Everyday Chores Made Easy

MISSION, KS--(Marketwired - Apr 11, 2014) - (Family Features) Chores are an important part of teaching children about responsibility. By encouraging kids to be accountable for completing everyday chores, even at an early age, you might be surprised at their willingness to share in the household duties.

Here are some tips from the Walgreens Ology™ team on how to get the kids involved in creating a happy, healthy and clean home.

Stick to a routine:
Consistency is a key component in motivating children to follow through with chores. Make sure to stay on schedule so your kids don't get into the habit of procrastinating until the following week.

Keep expectations reasonable:
Go in knowing that your kids aren't going to clean in the same way you would. Be sure to encourage them along the way for their efforts and resist the urge to criticize or redo the chores they've completed.

Request specific actions:
Make sure you give them clear and specific tasks to complete. For example, rather than telling your kids to put their clothes away, ask them to fold their clothes and put them in the dresser drawers or hang them in the closet.

Use family-friendly cleaners:
Fight everyday household messes with a cleaner that's safer for your family and paper towels that are better for the environment, like Ology All-Purpose Cleaner and 100 percent tree-free paper towels. The cleaner's plant-based formula is free of harsh solvents, dyes, ammonia and artificial fragrances. Even if your child is too young to clean the countertops themselves, you can feel good about using these cleaners that contain no harmful chemicals when you children are close by.

Use a reward chart:
For kids, especially the younger ones, a visual reward chart is a great motivational tool and helps children to feel a sense of accomplishment. Purchase a set of gold stars or fun stickers, and allow them to mark off each chore on the chart once finished. After a certain number of chores are completed, offer a small reward for their hard work, such as a movie of their choosing or a special dessert.

Give ample praise:
Even more important than material rewards, is the satisfaction of a job well done. Make sure to give lots of encouragement along the way as well as positive feedback once the chore is complete.

Chores by age group:
As children grow older, their abilities change and their responsibilities should adjust accordingly. Here are some examples of chores that are appropriate for each age group.

Children 2 to 3 years old:

• Put toys away
• Stack books and magazines
• Place dirty clothes in hamper
• Fold washcloths

Children 4 to 5 years old:

• Feed pets
• Make the bed
• Water houseplants
• Empty wastebaskets

Children 6 to 7 years old:

• Sweep floors
• Set the table
• Replace toilet paper roll
• Rake leaves

Children 8 to 9 years old:

• Load dishwasher
• Put groceries away
• Walk the dog
• Vacuum

Children 10 and older:

• Mow lawn
• Prepare a simple meal
• Clean countertops
• Do the laundry

For more information on Ology household, cleaning and personal care products, available exclusively at Walgreens, visit www.walgreens.com/ology.

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