Children Can Do Chores

Contributed by Pat Cascio, Morningside Nannies, Houston, TX.

Houston’s FOX 26 News called me on the 6th of May and asked if I would do a segment on getting kids to do their chores. I sent emails to a few of my International Nanny Association friends that are professional nannies in various cities across the nation asking for their advice. They shared wonderful ideas with me on the techniques that they found to be most successful. This article is based on my experience as a mother of four daughters as well as the advice of six very wise nannies. (See credits below.)

Where to Start
First of all, as a parent or nanny, you must set a good example. Do you have a place for everything and everything in its place, or do you drop your purse or keys on the first surface you find when you walk in the door? Do you leave unopened mail lying around for days on end? Do you drop your dirty clothes on the bedroom floor or on a chair every evening? Are your shoes left in front of the sofa over night? Is your glass left on the end table? Are you too tired to clean up the dinner dishes before going to bed? Do you throw a load of laundry in the washer when you realize that you need a certain item the next day? Do you leave clothes as they come out of the dryer in a heap until you get around to folding the laundry? Do you let the old newspapers pile up on the floor rather than putting them in the recycle bin?

Read more about Children and Chores at the Morningside Nannies blog ....