Grandparents and Kids Bond with Chores

Aaaaahhhhh….it’s finally summer.  Warm sunny days, boating, the beach, picnics, and weeds in the yard.  The Grand kids are here from Texas for three weeks and we are having a great time!  Grandpa Nanny is on duty for the kids from 7:30 AM when they spring out of bed, until 10:00 AM when he heads to work.  After that, Grammie or Mom takes over.  In keeping with my “chore” philosophy, (see “Kids Need Chores” blog) I set up a daily rountine for working and having fun together. 

The Grand kids are ages 3 and 7 – perfect ages to be big helpers!  In the evening before bed, Mom lays out the kid’s clothes for the next day.  When morning hits, they are off and running.  Grandpa Nanny helps them dress, fold their P.J.s, make breakfast and then it’s time for the morning chores.  Yesterday they washed and scrubbed a grocery cart to collect food donations for a local food pantry.  It will be placed in a nearby business.  Today it was some weeding and bush pruning.  I strolled into the backyard this morning to find them with garden gloves on, deep in dirt and debris.  They were so excited to tell me about their accomplishments and share the stories of bugs, worms and bees they had encountered along the way.  After chores they jumped into the pool for play time and Grammie treated them to a snack prepared just for them.  

These kids literally spring out of bed, excited for the day’s events and can’t wait to see what surprises Grandpa Nanny has for them.  Of course, Grandpa Nanny has the gift of making chore time fun.  Lots of conversation, jokes, laughter, imagination, silliness, plus time to learn and explore together make great memories.  The “work” never overshadows the fun, and the time spent together deepens the bond between Grandpa Nanny and the kids.  They love to help and it enhances their sense of self-worth to be included in adult chores.  The chore routine also keeps the kids physically active and replaces sitting in front of the T.V. in the morning.  And, they are learning skills they will need as adults and increasing their understanding of the world around them. 

Our own kids are grown, and chores were always part of our family life together.  Many hands make light work, and spending time helping each other was satisfying for both generations.  Sure, it was work and work is not always fun, but it produced kids we are proud of.   Now, we’re starting on the next generation.  Only this time it is so much more fun!   What’s your “chore story”?