Comments on: Having MORE FUN!

By: LuAnn Crim

LuAnn Crim — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:38:53 +0000

I tackle one messy corner of a room at a time; set me a time limit and see just how great I can make it within the time allowed! It’s not as fun as when my grandkids come up to visit, and they help with ideas and elbow grease!

By: Jennifer O

Jennifer O — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 03:09:31 +0000

Oh, I love this! Makes it so much more manageable. I think this would be useful for young children and for me, too!

One thing my 8yo likes to do is pretend to be a superhero (or a robot) and take direction from her dad & I about what needs to be cleaned up.

By: rachel

rachel — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:56:54 +0000

I have my kids change into bathing suits- we wash the floor with alot of warm sudsy water and we all get on our hands and knees and have a blast. they go slipping and sliding. When we’re done, the floor is cleaner than any typical mop cleaning!!!

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:54:24 +0000

Hello,
my friends and I we do “chors week-end” together. We all have some projects to get done at our place (painting, gardening, cooking…).We pick few week-end and instead of working alone at our own house, we go to each other place and get the project done, till everyone project is done, give us some time to chat, laugh and be together and we each accomplish something we really wanted to do! everyone is happy with that!!! And during that time, our kids play together!!! and are less demanding than if they would be alone with us!!

By: Esther

Esther — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:08:40 +0000

When the house is flying, we sit down and make a whole list of all the things in the house that need to be cleaned, eg tidy dining room table, pick up toys in playroom, etc. We then cut it up and put it in a big bag. The kids pull out one job at a time and race to finish it. They then come and get a small treat when they’ve completed the job. The house gets spotless in no time.

By: Ginger

Ginger — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:28:37 +0000

There are several things I do to have fun when doing boring things.

#1 – When decluttering/straightening anywhere, play the “What is this? Where does it go?” game. Ask yourself those 2 questions and it really can make putting things away turn into a sort of a game. When you start you may find yourself looking for things to put away. It is a great game because if something doesn’t have a “home” you either make one or you should probably just get rid of that item.

#2 – When you’re in a long line at the grocery store, pick up a magazine and look at it while waiting.

#3 – Keep a Bible and/or Sudoku/Crossword book in your car for times you may have to wait.

#4 – Do a quick sort of your clothes before folding them. Don’t take any time to smooth or lay them out just quickly sort into piles. It makes it a much more efficient process and I actually enjoy (if that’s possible) folding them this way.

#5 – When faced with some mundane task like paying bills, make it a pleasurable ritual by playing pretty music, burning a candle, and/or sipping coffee/tea.

#6 – Invite someone over – there’s nothing like motivating you to clean up your house like the prospect of impending guests!

By: Melissa

Melissa — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:48:39 +0000

Tonight I announced “Let’s get ready to rummmmmbbbble, in the purple room Lydia will be picking up and cleaning and in the lavendar room Abi will be picking up and vacuuming! Who. will. the. winner. be????” They got to it in no time and their rooms look so much better than when I harass and nag.

By: nechoma @ parenting healthy kids

nechoma @ parenting healthy kids — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:16:46 +0000

Talking about stairways… we’ve been looking save up to carpet ours… till we saw your article and thought: “maybe piano keys would actually be fun for the kids…”

Nechoma

By: Gina Fox

Gina Fox — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:06:48 +0000

Oh My Goodness!!!! they would have to drag me off of those stairs. lol….. I would be all tryin to get people help me play chopsticks or something. =) We tend to put on loud music and dance around while we are doing housework too!

By: Jill

Jill — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:02:55 +0000

My friend has her kids and their friends race to see who can rake the fastest and fill the most bags with leaves. Everybody had a great time.

By: L.

L. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:17:09 +0000

THANKS for this email! I will ask my kids for ideas when I get home from work…

By: Celena Mills

Celena Mills — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:22:33 +0000

My kids and I “mop” the floor with wet, soapy towels and then play hockey on the wet floor with our clean bare feet until the floor starts to get too dry. (If we haven’t had enough, we just add more water!)

By: Barbara Siragusa

Barbara Siragusa — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:15:46 +0000

Love it!! Thanks for sharing.

By: Jaynee

Jaynee — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:14:03 +0000

Sing, laugh, dance. Everything can be turned into a song…even the basic of things like washing dishes, picking up clothes, changing diapers, etc. Laugh….laughter is contagious and you can’t help but smile. Dance–kids love to dance. Turn on their favorite music and boogie. Before you know it, you will all be laughing, singing and dancing.

By: Liberty

Liberty — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:12:34 +0000

Every Saturday we have a house cleaning “party” and everyone is involved. We crank up the radio, everyone gets a room and we get to it. We usually finish in under 30 minutes and everyone is busy laughing the whole time

By: Jared B.

Jared B. — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:11:55 +0000

I needed this video today- thanks, Ellen

By: Gail

Gail — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:10:30 +0000

I have no imagination- but I’m anxiously waiting to hear from others how to make homework be fun- wouldn’t that be a hoot!

Gail- mom of three small souls

By: Diana

Diana — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:09:13 +0000

Reminds me of my mom’s “fold the clothes parties” LOL!

By: Ellen C. Braun

Ellen C. Braun — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:08:27 +0000

“Clean Up The House Party”

We turn up the music and race around the house cleaning up once a week! My husband’s energy is contagious and never fails to rub off on all the kids!