There never seems to be enough hours in the day to get everything done, does there? This is especially true when it comes to managing a household. Between taking care of the kids, cooking meals and doing laundry, it can feel like there's never a moment to spare. Thankfully, we have some tips and tricks to make managing household tasks more manageable.
Why include your child in household chores?
One of the best ways to teach your children responsibility is to have them help out with tasks around the house. By including them in your daily list of tasks, they'll learn how to work as part of a team and develop important life skills, like time management, organisation, self-reliance and problem-solving - which are all great benefits of chores. It's also a great way to bond with your children as you work together, building a stronger, more connected family.
How to manage all your household chores
There are a few different ways that you can manage your household chores. We explore some options and offer some tips below.
1. Identify daily, weekly, and monthly chores
Make a list of all the chores that need to be done around the house, then break them down into daily, weekly and monthly tasks. This will help you better plan your time and ensure that all the important tasks are getting done.
Some examples of daily tasks include: making the bed, doing the dishes and taking out the rubbish. Weekly tasks could include vacuuming floors and cleaning the bathroom. Monthly tasks might be deep-cleaning the kitchen or shampooing the carpets.
By breaking down your chores into manageable tasks, you can make sure that everything is getting done without feeling overwhelmed. Breaking down tasks also allows you to identify age-appropriate chores for your children. It's essential to give your children chores that they are capable of completing, so they don't get frustrated or overwhelmed. Making sure they enjoy the process can give them a sense of accomplishment. Here are our handy lists of age-appropriate tasks to give your children:
2. Set tasks with GoHenry
If you're looking for a fun and easy way to get your kids involved in household chores, why not try using GoHenry? With GoHenry, you can assign paid tasks so that everyone knows what needs to be done and what they will get as a reward. You can also use the app to keep track of who has completed their tasks and give rewards for a job well done.
GoHenry is a great tool for teaching kids about the value of hard work and money. It's also perfect for motivating your children to get their chores done and earn regular pocket money.
Using GoHenry to manage household chores is simple and easy.
3. Make chores fun
If you're struggling to get your kids excited about doing chores, there are a few things that you can do to make them more fun. One way is to give them stickers or stamps for every task they complete and once they've earned enough, they can cash them in for a prize. This could be their favourite treat, extra screen time or even extra pocket money. You could also try making a game of it by seeing who can finish their tasks the quickest (or best). Or, have a dance party while cleaning up together by putting on their favourite songs.
Making chores fun is a great way to get your kids engaged and excited about helping out around the house. By finding ways to make it more enjoyable, they'll be more likely to stick with it and develop positive habits for life. And who knows, maybe they'll even like doing chores!
Looking for more ways to make chores fun for kids? Take a look at our 7 ways to make chores fun for kids for inspiration.
4. Introduce rewards for chores with GoHenry
Offering rewards for a job well done is one way of making sure your children are getting their tasks done. With GoHenry, you can set up paid tasks, assigning them with extra pocket money. For example, you could give them £0.70 for making their bed every day without being asked. Or, you could give them £1.00 for every time they wash the dishes. This can help keep them motivated and excited to help out around the house. Plus, you can stay on track with what's been done and easily set up regular pocket money payments within the GoHenry app.
You can also use GoHenry to teach your kids about budgeting and saving up for things they want. With our app, they can keep track of their spending and set savings goals. This is a great way to show them the importance of being responsible with their hard-earned money.
How much should you pay children for household chores?
This is down to personal choice, as it's up to you to decide what is fair, reasonable and within your means. But, to give a bit of guidance, according to GoHenry’s Youth Economy Report, in the UK, weekly earnings from paid tasks averaged £0.73, and the average total weekly earnings, including pocket money and payment for tasks, stand at £8.20 per child. Older teenagers tend to earn more. Again, it's up to you to find the right balance for your family.
How much should you pay children for different household chores?
It completely depends on the age of your child and the complexity and time taken to complete the task. Here are some earning averages from our Youth Economy Report, for reference:
- Tidy room - £1.03
- Homework - £1.18
- Load / empty dishwasher - £0.88
- Make the bed - £0.81
- Put clothes away - £0.70
- Vacuuming - £1.20
- Empty bins/recycling - of £0.76
- Brush teeth - £0.70
- Feed pets - £0.88
- Get ready for school - £0.74