In life with a toddler, it’s easier to do a chore (any chore!) if you turn it into a game. Here’s my hack for making it feel less like drudgery on the day I wash the sheets.

Strip the bed, but don’t toss the sheets into the washing machine right away. First, make a fort! You can mix things up each time, but ours always involves some variation of the couch cushions, cozy pillows and blankets to sit on, and the sheets strung across the top.

Veronika loves to pretend this is her house. A little pillow makes a handy “door” for coming to visit. “Ding dong!” she says for the doorbell.

Inevitably, it just becomes a cozy place to crawl in and hide.

Or relax and read!

Don’t forget about pillowcases. They are perfect for playing peekaboo.

Or for wearing as superhero capes.

When we’re done, I ask for Veronika’s help to throw all of the sheets into the laundry basket. She loves this part!

The sheet day fun is complete, and so worth it that I don’t mind making the beds up after.