Getting your kids to do their chores can be a chore in itself. But there are so many benefits making your kids a part of the household cleaning regimen. Here are a few things to consider when enlisting and motivating your tots to tidy.

Start them young

Kids are never too early to be part of the household cleaning routine, so be sure to find some age-appropriate tasks for your children as soon as they are able. It may end up being more work for you in the beginning, as simple tasks are drawn out while teaching your kids how to do them, but the benefits, both for you and your kids, will pay off in the long run. And the earlier you start, the easier it will be to get your kids to participate.

Make some chores table stakes

There are benefits to rewarding your children with allowance or other perks for completing household tasks. It teaches children responsibility, work ethic and how to budget their own money. But there should be some tasks that they should do that are not connected to financial reward. As part of the household, every family member should contribute to its upkeep in some way. A great start is taking care of their own areas and messes – making their bed, emptying their garbage cans or picking up after themselves for example. Then you can expand it into other, communal tasks that benefit the family, such as emptying the dishwasher or folding clothes. You can then also earmark some communal tasks for each child that are tied to an allowance or reward if you’d like, but it’s a great life lesson for kids to learn to be self-sufficient and motivated to take care of themselves without a reward.

Lead by example

It can be hard for parents who are working and running a household to stay on top of all of the household cleaning. More often than not the common areas are given the most attention and things like the parents’ room can fall by the wayside. But it’s important for parents to keep their space clean as well. It’s harder to convince kids to clean their own rooms when your own room is messy. And, if you involve kids in the household cleaning routine from an early age, it will be easier for you to find the time for your own space.

Making household cleaning a family affair provides so many benefits beyond simply helping your children develop a strong work ethic. It also helps lessen the stress in your life by lightening your load and frees up time for everyone in the family, so you can enjoy more quality time together. So next time you tackle a your chore list, share it with the whole family!