I've mentioned my grandma a few times before and how she was creative, clever, and fun. I have so many amazing memories of the "little things" in life that she turned into great things. Not long ago she passed away and while the pain of losing her is still raw I know that I am so lucky because I have so many wonderful memories to last me a lifetime.
One thing that she made fun was cleaning. Yes, you read the right, cleaning! She loved to sew and she had sewn me an apron that she kept in the top drawer in her kitchen (right next to her towels). On Sundays we'd get up and she'd open the kitchen drawer and pull out my little apron and tie it on. It's amazing to me that a simple apron made cleaning fun. I thought it would be really neat to "pass on the cleaning fun" to my daughter. I made her a special cleaning apron that I now keep in my top drawer in my kitchen right next to the one my grandma made for me.
When it is time to get some cleaning done I try and make a game or a race out of it. I hand my daughter a duster and tell her "hey let's race and see who can dust off the most window sills or heat registers." I set a timer for 10 minutes and then we go for it.
The point of this post is two fold really. First, I wanted to encourage you to make "fun of the little things" in life and second to remember that daunting tasks can be fun if you make a game out of it. I hope you will share some of your stories with us too!
Here are some links to some great FREE printables to help out with making cleaning fun!
Free Chore Chart
Free Cleaning Routine
Free Blank Cleaning Routine
Free Spring Cleaning Kit
What Chores are Appropriate
Free Chore Reward Chart
Very cute! My kids love to get into the baby wipes and 'clean' with them.
ReplyDeleteAudrey and Maurene can get excited about cleaning. Maurene loves to wash the dishes and Audrey will help mop. It is great to teach them at a young age.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all - what a cute model you have with her apron! :) What a great thing to make for her to make memories. A friend was just talking about the great memories from her childhood that make her happy. She said we owe it to our kids to pay that forward. Making memories is priceless! :o)
ReplyDeleteOh what a smart cookie you are!
ReplyDeleteWhen mine were little, I would fill a little bucket with hot water and let them "wash" the kitchen. (cabinets and floor) They had a blast and it usually turned into a slip and slide contest before it was over ;-)
I just love the special apron! And I like how Jen the CraftinCowgirl's friend called it paying it forward to give our kids happy memories like the ones we've enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteYour little girl is so cute! I love the idea of making cleaning fun for little ones!
ReplyDeleteStopping by from Sharing Saturday!
What a great idea! Grandmas always have the best ideas to make everything fun, don't they? Thank you for sharing it at Sharing Saturday.
ReplyDeleteIt is always better to make things fun isn't it =-) Your daughter is adorable! Thanks for linking up to TGIF! Have a GREAT week,
ReplyDeleteBeth =-)
So cute! And, your daughter is super cute - love her skirt! New follower :)
ReplyDeletewww.barefootbysea.blogspot.com
Have a great week!
Jessica
Must say this is very good idea and by the looks of it quite useful strategy to involve your children into the cleaning chores and tasks.
ReplyDelete