Sometimes the simplest projects are the most fun to your child. I had been putting off washing the dog’s kennel for several weeks. When I finally moved the kennel onto our back porch, S asked me why I put it outside. When I told her it needed to be washed, she begged me to let her wash it.
I am not one to turn down help, so I took the kennel apart and gathered up the supplies S would need. She dumped soap in the kennel and then added water from the garden hose. I gave S some rags and she started washing.
She started by staying on the outside of the kennel. It was a very warm day and the temptation of the water was too much, soon S was sitting in the kennel in the water.
Of course then water started flying through the air. S was laughing and having so much fun. An hour later the dog kennel was completely clean. We hosed off the inside and outside and left it in the sun to dry.
I learned a couple things from my daughter that day: 1) simple projects can be the most fun and 2) even if a project seems like a chore it doesn’t have to be.
What unexpected fun have you and your child had?
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How cool! It’s great to have a reminder that things don’t have to always feel mundane. Thanks for sharing!
Livi (www.vickiandlivi.com)
Thanks Livi!
Sometimes those simple, carefree days are what I miss most now that my kids are grown. Enjoy, she’ll be driving cars & walking down the aisle in a blink of an eye. I kid you not!
Can she stay this age forever? Please I don’t want her to grow up! 🙂
S is such a big helper! Chores doesn’t have to be boring, they actually can be a lot of fun!
Exactly Louida, now if I can remember that the next time I have to mop the floor 🙂
S looks like she’s having a great time, it’s sometimes important to not only teach our children but learn from them! Popping in from Magic Moments.
That’s great advice Fiona! Thanks for stopping by!
and thank you for joining me for Country Kids, I hoped you might!
Thank you Fiona!
Children seem to find the fun in everything! My 8 year old grandson baked a recipe for my hit or miss Wednesday all by himself. I’ll be sharing this Wednesday. 🙂
I can’t wait to see what your grandson made, Alli!
Aww! She is adorable. How sweet that she offered to help! Looks like she did a really great job too. Total sweetheart!
She can be such a good helper! Thanks Leah!
I have such a hard item letting me kids “help” sometimes and I know I need to let them do more NOW, because they’re at the age where they actually WANT to help and it makes them excited to be able to do what mommy or daddy is doing.
Yes, take advantage because soon they will not want to help!
Stopping by from the link-up. It’s always a great idea to get the kids involved 🙂
Thank you Kristy!
So cute!
xoxo
The Accidental Mama
http://theaccidentalmama.com
Thank you.
I’ve noticed that if I make clean up fun – sing songs, make a game of it – Connor seems to really enjoy cleaning his playroom at the end of each day.
That’s great advice! When S went to Little Gym they use to sing to clean up and all the kids would help out.
How awesome! 🙂 Having a child really does give you plenty to think about–good and bad–and lessons do crop up in the strangest of places. The thing that my daughter has taught me lately is to slow down and appreciate life. We’re in that stage of toddlerhood where she has to touch every leaf, look at every flower, and wave to every person walking past. I just want to get in the car so we can get groceries! She’s made me realize that I’m just too focused on the end goal and not enough on the little things!
That’s so true Natalie! Slow down, stop and smell the roses 🙂 I know I need to do that more often.
Looks like you guys turned a boring chore into a blast. 🙂 Good for you.
Thanks Candy, she had so much fun!
she is adorable! It is amazing how kids think cleaning is fun sometimes! 🙂 I wish we all thought cleaning was fun!
Yes! We need to figure out how to make cleaning fun!
Great story! I agree you can make chores fun. Sometimes my husband I knock out a ton of laundry by listening to podcasts together. It’s a great way to help us get it done fast.
That’s a great idea Stephanie!
So cute! Those spontaneous, unexpected fun times are the best!
I agree Kimberly!
Lovely post and it is so true, young kids can often find and create fun in even the most mundane of jobs! xx #countrykids
Yes they certainly can. Thanks Caroline!
Simple fun doing chores can definitely be turned into lots of fun with children. It looks like she had a great time!
#CountryKids
Yes Karen, she had a blast!
Looks so much fun! #countrykids
Thanks Merlinda!
See…why do we buy expensive toys when kids can turn anything into fun?
Thanks so much for linking up at Teach Me Tuesday last week! You are very much appreciated! Hope to see you again this week. Starts tonight at 8pm CST.
Have a great week!!
I know, right? Thank you Bobbi!
Love this and thanks for linking up at #momtimethurs 🙂 Amee
Thank you Amee!