You may have noticed that your child often wants to help you out, and more often than not, they want to do the house chores! Our child learns by doing what we do, and it’s exciting to them when they get to do what we do.
We want to tap into that excitement and use the opportunity to teach them new life skills at home, and I’ll share the 8 chores that we teach our children aged 3 and 5 to do. Just bear in mind, though, that although they think they are helping you, they are more likely to make the job harder for you. But that’s ok because the goal is to teach them these skills.
1. Drying and collecting the clothes
The least challenging chore to get your child involved is drying the clothes. We have large and small hangers. The large ones are for Daddy and Mommy’s clothes and the small ones are for them. They take clothes from the basket, we let them lay them on a surface and put the hangers in.
Once that’s done, we let them hang it on the clothesline. If they are not tall enough, consider getting them a step stool. With this, they can easily reach the clothesline. The step stool can be used for a variety of other activities I’ll be talking about later, and getting one makes things much easier for your child.
2. Washing the toilets
One of the more exciting chores for your kids because it involves water, and they love playing with water. Let them soap up the toilet bowl, the sink, and the floor! Let them scrub it all. Get them started from the beginning and lead by example, and you won’t even need to coax them, they will want to help.
Yes, the toilet may be very wet, they may be soaked, and soap is everywhere! But that’s why it’s so fun for them. Even though it takes me a longer time to clean with my kids, I always come out with a cleaner toilet and excited/satisfied toddlers.
Just be mindful of their safety as it can get slippery. The extra water and soap used are worth it, you’re building up their self-confidence and skill. When they grow up doing chores, it’s much easier for it to stick, it becomes harder when they start late.
3. Cooking
We started to teach our children to cook when they were 3 years old. They make their meals under guidance, and only on steps that are safe.
Teach them to make simple food like wraps, and fry an egg. Let them break the eggs and stir them, and roll the flour. The Bruno cooker is very suitable for children since it can be used indoors, and it’s small enough to put in areas that are easy for them to use.
After the meal is made, ask them to prepare their own plates and utensils, and enjoy the meal together 🙂
4. Sweeping and mopping the floor
When you bring the broom and the mop out, your child likely wants to participate. Show them how to hold the broom and mop, and let them try it. As they sweep and mop the floor, they will not make much progress, they may even make the place dirtier, but keep encouraging them and let them have fun, they will get better over time.
It’s ok for them to use adult brooms and mops, but if you can get them their own equipment, they are more likely to participate consistently. Here’s an example of a cleaning set for kids, it’s more expensive but the quality is better, and it’s easier to use for their height.
5. Removing the dishes and cleaning the dining table
After meals, set an example by removing your dishes from the table. We take the dishes off the table and put them into the sink, and guide our children to do the same. We allow them to use glass cups, stoneware plates, and bowls, and they may break them. But they are also learning how to handle these things with care.
Be mindful of your first reaction and facial expression. If they break the stuff, it’s important not to be angry at them. Instead, encourage them to be careful next time, and show them how to move them safely. Remember to keep the chores fun and exciting.
If you have a high sink that the child can’t reach, consider getting them a step stool. Place this at the sink area and they can climb up the steps even when holding the dishes with both hands. The same step stool can be used when they wash the dishes or cook, and it’s very handy. Having this makes learning the chore that much easier.
6. Washing the dishes
Start by encouraging them to wash their utensils, plates, and bowls. You can guide them on how to use the dish soap but it’s not necessary. They will learn by observing how you do it. The dishes they clean may still be dirty, but for them, it’s a job well done and it increases their confidence level. Continue to encourage and praise them, and wash it by yourself later.
This chore may be one of the hardest because their cleaning standards may not meet yours, and you end up having to do even more. But it’s a fun chore, kids love water and soap. Let them clean their dishes consistently and you may find yourself with a very good helper later.
7. Taking the trash out
This chore may be a little dirty for some, but it’s one of the easiest. Wrap up the trash nicely, and all they need to do is to follow you and throw it away. Encourage them to hold the trashbag, or if it’s too heavy, let them hold part of it. If the bin is too tall, carry them and let them throw it in.
For those that are bold enough, allow them to put the trash into the bag, and tie it up. But if they spill, be sure not to react negatively. Always encourage them and make it fun.
8. Keeping the toys
For my kids, this is the toughest chore of all. Not because it’s hard to do, it’s just that they don’t want to do it. The way I manage to get them to keep the toys is to lead by example and make it exciting by turning it into a competition. Let’s see who can collect more toys! See, I’ve managed to collect 5! I’ve placed 10 of them in the box!
This method usually works and they end up keeping the toys, but sometimes they refuse to do it. In such cases, I either try again the next day. If you berate them for not tidying up, you may further amplify the feeling that keeping the toys is not a fun thing to do. Keep it fun and they will be more inclined to do it.
Final Words
As you start to assign chores to your children, you’ll realize that they end up taking more time and energy from you because of all the follow-up work you need to do. But as your child learns these skills, they also build up their self-confidence. We all feel a gain in confidence when we become good at something, and it’s the same for kids.
Your efforts in guiding and allowing them to participate in housework will bear good fruits. You’ll raise capable children who can care for themselves, and so I encourage and applaud you for making the extra effort, you’re awesome!
