Knock out Both Housework and Family Time

For a household to run smoothly, it takes teamwork. Yes, it's a (very) safe bet that your kids moan and groan when chores are announced, but there are ways to get them energized about that next load of laundry or cleaning project without prompting a tantrum or battle. “Depending on the age of the child, there are a multitude of things you can do to integrate relationship-building time with household responsibilities,” says Maria Marinakis, parenting expert and creator of 10minuteparenting.com.

Spend some quality time with your children over the grocery list. “Get them involved with planning, clipping coupons and organizing a shopping list, doing inventory control and figuring out what needs to go on the list,” suggests Marinakis. Put the extra savings into a general fund and let the children decide how to spend it on the next family activity.

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That next family activity may include a meal prepared by your entire team. For older children especially, Christina Scalise, author of Organize Your Life and More, suggests parents encourage them to create a recipe book. Use a binder with page protectors to hold recipes, and have the kids decorate the cover. Create rules for the book that include cleanup strategies as well so they don't leave your kitchen a mess. The recipe book will offer more than just meals—it will provide memories for your family in years to come.

Reichert also likes to motivate her children when it’s laundry time. Combining a movie night with the laundry schedule allows her family to bond and get daily chores completed all at once. “They pick out their favorite movie, and we start it at the same time we start the laundry,” Reichert says. “We can get four-to-five loads of laundry washed, dried and folded by the end of the movie.”

Cleaning together can be especially fun for all ages when chores turn tidying up into a game. “Launch an assembly line that gets the whole family involved in a particular chore,” suggests Dr. Lara Jana, pediatrician, author and mother of three. Even implementing a game of hide and seek can make your home spotless. “Ask your kids to spot areas that are unclean and you may be surprised how many they can find,” says Jana, like these two here checking out dust under the bed.

While games will get your children excited about cleaning, rewards may keep them engaged. Implementing a rewards system tied to household chores is a great way to encourage responsibility, too. Jana suggests creating a chore chart, complete with tasks for mom and dad as well. “While the real reward is a clean home, you can also offer anything from a family movie night to a reasonable allowance,” says Jana.

Cleaning together can also provide educational opportunities for the entire family. “It’s never too early to educate your kids about germs,” Jana says. “Help them identify and then tackle bacteria-rich surfaces, like door handles, kitchen sinks, toilets and light switches.” Once they’ve identified the germ, show them how to tackle it with safe cleaning products.

If time is of the essence, get the family together for a 10-minute tidy session. Divide your family into rooms or various tasks, such as dusting and vacuuming, and let the race to beat the clock begin. With everyone helping, you can have the house whipped into shape quickly, says cleaning coach Leslie Reichert. “We have five in our family, so I get 50 minutes of cleaning done in 10 minutes.”

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Those germs accumulate on dusty tables and bookshelves, too. Get rid of the dust with a family dance party dusting. Music can help make any cleaning task fun, especially if you allow your children to choose their favorite songs. “Put on some fun songs, give them a duster and dance around while cleaning,” suggests Marinakis. “To make it more fun and a challenge, try to finish a certain area by the time a song ends.”