We all, even kids, need to feel needed and know that we are contributing. But kids cannot feel that way if they don’t contribute to the family. Doing chores at home is a great practice that helps your kids to learn essential life skills for living independently. According to Roger W. Mclntire, a psychology professor at Maryland University, a child must have some responsibilities. You can nurture your lovely kids toward becoming experts with encouragement and building on kids’ natural desire to please. Here are 10 easy steps for teaching kids household chores.
Age-Appropriate Chores for Children
Your child can do more than you think. You cannot imagine a preschooler can handle one or two simple one-step or two-step jobs. Older children can manage more.
Chores for children ages 2 to 3
-Put toys away
-Fill pet's food dish
-Put clothes in the hamper
-Wipe up spills
-Dust
-Pile books and magazines.
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Chores for children ages 4 to 5
-Make their bed
-Empty wastebaskets
-Bring in mail or newspaper
-Clear table
-Pull weeds, if you have a garden
-Water flowers
-Unload utensils from the dishwasher
-Wash plastic dishes in the sink
-Fix a bowl of cereal.
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Chores for children ages 6 to 7
-Sort laundry
-Sweep floors
-Set and clear the table
-Help make and pack lunch
-Weed and rake leaves
-Keep bedroom tidy,
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Chores for children ages 8 to 9
-Load dishwasher
-Put away groceries
-Vacuum
-Help make dinner
-Make your own snacks
-Wash table after meals
-Put away your own laundry
-Sew buttons
-Make your own breakfast
-Peel vegetables
-Cook simple foods, such as toast
-Mop floor
-Take the pet for a walk.
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Chores for children ages 10 and older.
-Unload dishwasher
-Fold laundry
-Clean bathroom
-Wash windows
-Wash car
-Cook simple meals with supervision
-Iron clothes
-Do laundry
-Take care of younger siblings
-Clean kitchen
-Change their bed sheets
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10 Ways to Teach Young Kids Household Chores
Start as Early as Possible
Introducing the concept of chores to your child from an early age. Your toddlers also can help you around the home. However, offer age-appropriate chores if your kids want to help you. You can add more chores and more complex tasks to the to-do list when your kids grow up. Talk to your kids about the positive terms of doing chores and explain that their contributions to the household are essential to the home's functioning.
Member’s Chores in a Chart
To keep a track of all the chores, you can create your family member’s chore chart and place the chart where the kids can see it. The chores may include washing dishes, taking out the trash, washing laundry, and sweeping the floor. Distribute and rotate those chores between your kids so that your kids don’t feel that they are stuck with a chore that they hate. Make them let you know how and when they do the chores. Rotate those chores by alternating weeks.
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Their Daily Routine
When you incorporate chores into a daily routine, it will make them seem like second nature. You can select inspiring times like the 10 minutes before their favorite TV show or right before dinner. If you make the chores a routine part of what your child does every day, it becomes just one of those things- brushing their teeth. However, start this routine at a young age to ingrain it as a habit.
Avoid Using Chores as Punishment
Never use chores as a punishment for your child's misbehavior. If you punish your child by making them do chores, it will create a negative feeling for them.
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Fun Chores
Turn regular and boring household chores into a fun activity by turning on some music and dancing with the kids. They will then do the chores with something that is enjoyable rather than mundane. You can also use a timer to see how many toys your preschoolers can pick up from the floor.
Challenge
Don’t always give the easiest possible chore to your kids because it will make them more boring than you might think. So, keep them in a little challenge by adding tasks. If your child usually sets the table for dinner, you can add washing the table and placing the mats. Then, challenge your child to do this set of tasks faster and quickly.
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Reward System
Give a concrete reward for accomplishing a goal. Combine their chores with a reward system to promote a sense of responsibility. Remember, the rewards don’t necessarily have to be monetary. When you prepare a chore chart, you can add stars or stickers to it as a reward.
Motivation
Motivate them to do their chores in less time. Let your kids use their own motivation and self-reliance to get things done. Never use controlling or demanding language that can make your kids feel like he or she is in charge of their actions. Help your kids to pay more attention and solve things for themselves. Make them aware of their responsibilities and be dutiful.
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Be Realistic
Understand that your standards of perfect might not be the same standards that your child uses. Whatever and however your kids do the chore, let them think it is okay. Your assistance or providing a tool can make their chore easier.
Praise
Teach your kids that doing chores helps to strengthen family bonds. Besides, chores coach and support your child to become an independent and productive adult. Don't be miser to praise your kids when they do a good job with their chores to grow their self-confidence to continue.
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Conclusion
Teaching children Household chores can be a gentle way to make him/her understand what it takes to run a home. Definitely, your children will feel useful and respected if you give them age-appropriate and enjoyable tasks and amusing rewards for successfully completing those tasks. You will also be satisfied when you have taught your kids essential life skills that they will use for their life hacks.