. First in, first out. Helps with keeping condiments fresh as well. I don’t have kids, but these are helpful to those that do.
Please don’t teach them to waste gallons of water washing up a fork though, like in the photo. Washing up under a running tap definitely won’t contribute to a good future for our kids.
Really
What is the parents don’t know and the children have to teach the parents.
Thanks for the helpful list!
I love this! I can’t say I did this with my own daughter, but teach them young and they form good habits to last a lifetime!
Also under ‘Taking out the trash’ should be make sure to recycle. Paper and plastic. Very important. Love this!
Excellent life lessons list Joshua. Often I forget about washing windows so a reminder is helpful (for me, let alone the kiddos). Under #6. Take out the trash – I would just add, ‘recycle right and compost’ since that is all part of dealing with the waste we make. And those small steps can reduce what you have to haul to the curb!