Age Appropriate Chores for Children
We as parents want to give our child comforts to the best of our ability. But too much of a good thing could be detrimental.
When someone else does everything for their children, it can create a sense of dependency that can persist well into adulthood. Children who are not given age-appropriate responsibilities may struggle with basic life skills, such as cooking, cleaning, and budgeting, when they leave home. Furthermore, they may lack a sense of accountability and ownership, which can lead to a lack of motivation and direction.
When children are not given opportunities to participate in household tasks, they may become accustomed to being waited on, and this can lead to entitlement and a lack of appreciation for the efforts of others. Ultimately, failing to involve children in chores can do them a disservice, as it can hinder their ability to become self-sufficient, independent adults who are capable of taking care of themselves and contributing positively to society. By giving children age-appropriate responsibilities, parents can help them develop important life skills, a sense of accomplishment, and a strong work ethic.
Balancing work and play, by combining them and involving the whole family (along with the kids) in doing household chores eases the whole process. Involving kids into doing everyday activity at home sets up a great routine for them and eventually makes them independent. The key is to assign age-appropriate chores and simple tasks for children to start with.
Many parents and care-givers feel that household chores are too difficult for kids. So, even before the kid shows any interest, the grownups resist in giving any task to the kids or they simply take over and finish the job themselves. We might not realize but this behavior does not help in motivating the kids and in fact encourages them to be lazy. Also, In earlier days, the size of the families was huge and that meant a big load of chores to be done. While the majority of the tasks were done by the elders, even kids had their hands full. Helping out in the house was a regular affair and not an explicit task. But today with smaller families and increased conveniences, getting kids to do household chores for kids has become challenging.It's crucial to involve kids from an early age into household chores as it teaches them the value of hard work and understand that it takes effort to maintain a household.
Engaging in household chores together can be a fun activity that promotes family bonding and creates memories and just because they are young, they should not be shielded from doing these simple tasks as it gives them a sense of belonging and improves their connection with the family members. It instils the feeling of pride and self-worth in kids which is absolutely necessary for their strong future.
8 Tips to get started
Kids are capable of doing much more than we realize and they simply need motivation to master it. Here are some tips to keep in mind before getting started:
1. Age- appropriate:
As parents, only you know the capabilities of your child and giving them a task to do according to their age and maturity will make it easy for them and at the same time give them a sense of accomplishment. The same task that one kid can do easily might be difficult for the other. So be mindful about assigning the tasks and make it an engaging activity for them.
2. Aim for Progress, not perfection:
When kids are just getting started,have patience and show them how to do the chore step by step and next, let your child help you do it. Initially they are going to spill the milk or drop the plate, but when you don't fret on it, next time they will try harder and eventually ace it.
3. Appreciate the effort:
Even if your kids do a horrible job, have a positive attitude and give them the time to learn. Show them a good work ethic. When you give them the space to improve, they will in turn learn patience and positive behavior for the future. Praise and encourage the child while the chore is in progress. Give them positive reinforcement.
4. Be consistent & clear expectations :
For any chore to become a habit, it needs to be done on a regular basis. Think twice before you say “ Maybe you can leave the plates just for today, i’ll take them”. Inconsistency adds bumps on the road to achieve discipline. And kids are always smart enough to take liberty of the situation.
5. Time:
It takes time for kids to learn and understand the process. Parents in their busy lives tend to give in, to either jump in to finish the job or leave the chore halfway. Be clear about what is expected of them and hold your ground.
6. Attention Span:
Toddlers and Preschoolers have a limited attention span of not more than 10-15 mins. So give them tasks that they can focus and finish according to their age and ability.
7. Sharing is caring:
Make sure that the whole family comes together to pitch in and finish the job. This will teach kids the value of teamwork and also the fun involved with it.
8. Be Alert :
When your kid has just started with helping you out, supervising your child is important as you want to make sure they learn to do the task well, and are not in the process of hurting themselves or the house.
Age-Appropriate Chores for children
Kids who start helping from a young age will grow up to be willing to help when they get older too. Here are some age appropriate chores that you can bring into kids routine.
1. Toddlers(2-4 years)
Kids, especially toddlers love to help out.These chores might seem boring for grownups but for kids, these activities are fun for children as they keep them occupied, and help them learn new life skills.
- Pick up/ put away toys
- Sorting clothes (may need help)
- Put dirty clothes in the laundry basket
- Fold clothes
- Stack up books and magazines
- Pluck leaves for leafy vegetables.
- Watering the plants
- Carrying their own backpack everyday
- Turning off lights at bedtime
2. Preschoolers(4-6 years)
Preschoolers have tremendous energy and getting them to do chores is a great way to engage them and improve their gross motor skills. Stickers are a hit among preschoolers and these can be used as a reward for a great job done.
- All toddler activities
- Make their bed
- Bring plate and cup to the sink after a meal
- Clear table
- Clean windows
- Wipe the spill
- Feeding the pet
- Get the school bag ready for the next day
When your child becomes proficient at a chore it is time to pass that chore to a younger child or simply upgrade their list. Calendars and chore charts are good organizational systems, and definitely reduces the drama and the confusion at home.
The main objective of age appropriate chores for children is to teach kids the responsibility of doing chores regularly and the ability to manage those chores into their lives in a positive way. Depending on what age you start for a child will likely determine how many chores they might do (and how long those chores last).We understand that teaching regular chores to younger children is not as easy as we think, but it is definitely worth the effort. If you are a parent who is still midway in getting your child to help out, we get it. Just hang in there. A little effort and patience will go a long way in keeping your sanity and shaping their future.
1 comment
True and very well written. Agree with most of the point in here