Chores

Moving in with him: The battle of dividing up household chores

Elizabeth Mitchell — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:00:00 -0700

Studies have proven it again and again! The key to any happy, healthy relationship when you live together is sharing responsibility around the house and feeling like you’re both equals. So how do you divvy up the chores in your casa? Here are a few methods that help my boyfriend and me not claw each other’s eyes out.

New survey shows house cleaning has positive romantic effects

Vanja Veric — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 06:00:00 -0700

Spending a little extra time sprucing up your space doesn't have to be a drag. In fact, it could even benefit your love life!

How to get your kids to help with the housework

Melissa Chapman — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:17:00 -0800

If you're one of those moms soldiering through the dirty dishes and clothes on your own you might want to get your kids in on the act. If for no other reason than it will lessen your workload, teach them a bit of responsibility and you might actually have some fun in the process.

Mom substitute: What would you outsource?

Lisa Steinke — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:00:00 -0700

Rebecca Eckler, a writer and mother from Canada, recently admitted she hired someone to teach her child to ride a bike. We decided to ask moms what mommy duties they'd outsource if they could. From potty training to bath time, what would you hire someone to do for you?

Getting your family to help in the kitchen

Naomi de la Torre — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Family meals are a great way to stay connected to your family members, but preparing healthy meals takes work. Try these helpful tips for fun ways to get your kids to lend a hand in the kitchen and make mealtimes even more enjoyable for everyone.

Parenting Guru: When you stop enabling

Julie Weingarden Dubin — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 08:00:00 -0700

Kay Wills Wyma, author of Cleaning House, earned an MBA and worked at the White House, but her greatest challenge may have been her recent quest to rid her Texas home of youth entitlement through a 12-month experiment that got her five kids cooking, cleaning and helping others, rather than leaning on Mom to do it all.

How to bribe your kids

Naomi de la Torre — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:00:00 -0700

Any parent who tries to say they've never bribed their kids is either a liar or too hopped up on juice boxes to think straight. But the real question remains, do you know how to bribe your children effectively? Stay tuned — we'll show you how.

How to start a family chore chart

Molly Cerreta Smith — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:00:00 -0700

Maintaining a household full of kids is more than a full-time job. And since many women have full-time jobs on top of everything else, it's important for the whole family to help out with household chores. SheKnows suggests these tips on how to start a chore chart the whole family can follow.

Mom vs. Dad: The allowance debate

Lisa Steinke — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 -0700

You grew up in a home where you earned a weekly allowance. Your husband on the other hand? When he was growing up, being paid for chores was a foreign concept. He was told that he was earning his keep. And now you can't agree on how to teach your kids the value of a dollar. So what to do? Read on for a list of the things your spouse should consider when debating if allowance is right for your child.

Top 5 reasons to love laundry day

Vicki Clinebell — Tue, 01 May 2012 06:09:00 -0700

Don't let mountains of dirty laundry pile up! Modern conveniences speed laundry day and remind us to be grateful for fresh clothes and linens.

How to teach kids the value of hard work

Kori Ellis — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:43:00 -0700

Prepare your children for the real world and teach them to take pride in themselves through the value of hard work.

Kids help with the cooking? Sure!

Jen Klein — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 06:15:00 -0700

Sometimes our lives get so busy that feeding our family can feel like a chore. After a long day, toiling in the kitchen seems like…not a treat. But you have to eat and so do your kids, so you do it. Wouldn’t it be nice if your kids could help you in the kitchen? A little bonding time could make that toil seem less like toil and more like fun. And you’ll be teaching your kids some terrific life skills. One day, you’ll even be able to call ahead and dinner will be waiting for you when you get home, thanks to your kitchen-confident kids!

Introducing your kids to what it takes to run a household

Jen Klein — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 08:37:00 -0700

What does the term “running a household” mean to you? Is it cleaning? Is it budgeting and bill-paying? Is it cooking? Is it scheduling? Is it home maintenance tasks? Is it personnel management and conflict resolution? Is it daily planning? Is it all that? Is it more? Yes, yes and yes. For all the tasks moms do in the course of a day, MBA programs could learn a thing or two about management. And your kids need to learn it, too, on their paths to independence.

Teach your kids to help with the house cleaning

Jen Klein — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 14:11:00 -0700

Regularly putting dishes away or keeping a neat room maybe a rule in your home for your child, but when was the last time your child helped with more serious cleaning. Sweeping the hallway, dusting the living room, or even wiping down the bathtub? Never? Time to start.

How to teach your kids to do the laundry

Jen Klein — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:45:00 -0700

You've heard it before: “Mom, I need my soccer socks clean today!” And it’s not laundry day. Or after a day of household chores, only the laundry is left and it seems like everyone else is relaxing while you are running up and down the basement stairs. Or you’re running late from work and you call to ask you kid to throw a load of laundry in the washer in advance of weekend guests and he claims not to know how to do it. Guess what? Kids can do laundry, too. So let them! And teach them.

Monday Mom challenge: Share the household load

Jen Klein — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 05:05:00 -0700

Crazy-busy, that’s how you describe it to friends. Your family is crazy-busy with school and sports and work and church and other activities you can’t even think of right now. In all that busyness, sometimes the state of the house slides into messy -- or even downright disaster. It’s so hard to find the time to get it clean and together and nice looking. And it’s easy to feel resentful about that. Why is it always you, Mom, who is worried about it?

How to get housework done with a newborn baby

Michelle Maffei — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 06:50:00 -0700

When your bundle of joy arrives, it may seem like the housework is the last priority on your list. But you don't have to choose between bonding with your baby and tidying up your abode. From making use of a baby carrier to letting the vacuum lull your little one off to dreamland, these seven tips on how to get housework done with a newborn baby will help you tackle the household chores without becoming overwhelmed.

20 age-appropriate chores

Michelle Maffei — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 11:12:00 -0700

While some children are more eager than others to help out around the house, giving your kids chores helps teach them responsibility and gives them a chance to earn an allowance or reward. Looking to give your youngster more responsibilities? Discover how to track chores, determine rewards for chores and assign age-appropriate chores.

How to make a weekly cleaning schedule

Sarah Kelsey — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 15:27:00 -0700

No one wants to get stuck with all of the cleaning duties around the house, which is why creating a weekly cleaning schedule is so important. Here are a few how-to tips to use the next time you’d like to divvy up chores between family members:

Teens and chores

Laura Willard — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 09:46:00 -0700

Does your teen have a chore list that he has to complete every week -- or is it just easier for you to let him off the hook and do it all yourself? If holding your teen to a chore list seems like more of a chore than it’s worth, or if you think your teen is too old for chores, it’s time to reconsider.

7 Tips for teaching your child responsibility

Michelle Maffei — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 11:12:00 -0700

Looking for a way to teach children responsibility? The best lessons can be taught right at home. Whether you’re a reformed “helicopter parent” or are ready for your sweetie pie to get on the road to responsibility, check out these 7 tips for teaching your child responsibility.