Laundry…. laundry ….laundry.
laun·dry/?lôndr?/
Noun:
- Clothes and linens that need to be washed or that have been washed.
- The action or process of washing such items.
Putting away laundry is often a long, lonely and profoundly boring activity that takes up so much time.
Babies generate a huge amount of laundry and cloth nappies. Toddlers and preschoolers with their rough and tumble, exploratory play.
We eventually work out a routine but countless hours are devoted to it each week. Piles loom and perhaps get moved from room to room or chair to basket.
Children love the side by side play while we are working. As I sweep he’s sweeping too. As I cook, he’s stirring too. They love to imitate and we can teach them in small steps how to do the larger things with the piece of apple technique.
Piece of apple technique
Let me tell you a quick story about the piece of apple technique. My boys love apples. If I quickly cut the apple into two huge slices either side of the core. Cut those two pieces into three, then cut the two pieces off the odd-shaped original apple, we quickly have eight pieces of apple.
Those apples when left on a plate disappear almost before the plate hits the table. Also when there’s one person eating the apple they are quick to eat it all. However, when I suggest they eat the apple by just biting it, perish the thought now, the apple isn’t often finished.
- It somehow becomes too much to eat by itself
- We eat in that classic pattern and leave big chunks at the top and bottom
- It’s not a satisfactory outcome for me the apple buyer and them the apple eater.
They need to eat one piece then the next piece and so on to complete. It won’t always be like that but right now this system works for us both; the piece of apple technique.
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So what does this story have to do with laundry?
We need to give our children a piece of the apple by teaching them and training them in the laundry process; piece by piece. Eventually they will be able to eat the whole apple and not blink an eye.
What piece of apple activities do you do with your household chores?
I love this technique, what a great metaphor for it. I think this can apply to any activity, not only laundry! The bane of my life is them putting their books away. Maybe I should get a bit of the ol’ apple technique on that!
Yes! Books are something we need to work on too, Cheoy. Exciting to see how you get on. Let us know.
Such a lovely sentiment. TY for sharing…I feel this way with lots of life’s new and challenging activities for our children. Take it one step at a time. We’re doing this sort of approach with meal time. first set the table, then clear, then wash, then dry, then dishwashing loading and unloading..piece by piece! 🙂 (Marnie from http://www.carrotsareorange.com)
Systems and routines make for an easier time all around. Setting the table has so many elements to it as well.
My girls do the same thing- they will gobble up an apple cut into pieces but only take a few bites from a whole apple. I really like the way to relate that to laundry and other things we need to do- just take it one piece at a time. Great idea.
Thanks. Oh and I found you on we teach!
My blog is http://www.stringskeysandmelodies.blogspot.com
Thanks,
Tonya
Love your music blog Tonya! Thanks for stopping by. Hope you get more of your apples eaten 🙂
This is a great analogy. I know with my boys I’ve always tried to involve them in some way with what I am doing- mostly to keep them occupied but also to teach them something. For my oldest, though, I sometimes forget that he is still really little (only 3) and I think he’s so big compared to his brother, why can’t he do…. This is a good reminder that when he appears frustrated to back off and give him a small piece and make it “fun” again!
Good analogy! I like it 🙂
Oh, and i found you on weteach by the way 🙂 I’m at https://learnwithplay.blogspot.com.au/
Thank you for solid, sound advice about making things manageable! I have tried to post here before so I’m seeing if I can now! Carolyn