Around here my girls are getting old enough to help with the chores which has been great! However, motivation to help is sometimes lacking so that’s when we try to make it a game. The result? The girls are often cleaning when they don’t even know it!
If you struggle with motivation to clean in your home try out one of these games to see if it helps!
Baseboard Race Cars
Items needed:
- Stopwatch
- Dust rag
Have one child start at one end of the room. On go, start the stopwatch and see how fast he can race his “car” (dust rag) around the “race track” (baseboard) to the other side. Repeat for each player. Whoever gets around the fastest wins. Repeat for each room. By the end of a couple players the baseboard will be as shiny as new.
Dust Hockey
Items needed:
- Masking tape
- Brooms (minimum 2)
- Paper plates (optional, for a little extra slide)
- Timer
Note: this is for wood and tile floor spaces only.
Make two “goals” at opposite ends of the room by placing masking tape squares on the floor about one foot by two feet. To play, have the players slide on two paper plates and sweep as much dust and dirt into their goals as possible. The team with the most dust and dirt in their goal at the end of 5 minutes wins.
Shower Painting
Items needed:
- Dish wand
- A few drops dish soap
- 1 tbsp. vinegar
- Water (enough to fill the dish wand)
Let the painters put on their bathing suits and hand them a dish wand filled with dish soap, vinegar, and water. Let them “paint” to their heart’s content. Wash down with your shower head when they are done (and you’ve take a picture for them to keep).
Trash Races
Items needed:
- Timer
- Grocery sacks
Have some trash that needs picked up throughout the house or outside? Give each player a trash bag and set the timer for 5 minutes. On go, each player tries to get the most trash in his/her trash bag. The person with the most trash when the timer goes off wins.
Dish Dash
Items needed:
- Clean dishes and silverware
Assign one person to the silverware basket, one person to the upper dishwasher basket, and one person to the lower dishwasher basket. Who can put the items in their basket away first?! The race is on! My girls laugh so hard when doing this one…especially when mom does one of the baskets with them.
