5 Ways My Sons Help Clean

I’m the mother of three young boys, and our house forever looks like a hot mess. On any given day our couch usually has clean laundry thrown on it, the dishwasher full of dishes to be unloaded, and the floor could use a quick sweep. Despite how it may look, everyone in our house helps out in some way from my oldest taking out the trash, my middle loading up laundry, and my 2 year old picking up his puzzles.

My boys are now 10, 7 and 2, and I fully expect my older boys to really help clean up. Each boy has tasks that are more specific to their age, but they know they are required to help out around the house.

Here are 5 chores I expect my boys to help out with:

1. Bedroom Pickup

I think it’s a fact that my boys shared room could be featured room on the show Hoarders at times. Whenever their room is completely out of control, so are their attitudes. Clutter = stress! Once they pick up their room and put everything in its place, everyone calms down a bit and their mood improves. Also, being able to see the floor is an added bonus.

2.Loading up the Laundry

I feel like our laundry machine never gets a break between washing towels, sports gear, and uniforms. Once I see that their laundry baskets are full, I ask the boys to put their baskets in the laundry room and place their clothes in the washer. We aren’t at the point where I can get them to run it on their own yet, due to the fact I’ve found too many toys and even shoes thrown in there. However, this is definitely a good start; my oldest son even helps fold towels and puts them away.

3. Boys Bathroom

I’ve blogged before over my hate of my sons’ bathroom. It’s a constant battle in our house to get urine ONLY in the toilet so we don’t have to hose down the bathroom with bleach constantly. Anyway, my boys help out cleaning the bathroom in many ways. They have cleaned the toilet, wiped down baseboards, swept the floor, and have even cleaned the tub. 

4. The Family Pet

We recently got a new puppy over the holidays, and everyone is excited to play with him. The boys help out by cleaning his water and food bowl, feeding him and cleaning up puppy messes.

5. Kitchen

There are so many ways my sons help out in the kitchen. For meals, one puts out the utensils and the other gets drinks for the family. They also make sure to scrape their plates into the trash and place them in the sink when they are done. And I can’t forget another big way they help out: unloading the dishwasher! My 7 year old will put away all the utensils while my 10 year old puts the plates, bowls and cups away.

While at times I struggle watching my sons slowly put things away and I think to myself how I could do it so much faster, I know the importance of teaching them how to clean and contribute to the household. Having them help out helps instill a sense of teamwork between them. Creating these habits also gives them a sense of accountability. They are less likely to get their room so messy where you can’t see the floor when they know that they are responsible for picking it up and not me. And let’s be honest, it helps ME out!

Do your kids help out around the house? What chores do you have them help with? 

Mary Olivio
Mary is a caffeine addicted boy mom to Noah, Liam and Luke. This “stay at home” mom can typically been found cruising in her minivan, jamming to Beyonce with a Starbucks in hand on her way to carpool or after school activities. Mary has been married to her high school sweetheart since 2007. She is a founder of Delivering Hope NOLA and the Vanessa Wolff Scholarship Fund at her Alma Mater. Mary is passionate in the local preemie community and has been heavily involved with the March of Dimes since her sons Liam and Luke were born premature.

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