If they can do it, why not have them do it! One of my boys asked if he could do some laundry. I looked at him a bit confused. Is my child asking to do the laundry?
Yes, I believe he is.
Little did he know what he was getting into but I took this opportunity to introduce him to a very important rite of passage in our family. At this point we’d been doing chores for some years but laundry wasn’t a part of their chores because it just involved more responsibility. But he was the perfect age to learn how to do laundry.
This was not my personal experience as a child, for better or for worse. I didn’t have to do laundry until I was in high school and even at that point I wasn’t doing loads of laundry. I was only doing a few pieces of clothing that I wanted to wear but were dirty. I think for my mom it was her way of loving us, by doing things for us. I don’t blame her for it and I loved it as a kid, but I think there are lots of advantages to teaching our kids to do laundry when they’re young. Here are a few reasons, if you’re like my mom and need some encouragement.
Teaching Our Kids to Do Laundry
I’m speaking to myself–we– need to give up the control. Yup, I know it’s hard and sometimes it’s easier to do yourself. I like things done a certain way too, but in order to motivate our kids we have to let go of that control. Remember their age and capability, my kids will not fold clothes exactly like I do because they are still learning.
First, laundry is a big responsibility and they are ready! Let them know that this is a very important chore and you’re teaching them because you feel like they are responsible enough. Treat it like a rite of passage. Let them know that you believe they can do it now. Show them how you would like to have it done and then walk them through it.
Second, when they have to deal with tough stains themselves this will help them be more conscious about how much trouble goes into removing those stains. OxiClean™ Laundry detergent is a great detergent to help you get those tough kid stains out. It’s an all-in-one solution for all laundry needs that helps save time since it only takes one wash and no additives. Please follow manufacturer directions for your garments. For best results, pretreat stains with laundry detergent, wait 5-10 minutes and then wash.
Third, if your kids are anything like mine, half the laundry in their basket is not dirty. But when they are doing their own laundry, they’re more conscientious about putting EVERYTHING in the laundry basket even when it’s not dirty.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by OxiClean™ through their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write a post about OxiClean™ Laundry, all opinions are my own.
