How to use Shout®! A Visual Laundry Lesson

Friday, June 04, 2010

How to use Shout®! A Visual Laundry Lesson | Family Economics

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My kids are wrapping up the school year and are already thinking about summer! One of the things I've taught them is to do their own laundry, and when they see a stain, to treat it ahead of time with Shout®! To spray, let it sit for a few moments, and wash! And let me tell you - with three soccer players, we have a LOT of stains on those jerseys and socks!

Now my friend’s son is a visual learner. I love how she helped him become successful in doing his own laundry. A brilliant idea!

This past summer she wanted to teach her kids, so she took pictures of each laundry setting with her digital camera.

Then she cut, numbered, and hung each picture inside the cupboard door.

Temperature

Step by step.

Rinse

A perfect teacher.

Speed

A great lesson.

Type

And one smart mom! (Love the soap idea!)

Detergent

It always feels good when our kids learn a lesson and become self-sufficient in life.

Do you think there’s a magical age to learn about laundry? Or do you think our kids just watch and learn from us?

9 Comments so far

On Tuesday, August 03, 2010, Cassie wrote

I think this is great!! I remember when I was in high school, a guy I was dating called and asked me to come show him how to do laundry because his parents were out of town for the week. Seriously! A 17 year old should know how to wash his clothes! My kids (at 2 and 3) already load the washer, empty the drier, and the older folds washclothes and dishtowels :)

On Monday, June 07, 2010, Tami@ Around the Table with Tami wrote

When my 4 kids turn 13 they graduate to doing their own laundry. I taught the first one, and then each one taught the next one in line. From stain treatment with Shout (yes...my 15 y/o boy was running for it just yesterday after an ice cream accident!) The only big danger I have found for kids doing their own laundry is if they get in a hurry (like kids will do!) they can ruin an entire load of laundry. So...at the same age, I increase their allowance to the amount I figured I normally spend each month on them for personal needs and make them now responsible for such (toiletries, entertainment, etc...). Then, if a laundry mistake results in a damaged article of clothing, they are required to replace it with their personal income. It creates a sense of accountability that results in 'paying attention' in the long run :-) My oldest is now 22...and he hasn't brought home a load of laundry yet!!

On Sunday, June 06, 2010, Johnstons by the sea wrote

I have my 4 kids ages 4-10 putting away their already cleaned and folded laundry. Matching and rolling up the socks is a chore that rotates among the 3 oldest but I think the 10yr old is ready to do his own laundry so thanks for the inspiration, I am going to get on that task this summer. (just in time for the next football season!).

On Saturday, June 05, 2010, SANDRY from everywhere wrote

AWESOME! I was thinking about taking pictures to show MY kids how to do the laundry! And how to load the dishwasher properly. And how each cabinet (plastics, bowls, pots and pans) SHOULD look when things are put up properly. But I figured my husband might think I had gone overboard. I am glad someone else thinks like me. Now I need to put ACTION into what I think!

On Saturday, June 05, 2010, Tina from Mommy's Kitchen wrote

that is a great idea about taking a photo of the settings. I am teaching my son to do his own laundry and he asks me everytime what the settings are. I think this will solve the probem. Thank you for sharing your great idea.

On Saturday, June 05, 2010, Diana wrote

We always had to sort our laundry, which helped us learn what colors go together. Then occasionally Mom would have us choose the proper setting. "Slow and steady" worked for us :)

On Saturday, June 05, 2010, the patio tea rose wrote

when i was growing up (my grandparents raised me) it seemed there was a never ending load of laundry. this also included a "clothes line" i'm sure something kids today have probably never heard of. but i digress. i can remember seeing my grandmother tossing the clothes in the washer only to follow her out the door to hang the last batch on the line. but for the life of me i can't remember what she did when it was raining outside... lol!!!

On Saturday, June 05, 2010, Kirstin wrote

That's an awesome idea! My girls do their own laundry as well!

On Saturday, June 05, 2010, A. from LA wrote

My girls started doing laundry when my oldest was 7--that means the younger sister was 5, and the 3 year old even got in on the action, unloading the washer and starting the dryer! I have found a sticker color-code helps. I put stickers coordinated to the types of loads we do (bright colors, darks, whites, towels) on the dials next to the proper settings for washing and drying them. Then, as they learn to sort their clothes, they just have to look for the right color to know where to set the machines. Pre-readers washing clothes! Love it! Now, if they could just be taught how to FOLD them. . . .

Thank You

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