What would change if your child put on a load of laundry today? What if they did it once a day, every day?

It could be that you would breathe a sigh of relief - it’s not all on you anymore.

It could be that you would feel more supported and more relaxed at home.

It could be that it would free up some time and energy to do something fun with your child.

It could be that it would help your child to appreciate all the other things you do for them.

It could be that your child would grow in confidence and be proud of their contribution (even if they would not admit that to you).

If that sounds like something you would like to explore, I invite you on an adventure to make it your reality. Summer is a great time to take on a project like that because you might have more time and patience to introduce this idea, teach them how to do it, and deal with their initial resistance to taking it on.

What would it be like if, by September, your child was in the habit of putting on one load of laundry a day?

Having explored it for the last few years, I noticed that it is a win-win situation. It offers enormous benefits for you, your child and your relationship.

It gives you back some time and energy. It reduces your mental load. You feel like part of the team, not a... slave. Your contribution is not taken for granted anymore; it is respected.

Your child senses that you trust them, it boosts their confidence. The experience of doing it speaks louder than a hundred compliments. Mastering this challenge can give them more confidence to take on something else, something that requires grit and persistence.

It can help to strengthen your relationship. Inviting your child to take on more responsibility helps them feel that you know that they are growing up. So often, as parents, we overlook when children are ready for more freedom and responsibilities. They let us know by being moody and argumentative. When we are proactive about handing it over, it creates space for them to come to us when they need us, and that is an incredible feeling.

All of it can be achieved by teaching your child to put on a load of laundry and helping them to stick with doing it daily.

For more inspiration and support, join my upcoming workshop How to teach your child to put on a load of laundry.

We will talk about:

• How to choose that one thing you would like your child to take on. It can be putting on a load of laundry, folding their clothes, unloading the dishwasher - the list goes on and on. It is essential to choose something that matters to you.
• How to introduce this idea to your child and deal with their initial reaction. It is likely that your child will not be overly enthusiastic about this idea to start with. It’s ok. It’s good to expect that. We’ll talk about ways of moving through it.
• How to navigate the transition period of doing it together and then you gradually stepping back and handing it over to your child.
• How to support your child to keep going with it for weeks and months ahead, especially when we all get busier in September, and it is likely to slip back to you doing it again.