Encouraging the laundry monster

 I feel that it’s my duty as a mother to teach my children the essential skills in life that will make them independent and a valuable asset to any future relationships they may have. I include laundry as one of these valuable skills. I want them to be able to confidently operate a washing machine and dryer, sort their colours and whites, and fold and put away their own laundry. I’ve heard so many horror stories of tweens and young adults in their 20s who don’t or can’t do their own laundry – YIKES!

Keeping kids’ rooms tidy can be challenging enough, but nothing irks me more than discarded clothes left lying on the floor or hidden in corners. I swear I find socks in every room of the house that have been abandoned in carefree excitement to play chase and have the advantage of grippy bare feet.

A trip to find a suitable laundry hamper became my quest – I wanted something that would excite the kids to participate, yet practical and functional for our needs. I found laundry monsters at Target that were perfect. Instead of being hidden in the closet, they stand in the kids’ rooms eagerly anticipating any discarded laundry. The kids are encouraged to feed their monsters, instead of leaving them lying on the floor. Oh, and those random sock I still find throughout the house. The laundry monsters get very sad when they find out they’ve missed a snack of stinky socks.

So the first stage of my laundry quest has been successful! The kids are actively participating in feeding their monsters with all their stinky socks, underwear and clothes. Next step, is to teach them to fold their laundry and put it away while still maintaining the folded shape of the clothing.