Teach Your Children to Work: The "Ten-minute Tidy"
Do you want to accomplish a lot of work in a little time? Are you overwhelmed by the mess all over the house? Do you wish you could just snap your fingers and bring order into your home and peace into your mind? Then it’s “Blitz-time!”
Our children are grown, married, and rearing their own children now, but when they were still at home, we would do what we called “Ten-minute Tidy.” After supper, I would call out, “All hands on deck!” and the whole family would deploy throughout the house and tidy up the common areas.
But if my children were still in the home, I would change the name from “Ten-minute Tidy” to “Blitz-time.” Why? Because sometimes ten minutes isn’t enough (though it’s best to keep it short). Also because the term “blitz” means to demolish or attack. We attack the clutter and demolish the mess. There’s a sense of urgency. We are comrades in this battle.
Mom and Dad are the generals in this blitz. The ground-soldiers are in “What’s next?” mode. Nobody quits until a cease-fire is called. “Dad, I cleared the steps of all the landmines. What’s next?” “Go to the basement and do a sweep of playroom!”
When we are finished, we declare victory! We have conquered the enemy! Order is restored. We look around and together we celebrate the beauty of tidiness.
Work is good for kids to learn!
Mary Beeke, healthcare professional, educator, and mother first helps you absorb parenting principles and then gives you practical principles to bring clarity to roles in your home.
