As a mom, I know how quickly laundry can pile up especially if you have children in your house. This morning I asked toddler to help me pick up the laundry so that I could start a load of laundry today. After we completed got the laundry sorted and a load of laundry started, I had a fantastic idea popped into my head and I wanted to share my idea with other families. Did you know that you can use laundry as an educational opportunity? I know that you are probably wondering where I am going with this and how a simple household chore could be used as a learning opportunity.
This is an idea that I personally came up with and I would appreciate it if you give me proper credit if you use or re-blog this post.
Sorting
Most families sort the laundry before putting a load into the washing machine. Today, I was teaching my youngest son how to sort the laundry. It is never too early to start teaching your child how to properly sort the laundry. While you are teaching your toddler or young child to sort laundry you will need at least two laundry baskets: one for the colors and one for the whites. If you like to wash towels or certain clothes separately, you will need to have third basket handy. As you are working on sorting the laundry, show them how you separate the laundry by color, whites, ect. After showing your child how to separate, allow them to help you sort the laundry by themselves.
Colors
While sorting the laundry, you can also teach your child about the different colors of clothes, towels, ect. As you are putting the laundry into the basket, ask your child what color the item is or make into a game. For example, you can ask your child to find a specific colored item and put it into the laundry basket. This will help them learn how to recognize the different colors while having fun.
Counting
While you are picking up the laundry, you can teach your child to count the items as they are tossing into the laundry basket. Turn it into a game and ask your child to find two socks, three shirts, ect. This is a great way to make learning fun and interesting while getting the chores accomplished.
Have Your Child Help You Put the Clothes Into the Washer/Dryer
Once you have the baskets loaded, have your child follow you into the laundry room. You can ask your toddler to help you put the clothes into the washer or into the dryer. Most children enjoy helping and are eager to learn new things.
Use Your Laundry Pile as a Learning Opportunity For Your Toddler or Young Child
Next time you have a huge pile of laundry, grab your toddler or young child and turn laundry time into a learning opportunity. It is also a great way to have fun while spending quality time with your child. As a mom of 3, I have always taught my children to help me with the household chores from a very young age. It teaches them important life skills and it makes them feel good because they are helping mom or dad with chores that have to be done.
Do you get your children to help you with the laundry?
Comments
15 responses to “How to Turn Laundry Into a Learning Opportunity”
I was a stay-at-home Mom for 20 years. This brings back so many wonderful memories! Being able to teach your children is such a joy and I love that you are doing it with the laundry, while teaching them responsibility at the same time!
Thank you Martha. I love teaching my kids useful skills that they can always carry with them when they are older.
There are so many learning opportunities in the everyday activities. Our young girls love to help in the laundry room and you’re right … whether it is sorting, learning colors or counting… Thoughts of learning there.
And with three little ones running around we have a lot of laundry to tackle.
Thank you for sharing your families story. I have three kids and it seems like we always have a pile of laundry in the house.
What a wonderful way to learn!
I agree Ernestine, the laundry has to be done and you might as well make it fun. 🙂
Christy, another “Best of Christy,” article~ This is such a great idea pairing learning with quality time~ I love the idea of building in fun with “learning responsibilities” as it takes out the stress of “teaching responsibility” so many other things/areas do not allow for fun to be built in. Thank you for being the dedicated mom and writer you are~ You help SO many with your work, S~
Thank you for your feedback Stephanie, this has turned out to be a very popular post. I am thankful that I shared this great idea. 😉
Great idea! Such a great way to teach kids while making them help with the chores. When do you think is the right time of day to do this with the kids?
I happened to do this activity after breakfast because I had to get two loads of laundry done. It worked out great for me.
Is it bad that I think of how one of the biggest bonuses to kids helping with laundry is that eventually, you have big kids who do laundry to help you out? Today was laundry day, it has made me crazy! 😉
I think kids are a bonus as well Dee. My older kids each have a chore that they are responsible for doing. They don’t always like it but I need their help so that we can go do fun things together. Plus I want to teach them responsibility of getting chores done.
What a great idea to teach kids good habits while they are young and they are fun to do! Wish I would have known this while my kids were young 🙂
This is such a great idea. I generally avoid doing laundry around the kids because they seem to tear through it. Maybe if I get them involved I can get it done and give them a few lessons.
I also have another laundry post about getting your kids to help you toss stuff in the washer and dryer too. My youngest loves to help me, when I have to get some laundry done.