Ahhhh… it’s National No Housework Day. What? You haven’t heard of it? Well, if you’re anything like us, it’s soon to become one of your favorite days of the year.
Why You Need to Celebrate
Every parent out there knows what it’s like to feel stressed out. The demands of the day never seem to end. Our lists of responsibilities are endless and once in a while, we simply deserve a break. So go ahead… you owe it to yourself. Take the day off from your household chores. Order pizza tonight so you’re not left with a sink full of dishes tomorrow. Enjoy what’s really important, and put the cleaning aside. Spend some time with the family, have a movie night, or go somewhere new.
This passage from the poem Dust if You Must by Rose Milligan, explains it perfectly:
Dust if you must, but wouldn’t it be better
To paint a picture, or write a letter,
Bake a cake, or plant a seed;
Ponder the difference between want and need?
Dust if you must, but there’s not much time,
With rivers to swim, and mountains to climb;
Music to hear, and books to read;
Friends to cherish, and life to lead.
Dust if you must, but the world’s out there
With the sun in your eyes, and the wind in your hair;
A flutter of snow, a shower of rain,
This day will not come around again.
But What About Tomorrow?
Taking a day off from cleaning sounds like a dream come true. Enjoy the day off today, but keep in mind that cleaning doesn’t have to be such a chore. Here are a few tips to make cleaning fun – especially when you have kids!
A 10 Minute Tidy Up
We can all clean for 10 minutes. Set a timer and challenge the entire family to tidy up as much as they can within that timeframe. You’ll likely be surprised by just home much can be done in this short amount of time!
Use Rewards Charts
There are all sorts of ways you can use reward charts to motivate your children. You can assign chores to each child, making off the chart when the task has been done. After a certain number of chores have been done, or at the end of the week or month, you can offer up a reward such as a trip for ice cream or a night at the movies. Be sure to switch up the chores regularly so the kids don’t get bored!
Crank Up the Tunes
When you are dancing around the house and signing your favorite songs while cleaning, it no longer feels like a chore. Make a playlist of some of the kid’s favorite songs, and make it a party. Dust to the rhythm, be silly, and have fun!
Set a Timer and Take Breaks
If there a number of things that need to get done, the kids are likely to get burnt out fast. Set a timer, work for 20 minutes, and then take a break to enjoy a snack or get some fresh air. Then get back to the work at hand. Trying to get it all done in one shot may end up taking much more time when you have to drag them through each and every task.
Make it a Race
Kids love to play games. If you make it a fun and friendly competition, you can convince them to focus on the task at hand and get it done in less time. You can see who can get their laundry put away the fastest or who can pick up and put away the most items in a specific amount of time. Even adults love a good challenge, making this a great way to get the whole family involved to clean up and have a little fun! Click over to our blog page for some more fun ideas.
