Chores + Fun = Balance

Mikey’s journal entry could have described any weekend in our house during the years he was growing up.

Bring in the garbage pails after trash pick-up, throw in some laundry and then it’s time for some fun!

Inclusion

We want our kids to be included in all the fun parts of childhood.  To make them a full member of our family, they need to be included in everything that is possible for them.  Especially when they are young, try out different chores to test their capabilities. 

Accepting No

Just as we like our kids to accept no when we say it to them, as Mikey got older, we took his input more and more. In regard to chores, social gatherings and outings, we gave him a bigger say in how he helps around the house and how he uses his recreation time. Note I did not say, we give him 100% total rule over what he does and doesn’t do…because sometimes everyone has to do things they don’t want to do. You might consider requiring that your child help out, but giving them two choices of chores and asking them to choose one.

We can include choice, but we still stick to our basic formula, Chores + Fun = Balance.