How to Get Housework Done With Four Children

Put a load of laundry in the washing machine. Even toddlers and preschoolers can help sort laundry if you tell them you're just gathering towels or that you only want white clothes. Take kids 6 years and up with you to the machine so you can demonstrate for future reference how to load the washer and add detergent and softener.

Play a favorite song and challenge everyone to make their beds before the music ends. Ask everyone to meet in the bathroom when they are finished.

Clean the main bathroom quickly. Drop a tiny bit of inexpensive shampoo onto a toilet brush and show a preschooler how to give the inside of the potty a fast scrub. Give an elementary-aged kid a cleaning wipe so they can swipe the counter, sink and fixtures, in addition to the handle, lid, seat and rim of the toilet. A tween can polish the mirrors and faucets in a flash.

Place a trash can and two empty laundry baskets in the middle of the room so you can see them when you come in the front door of your house. Start playing the kids' favorite song on the CD player and ask all the kids to blitz the room before the music ends. Have them put trash in the can, dirty clothes in one hamper and things which belong elsewhere in the other hamper. Play one more song and have the kids run and put away items from the "goes elsewhere" basket while you stash the trash and laundry.

Spend an additional five or ten minutes on just one different room each day. Help your preschooler push the vacuum or dustmop around the floor. Toddlers can empty the trash cans into a plastic bag if you supervise closely. Have your younger elementary-aged kids dust with a microfiber cloth and the older kids polish dirty windows and mirrors.

Take the younger kids with you to the laundry area when it is time to turn over the laundry. If you have front-loading appliances, preschoolers can help transfer the wash load into the dryer. Show the elementary-aged children how to clean the lint trap and set and start the dryer. Make sure the buzzer will go off when the load is dry but before it stops tumbling.

Call everyone to the kitchen. Younger children can help gather dirty cups and dishes from around the house and bring them to the table, as well as pick up trash from the floor or practice sweeping. Middle-schoolers can empty the dishwasher of clean dishes and you can help elementary-schoolers load in the dirty dishes afterwards. Tweens can wash dishes in the sink. Teens can mop the floor.

Open the dryer as soon as it buzzes and have everyone fold the warm, dry clothes. Preschoolers can fold small towels and pants and can pair up socks. Older kids can help hang shirts and fold sheets and large towels. Carry the folded laundry to the bedrooms and have each child put away his clothes and help put away the linens. Now, go celebrate a job well done!