How to Encourage Siblings to Work Together With Chores
Chores are one of those words children typically hate to hear, as it requires doing menial, dirty tasks that keep them from playing. Siblings often fight over who does what chores and who is doing more or less work. One way to avoid these fights is to instill a positive outlook on chores from the start, so children won't view chores with dread, but as an important part of family life.
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Instructions
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Make chores seem fun. If small children see you are unhappy as you clean or if you and your spouse argue about who is going to clean what, cleaning is not going to be something they want to do willingly. Demonstrate working together with your spouse in front of the children. Say thank you to each other for helping to clean and keep a smile on your face. Blast music throughout the house and dance as you clean to show the children you can enjoy yourself while working together.
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Rationalize the benefits of working together. Explain to your children that doing their chores adds a very important contribution to the family, and that if they work together, they will get their chores done faster. In addition, explain they will each have less work to do and can turn it into a game by pretending to be hotel maids or whatever comes to their imagination.
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Involve the children in the chore decision. Hold a family meeting and discuss with your kids what chores you would like them to do that week. Allow input and negotiation, if they are old enough, on which child will do what. If one child really hates the idea of cleaning the toilets, allow the children to negotiate among each other. This will teach them to compromise for the common goal of getting the chores done. Monitor the discussion, however, to make sure everyone is doing their fair share.
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Praise and encourage your children when you see them working together to clean the house. Young children live for parental praise, and will feel good about doing their part if their efforts are acknowledged. Encourage them to say please and thank you to each other as they work together.
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Set consequences if the children do not do their chores, or if they can't get through them without bitterly arguing with their siblings. Try to relate the consequence to the offense for a deeper impact. For example, if your son constantly puts off taking the trash out until he forgets and it's overflowing, have him deep-clean the outside garbage can. For a child who doesn't make her bed in the morning, have her strip the sheets and remake all of the beds in house. For two older squabbling siblings, make them spend the entire day with you deep-cleaning the whole house.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not offer a reward or money for doing everyday chores or children will come to expect it for anything you ask them to do. Chores are a responsibility that comes with being a part of a family.
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