Growing up, my brother and I were expected to do our share of chores. We picked up our toys, washed the dishes, and made our beds. (Actually, I made my bed, but I am pretty sure my brother never made his bed.) Now we are trying to get Kellan to participate more in cleaning up around the house. We encourage him to pick up his cars and trucks, which always seem to be underfoot, and we talk to him about putting things away (like paints and craft materials) after we use them. We make up games and have "races" to make cleaning more fun. For the most part, it works.

A new task we are trying lately is having Kellan bring his dishes to the sink. but he's not always willing. This morning, he dropped his bowl of cereal just as he reached me, splattering milk and granola bits all over the floor. Then he slipped on the mess and ended up soaked from front to back. I guess there's a downside to having a three-year-old put away his own dishes.

I'm not sure exactly when kids are supposed to start helping out at home. I figure it's never too early to start. Even if he's not always excited about helping out, it will probably pay off later to encourage him as much as we can. I can't imagine cleaning up after him when he's a teenager! Am I delusional or am I forgetting what it was like to be a kid?