Caring for your child or children plus keeping the home orderly and clean can easily get parents drained. Dirt dishes and clothes, toys everywhere, spilled food on the floor, never-ending dusting- sometimes we wish the kids won’t make a mess again! But that is never going to happen. And you understand kids are kids, and playing plays a vital role in their development. But, you could get them to help in household chores!
First off, life-skills and household chores are different. Life-skills set are the activities that the children should know how to do in order to successfully live on their own in the future, while chores are ongoing tasks that benefit the family. We will talk about the age-appropriate household chores your kids can help you with. Before diving into the list, remember that kids matures in a different pace, so you could adjust the following list to your child’s pace and skills. Also, realize that no child should be pushed to do all the following chores everyday. You should set your expectations right. Remember, this is for your child’s welfare as much as its for the household’s benefit.
Age 2-3
- Arrange their own beds
- Dust their rooms
- Clean up their toys
- Take dirty laundry to the laundry basket
- Take dirty plates and utensils to the sink (with supervision)
- Help you clean up spills and dirt
- Help filling up pet’s food and water container (with supervision)
Age 4-5
- Clean up their toys to the proper bins
- Make their beds
- Clean up their rooms
- Getting dressed with minimal supervision
- Clean the floor with brooms and/or dry mop
- Setting and clearing the table (with parental guidance)
- Wash hands
- Filling pets food and water
- Sorting out washed clothes
- Simple yard work
Age 6-7
- Be responsible for cleaning up their beds and rooms
- Personal hygiene- comb hair, brush teeth, get dressed
- Write notes and letters
- Walking the pets
- Be responsible for the pets food and water
- Answer phone (with parental supervision)
- Fold laundry (with parental guidance)
- Arrange folded clothes into their drawers
- Empty indoor trash cans
- Help a parent prepare food
Age 8-11
- Be responsible for their own hygiene
- Be responsible for keeping their room clean everyday
- Be responsible for homeworks and personal things
- Help prepare simple meals
- Wash dishes
- Learn to use washer dryer
- Answer phone appropriately
- Take the trash can outside
- Yard work such as raking leaves, sweeping
- Washing car and bathroom (with parental guidance)
Teaching your kids household chores will not only benefit the family, it will also teach your kids valuable life lessons. So, be proactive and divide and conquer household tasks today!
