Want to Get Kids to do Housework during Lockdown?

If you’re struggling to keep the house from falling into complete disarray during lockdown with the kids, here are some creative ideas to get them involved and see tidying as FUN!

- Create a scavenger hunt and they'll do the cleaning, tidying and be watering the plants without even knowing it! Use the hot/warm/cold technique to let them know if they are close to the clue. Here are some clue ideas:

Go to the clothes drying rack. Find your clothes and put them into a HIGH pile - then you will get your next clue (this will help you with separating dried laundry). Once they have done it then give them their next clue.

Do 10 jumping jacks and then you will get your next clue (breaks it up and gives them a little exercise).

Other ideas:

Use the vacuum head as a SHARK and ask them to jump over it just like ‘Crossy Road’ and don’t let the vacuum ‘get them’.

Give them a flashlight and ask them if they can find ‘any treasure’ under the sofa, beds and chairs.

Make tidying a game and you’ll soon have extra pairs of hands to help out. You are not alone, and you are doing an amazing job!

Lego Organisation: Conquering the ‘Tiny Toy Syndrome’ to Maximise the Fun

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: you got another set…of Lego. While the kids see buildings, trucks, and all the other wonderful things they could create, all you see are the hundreds of tiny pieces that you’re now forced to get creative on how to contain them.

Parents the world over cringe at the thought of toys like Lego (we’ve lovingly dubbed it the ‘tiny toy syndrome’). With so many pieces to keep up with, you fear that many will become lost over time or end up scattered throughout your home with no easy way to organise them. In many cases, kids enjoy building Lego until they get relegated to a box coffin that puts them out of sight and mind.

At that point, you might even wonder why you splurged on Lego in the first place (because let’s face it, they’re not exactly cheap!).

Why is Toy Organisation Important, Anyway?
In her book, The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That you Did), Phillipa Perry shares that when we have too many choices, we fear that we will make the wrong one. The average child in the West has more than 150 toys and receives 70 more to add to this number every year. This is overwhelming for children. With too many toys, they're more likely to flit from activity to activity rather than engage deeply in one.

As parents, it’s up to us to improve how kids engage with their toys. One way I’ve discovered to improve toy engagement is to start with Lego. This is an easy toy to get your kids involved with at nearly any age because it is 100% hands-on. Good toy organisation can allow engagement to happen naturally. This allows toys to become more easily accessible and lower the barrier to creative play.

Getting More Out of Your Lego Investment
Helping your kids enjoy their Lego without stressing over clutter and chaos is simpler with a few toy organisation hacks. Here’s my step-by-step process to help you get more from your Lego investment:

1. Get the kids involved and tell them that Lego magic is about to happen.
2. Grab a Lego Organiser - DIY nail organisers are amazing - here’s my favourite.
3. Pick a day and decide to organise Lego (mindset is everything - it’s fun if you can make it fun).
4. Make a game of finding all the little pieces. Set up challenges to find heads, torsos, legs, single flats, wheels, and whatever other unique Lego pieces you’ve collected.
5. Let them get involved in sorting their Lego and organising the unique pieces and you’re guaranteed to change the way they play, how long they play for and get more out of your Lego Investment.

Happy Organising!