Loads of Laundry

The children do their own laundry. Yes. It’s true. And they have for close to 8 months now.

I believe that responsibility is taught. I also believe that having responsibility in the family shows each person’s importance and worth in the family system. We are all important in the Rudnick household. We each are instrumental in our family and its function.

Appropriate chores at an appropriate age mean different things to different people. For us, Rowan and Evangeline can be responsible and success with their laundry.  What does this look like in our home? Enter the laundry steps.

Step 1.  Bring your laundry basket to the laundry room.

• Sometimes they carry it by themselves and other times they help each other carry their baskets. It’s always loud and often giggly.
• Parental guidance suggested – ensure the washer machine is empty and ready for a kid load.

Step 2.  Place all your clothes in the washer machine.

• This usually turns out to be a very interesting game of basketball, especially when Rowan’s doing his laundry.
• Parental guidance suggested – remove any items at this time that are hand wash. Personally, I don’t keep the children in clothes that are hand wash only but the exception may be a holiday dress or tie.

Step 3.  Add detergent.

• Because detergent should handled with care by children (and under supervision) I choose to purchase detergent pods for the children’s laundry. The children are able to throw one pod in for their load. It sets them up for success. I know it’s measured appropriately and that it’s no mess (read: dangerous).
• Parental guidance suggested – take one pod out and place on the washer machine.

Step 4.  Start the wash.

• …and stand in awe of the water and clothes swishing around J
• Parental guidance suggested – choose the appropriate temperature and wash size setting.

Step 5.  Turn over the wash to the dryer.

• I call the children to the laundry room when I know the wash cycle is finished. I remove the clothes from the washer machine and they move them to the dryer. Another game of basketball ensues at this point too especially to add the dryer sheet or dryer ball.
• Parental guidance suggested – put aside line-dry items as you are removing the items from the washer. Hang separately.

Step 6.  Fold the clothes.

• Each of the children is very able to fold their tops, bottoms, and pajamas. They are capable of sorting their undergarments and matching their socks. Who doesn’t love a game of matching!
• Parental guidance suggested – Let go of perfection in light of progress. Folding, with teaching, gets better with each load.

Step 7.  Put the clothes away.

• They each can reach their drawers for each type of clothing and this makes putting their clothes away super easy.
• Parental guidance suggested – Fold and hang the ‘nice’ items to cut down on finding them in the bottom of a drawer and having to iron them.

Is it perfect every time? No. There isn’t much we do that is perfect every time. Is it awesome to see Rowan and Evangeline active in the family, learning life lessons, and taking pride in their work? Yes. And, it’s the opportunity early in life to learn that you’ll have less laundry if you dirty less! Rowan just put that together last week J