"If you need to clean up the living room together, lean into character. "Oh my God, this is so annoying, but," insert eye roll here, "we've got to clean up this living room. I don't want to clean! OK, let's just do it together and see if we can do it really quickly, and then when we've cleaned up, let's get some juice and go sit on the porch.""
"This is something I do a lot with my own kid - I'm a big fan of leveling with him like, "Dude, I don't want to clean either because it's no fun, but if we do it together it'll be over way faster." But this mom has inspired me to do it with a little more pizzazz, more like we're in on something together."
Talk to toddlers as if sharing a juicy secret or gossip with a close friend to make tasks feel like a shared activity. Use playful, theatrical delivery and small dramatics to invite the child to participate as a teammate. Frame chores as quick challenges with a simple reward or pleasant follow-up, such as juice and porch time, to boost motivation. Toddlers often respond positively when treated as confidantes, increasing willingness to cooperate. Many caregivers and parents report that adopting a conversational, buddy-like tone reduces resistance and makes routine tasks smoother and more collaborative.
Read at Scary Mommy
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