Does your mom seem super busy all the time? Your mom works hard to keep your home running for you and your family. You can show her how much you appreciate her by helping out with chores around the house. Not only will it make your mom happy, but it will build up your skills and teach you responsibility, too.[1] Read through this article for some simple chores you can get started on today to help your mom out.

Things You Should Know

  • Clean up after yourself to make your mom smile. If you've left a mess on your desk, on your bed, or in your room, tidy up.
  • Help with household chores that your mom normally handles. For instance, set the table or take out the trash.
  • Ask your mom what you can do to help her if you're not sure. She'll probably really appreciate your thoughtfulness!
8

Do a load of laundry.

  1. Wash, dry, and fold the clothes to help your mom out. Ask your mom which clothes are dirty and if she wants to sort them first. Then, grab a pile and put the clothes into the washer, followed by some laundry detergent. Turn the washer on to start the load, and plan on transferring it to the dryer when it’s done.[9]
    • Some clothes are delicate and need to be washed on a special cycle. Ask your mom beforehand if there’s anything you should set aside before putting in the laundry.
    • When the clothes are dry, fold them and sort them into piles based on where they go.
10

Make your own breakfast or lunch.

  1. Prepare an easy meal for yourself that you can eat on your own. Your parents might cook dinner, but you can take charge of making your own breakfast and lunch every day. It doesn't need to be fancy. If you're not allowed to use the stove, you can use the microwave to make oatmeal, or just eat cold cereal or yogurt. Pack your own lunch by making a sandwich and bringing along some yummy fruit.[11]
    • Packing your lunch the night before makes the mornings of school easier.
    • If you have siblings, you can trade off whose turn it is to pack lunch or make breakfast for everybody.
15

Ask your mom what to do if you’re not sure.

Expert Q&A
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  • Question
    How can I encourage my family to help out around the house?
    Wits End Parenting
    Wits End Parenting
    Parenting Specialists
    Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies.
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    Parenting Specialists
    Expert Answer

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    Try normalizing household tasks as activities that are as expected as waking up in the morning. One main way to do this is to do part of the housework together as a family. For example, everyone contributes to dinner prep, or the family might clean an entire room together on a Saturday. This not only gets the work done, it also does a better job of positioning chores as expected and a normal part of living in a household.
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About This Article

Wits End Parenting
Co-authored by:
Parenting Specialists
This article was co-authored by Wits End Parenting and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies. This article has been viewed 263,222 times.
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Co-authors: 56
Updated: December 4, 2022
Views: 263,222
Article SummaryX

If you want to help out your busy mother around the house, try taking over a task she usually does, like preparing lunch for your siblings. Another option could be to put your dishes in the dishwasher after eating or wash them up in the sink. If you'd rather help look after your pets, make sure they have food and water, and are walked regularly. Then, encourage your siblings to follow your example by planning a "Mom's day off" when all of you will take over the chores for a day to give your mom a break. To find out how you can keep your own room clean and how to encourage others to help out around the house, read on!

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