Chores: Interview With My Daughter Kehlani
EPISODE 41
by Dianne Jimenez
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Chores: Interview With My Daughter Kehlani
Getting Kids to Do Chores—Without the Complaints
Chores for kids—just the mention of them can spark groans, eye rolls, or endless negotiations. As parents, we know that chores teach responsibility, teamwork, and essential life skills, but how do our kids really feel about them?
In this special episode of the Parenting Guide: Organizing Habits Made Easy podcast, I sat down with my daughter, Kehlani, to get her unfiltered thoughts on chores for kids. From what she loves (and doesn’t love) to how she tackles her tasks, our conversation gave me insight into a child’s perspective on helping around the house.
If you’ve ever wondered what your own kids truly think about chores—or how to get them more involved—this episode is for you!
Click here to listen to the episode
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The Purpose of Chores in Our Home
As a mom and professional organizer, I know how important it is for everyone in the family to contribute to maintaining our home. Chores for kids aren’t just about keeping things clean—they teach responsibility, teamwork, and essential life skills. But how do kids really feel about doing them?
Kehlani was candid in her answers. When I asked if she minds doing chores, she gave an answer I think many kids would relate to:
“Well, depends what type of chores there are. If they’re simple, like dusting or wiping tables, sure. But if they’re cleaning toilets, sweeping stairs, and mopping? Not really.”
Fair enough! Not every task is a favorite, but they all need to get done.
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Balancing Chores and Daily Life
A challenge many parents face is figuring out how to fit chores for kids into busy schedules filled with school, extracurricular activities, and free time. Kehlani shared how she integrates chores into her day:
“I squeeze in chores mainly by you or Babi saying we have to do them or checking the chore chart.”
This response highlights the importance of having a system in place. For us, the chore chart helps everyone know what needs to be done without constant reminders (though, let’s be honest, reminders still happen!).
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Why Do We Do Chores?
When I asked Kehlani why she thinks chores for kids are necessary, she put it simply:
“Because our house can get really, really dirty at some points.”
She pointed out specific areas, like the coffee table and basement, that tend to get messy quickly. It was a great reminder that kids notice the mess too, even if they don’t always love cleaning it up.
Taking Initiative and Ownership
One thing I wanted to explore with Kehlani was the idea of taking initiative. Do kids naturally step up to clean, or do they wait for instructions?
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When I explained what initiative meant, she shared that she sometimes tidies up on her own:
“I don’t mind dusting. And I like moving papers from one table to another.”
A work in progress, right? But hey, it’s a start!
The Challenge of Tidying Up
When it comes to organizing personal spaces, Kehlani admitted that tidying her room isn’t always easy. The biggest obstacles?
“The drawers and the corners. My drawers are messy, and my pink bean bag has a lot of stuff around it.”
Her solution?
“Don’t put anything there in the first place!”
It’s a brilliant (and simple) approach that we, as parents, can learn from too—less clutter means easier maintenance!
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If She Were the Parent…
I had to ask—if Kehlani were the parent, how would she handle chores for kids? Her answer was straightforward:
“I would say clean it up multiple times. And if they don’t, I’d just throw it out.”
Ouch! But also… genius? Sometimes, tough love is needed!
Final Thoughts
This conversation with Kehlani was such a fun and insightful experience. It reminded me that kids do see the value in chores for kids, even if they don’t always enjoy them. More importantly, giving them a voice in the process—whether through a chore chart, setting expectations, or simply having conversations like this—can help them feel more involved and capable.
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If you’ve ever wondered what your kids really think about chores, I encourage you to ask them! You might be surprised by their answers.
What’s Next? In the next episode, I’ll be interviewing my sons to get their perspectives on chores for kids. I can’t wait to hear their take on it!
What about your kids? Do they enjoy certain chores more than others? Do they resist them altogether? Let me know in the comments or on social media!
If you found this conversation helpful, don’t forget to check out my Tame the Toy Chaos course, where I teach practical ways to keep your home organized—without doing all the work yourself!
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