It is never too early or too late to do some chores! Covid-19 or not let’s stay proactive!

Ughhh yes, we are all in the same boat. The insane situation the world is living right now led all of us into the unknown, anxiety, and fear. Because of the spread of the coronavirus commonly called COVID-19, we had to learn how to protect ourselves in order to protect others. Washing our hands more, sanitizing everything, keeping our distances, studying or working from home, losing our jobs, reducing our daily activities, witnessing empty shelves in stores, listening to the continuous bad news, crossing the street when passing by other people, trying to maintain a schedule at home for the whole family, not panicking, taking care of ourselves, talking walks to breathe some fresh air through masks, respecting government regulations, waiting until this shall pass…we are all in the same boat!

At first, I was also in shock, could not go back to work, had my classes converted online, had the children home doing their school work, my husband working at home. We were talking about COVID-19 all the time until I realized that it had to stop. I wasn’t feeling right physically, anxiety took over me…I had enough of that! Enough of the situation of course, but enough of the spread of negative feelings that news, social media, and people were carrying and passing along.

I decided to refrain myself looking at the news, and asked my husband to limit the information we give to our children. Also, other goals were to keep myself into a routine, go walk the dog, cook, keep myself busy in a creative way, exercise, play outside or inside with the children, have fun, breathe, and most importantly, keep our spirits elevated. We are not stuck home; we are lucky to have one! Some nights, we even dressed up pretending having a cocktail party in our living room, or had a theme party and got food delivered at home. This crazy time reminds us what is really essential is our lives. To me health and family are the most important. In that specific time of forced togetherness, we play, we study, we dance, we laugh, we argue, we fight, we exercise, we walk, we talk, we cook, we paint, we saw, we create, we read, we type, we eat, we drink TOGETHER WE MAKE IT WORK !

This quarantine can help many of us in a good way, bonding, helping and supporting each other. I got to say this because I feel very fortunate to leave in a house with the possibility of going outside, my family and I are healthy and we are doing fine. I know there are many people out there struggling with the fact they temporarily lost their job, not knowing if they can feed their household and pay all their bills. Other have to work from home and deal with children around, maybe others are sick and not able to take care of their own family members. As a child of my generation, we spent a lot of time playing outside with my family members, creating whatever projects we had in mind. We had no temptation to search online because it didn’t exist, we had to try on our own or ask a real human to help us out creating social interaction. Nowadays, our children generation slip easily into technology which lead them to be proficient in some aspect of their life. However, when a crisis comes and nothing is out there to consume except technology, they have a hard time initiating an activity and creating one from scratch.

For the ones who wants to see the glass half full instead of half empty, and for the ones who have children at home, it is the right moment to teach them to participate with the house chores. Actually, we can present that activity like a fun game, scavenger hunt, and reward them with something they like to do after even if is in front of a screen. No bribery necessary, but they have to participate as they are also messing around, eating, wearing clothes like everybody else. I started very early to ask my children to participate around the house in a fun and educational way for them to be able to do it independently some day without whining eventually ??

Dusting, cleaning, tiding, sorting, donating, raking, vacuuming, cooking, painting, planting, watering, sowing, whatever it takes, we make them participate and reward them by what they like: getting friends for sleepover, eating in a restaurant,  go to an amusement park, go to the movie theater, watch TV, play video games. We have chosen not to reward them with money, but this is our choice and we respect everyone else’s ideas too.

Age appropriate chores:

I created a chart with a mix of ideas I picked from other people, what I experienced in my childhood and what we ask our children to do at home. This is not perfect, that suits and reflects our family values adequately. It might be the same for you or not, just adjust with what your values, choices, and preferences are. Prioritize fun and reward!

1-3 years old: Pick up toys and books - Put laundry in hamper - Put away silverware - Dust - Put trash in garbage can - Carry dishes away - Put socks in pair - Put clothes in the dryer - Help feed pets - Water plants

4-6 years old: All previous chores - Clean up bedroom - Put clothes away in closet - Take care of a pet (feeding, brushing, picking up poop) - Set up and clear table - Empty trash - Sort recycling items - Sweep with a small broom - Put away groceries - Take off weed in garden

7-10 years old: All previous chores - Take care of a pet (walking alone around the block if safe) - Make bed - Carry trashes outside - Vacuum - Take the mail - Mop the floor - Fold laundry - Bake by following a recipe - Cook using appropriate tools - Rake leaves in garden - Prepare their own luggage - Load dishwasher

10- 12 years old: All previous chores - Cook without supervision - Use stove and oven - Clean toilets - Wipe mirrors - Wash windows - Clean car - Watch small children for a short period of time (no California law, it ranges between 11 and 15 depending the child’s maturity) - Clean fridge - Create fundraiser - Do own laundry

12-14 years old: All previous chores - Watch small children - Meal prep - Make grocery list - Organize closet - Change sheets

14 years old and up: All previous chores - Iron - Mow the lawn - Get a paid job with a permit - Stay by themselves overnight - Cook healthy meal for self and family - Clean own car - Go groceries shopping - Budgeting their expenses - Open a bank account at 18