The Girl in the Red Shoes

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Uncategorized | May 20, 2014

Raising a Helping Heart

 photo IMG_6644copy.jpg

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Rubbermaid, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #RMDishRack  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Now that Hudson can kind-of sort-of follow directions, I’m trying to brainstorm ways for him to help out around the house. He LOVES “helping” me with any chore I’m doing. Even though his help usually causes like 10 times more work for me, I think it’s worth it in the long run. My ultimate goal is to raise a child that has a helping heart who finds joy in serving others and his family. And having his help has encouraged me to think of ways to make doing chores fun!

Here a few simple things I’ve started to implement to teach Hudson how he can help out around the house:

1. Give him a task and have zero expectations. This means you have to not care at all if the job actually gets done. I like giving Hudson a brush and dustpan and asking him to sweep the floor. He thinks it’s fun and he does manage to clean the floors just a bit….and every little bit helps! I’m trying to capitalize on his “cleaning is fun!” attitude for as long as possible!
 photo IMG_4859.jpg2. Pretend play. This one is HUGE in our house. Hudson’s toy kitchen has been great for practicing putting dishes away and cleaning up.

3. Everything is better with music. Jamming to our favorite tunes always makes our work more fun!

 photo IMG_6626.jpg4. Help mommy with chores. Hudson LOVES to help mommy! Whenever I’m doing the dishes or unloading the dishwasher, I like to let Hudson observe me as I narrate for him what I’m doing. This gets him interested in the task because it must be super cool if mommy is doing it, right? Hudson loves to hand me (small) dishes as I unload the dishwasher and likes to attempt to dry dishes with a towel. 
Hudson is too young to have chores assigned to him, but hopefully when it’s time for that it will be a smooth and fun transition!

 photo IMG_6620.jpgHudson loves finding a spot for dishes to dry after I was them on our new Rubbermaid dish rack!

 photo IMG_6653.jpgThis Rubbermaid dish rack is my secret weapon when it comes to hand-washing delicate items what I don’t want to risk ruining in the dishwasher! I found it at Target and I’m in love! 

 photo IMG_6606.jpgAfter finally completing our kitchen makeover, I was on the hunt for a more stylish dish rack. The Rubbermaid dish rack holds so much stuff…and blends in perfectly in my kitchen too. 

 photo IMG_6612.jpgIt’s perfect for holding my more delicate dishes and stemless wine glasses. If you use Target’s app, Cartwheel (and you should, because it’s amazing!) you can save 15% off right now. Happy shopping and happy organizing! 
At what age did you start assigning your child chores?


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Comments

  1. Rachel says

    May 20, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    This is too sweet! What a precious little man you have. Soon he'll be helping with chores in no time!

  2. hello erin says

    May 20, 2014 at 1:35 pm

    i LOVE kids love of all things chores. . and sweeping! i think hudson will ROCK feeding the dog one day soon!

  3. Elizabeth {Chasin' Mason} says

    May 20, 2014 at 2:05 pm

    This is a great idea! Mason loves to "help" me unload the dishwasher too. The only problem is.. he's unloading as I'm trying to load. HA! But I do love to give him some things to do. Mainly I tell him to put his dirty clothes in his laundry hamper and he LOVES to put them away. That and closing the doors on his closet after we get our clean clothes for the day. You're right… got to capitalize on them WANTING to help while we can!

  4. Sara McCarty says

    May 20, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    Mac loves to help out around the house too. He sweeps and mops and vacuums. He does a terrible job, but it's so cute to watch him try and he's always so proud of himself!

  5. Carolyn says

    May 20, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    I love this idea for teaching kids chores! Weston is still a ways away from that, but I always sing the "clean up" song when I pick up his toys at night. He thinks it's HILARIOUS. 🙂

  6. Jessica says

    May 20, 2014 at 6:17 pm

    I love the idea of encouraging a helping heart in our boys! Hopefully they will always be sweet and willing to help!:)

  7. Colleen Sullivan says

    May 20, 2014 at 7:14 pm

    Hudson is looking so grown up! When did he become such a Big Guy?! Love the dish rack — great for all the sippy cups that never self dry in the dishwasher too.

    We love giving Owen little "jobs" around the house too. He gets really into helping us and I think it teaches some great lessons and sets good examples. His favorites are unloading the clean spoons into the drawer, washing the sliding door window and vacuuming!

  8. Renn McMurray says

    May 20, 2014 at 8:29 pm

    love this.
    1 of the first chores we assigned our little boy was "the magnets" it was his job to get them all looking nice on the fridge. It was easy enough, didn't require my help, after teaching him how, and if he did it great the kitchen really did look better with neat magnets, and if not, not a problem.

  9. Ashley says

    May 20, 2014 at 9:27 pm

    We're trying different things around the house too. Wyatt's favorite thing to do is "help" with laundry. He's very good at taking clothes out of the washing machine, even the dirty ones! 😉
    He also loves to hand me the silverware (I take the knives out first) out of the dishwasher, so I can put them away! Chores are something that can never be started to early! 🙂

  10. Joie de Viv says

    May 21, 2014 at 1:45 am

    Can't wait for the day Kaitlyn can and will want to help out with chores! At her age, the sight of seeing Hudson up on the counter, next to knives, I just freak out a little bit inside! I know it's a sponsored post, but totally loving this drying rack for how streamlined it is! I'm looking for a new one and will definitely check it out! Just wish it had edges to keep things "in" since I tend to hand wash a LOT.

    xx Viv at JoieDeViv

  11. Claire C. says

    May 21, 2014 at 4:31 am

    He is absolutely adorable and I love how you are teaching him about chores from such a young age!

  12. Zoe {The Latina Lens} says

    May 21, 2014 at 8:51 pm

    I love this idea! My girls just laugh at me when I ask them to help me clean lol

  13. Ashley @ Life on the Parsons Farm says

    May 22, 2014 at 5:21 am

    I am on the hunt for a play kitchen for Ellie and I love yours!! Where on earth did you find it? I'm dying to know!!!

    atparsons.blogspot.com

  14. Big EZ says

    May 24, 2014 at 8:03 am

    You need a 'Helper's Stand' like I made Leah. Em uses it all the time to be at counter height and help with the cooking! Leah says that Em uses it every day. Hudson would love it!

  15. Chrisy Fink says

    May 28, 2014 at 11:44 am

    Love the play kitchen as well!! Where did you find it?

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