Helping out at home or just practicing to contribute to the family (and to people in general) is something just about all parents wish to instill in their kids. Having children do chores is not just an efficient way of tidying up your home, but it’s a crucial part of raising happy, confident children who become productive and conscientious adults.
Pretty much any time anybody sees a child pitching in with some kind of task, you can count on an observer to say, “Start ’em young!”
Chem-Dry of Northern Utah is here to help you know how to enlist the troops! We’ve included some things to consider as you implement an all-hands-on-deck culture in your own family. We also included a list of chores that are appropriate for each age group.
Get Your Little Ones Involved With Chores They Want To Help With
No matter how quiet and peaceful or loud and hectic your home is, the same rule often applies: A cleaner home is a healthier and happier home. If you have/ever had a toddler that didn’t occasionally (or always) make everything a disaster, well, we don’t believe you. When you have toddlers to clean up after, bedrooms are messy and shared living spaces can be chaotic.
As young as toddler-hood, children love to watch and imitate their parents and older siblings when they’re doing chores. They are incredibly eager to “help.” We know that often times it’s easier to occupy your children with something else while you get your housework done. However, you should tap into their desire to learn by doing (and doing it themselves) will pay off in the long run. Attach chores with positive feelings by spending time with them and praising them for helping out while they’re little.
Give Them Chores That Coincide With Their Age and Ability
You want to give your children chores that may be a bit of a challenge but still within their ability to accomplish. When you let children help with things that they perceive as tasks “big people” do, you boost both their independence and self-esteem. When you give your kids a responsibility, you’re letting them know that you trust them and that you can count on them.
Give Them Chores They Can Do Well (Enough)
In order to avoid undermining any positive psychological benefits of your children doing their chores, do your best to not correct the job they’ve done at the end. Give your guidance and input at the beginning and then your thanks and praise after. Make sure you’re only giving them cleaning tasks they can complete to a standard you can live with. The end goal is to help encourage rather than discourage or frustrate your child with each cleaning task.
Give Them Chores With Visible Results
You want to maximize the intrinsic reward of cleaning and organizing to your child. To do this, you can start by choosing some chores that have immediate and/or visible results. For example, dusting may not be as noticeable as straightening up the shoes on the shoe rack. Point out and emphasize how nice everything looks and how calm everything feels once the chore is done to really drive the point home.
The Best Chores for Toddlers
- Take dishes to the sink (or the counter by the sink).
- Wipe up spills.
- Vacuum with toy vacuum.
- Put toys away.
- Place shoes where they belong, neatly.
- Throw trash in the garbage can.
The Best Chores for Preschoolers
- Straighten up shoes in mudrooms or entryways.
- Feed pets.
- Put dirty clothes in the washer, switch them to the dryer, and take them out of the dryer.
- Put folded clothes away in their drawers.
- Straighten up pillows on couches and chairs.
- Fold simple laundry, such as rags.
- Pick up messy rooms.
- Make beds.
The Best Chores for Elementary School Age Children
- Put dishes in the dishwasher.
- Hand wash some dishes.
- Sort laundry by color and/or type.
- Wash and dry loads of laundry.
- Fold laundry and put it away.
- Wipe glass doors and windows.
- Sweep off the front porch.
- Vacuum.
- Mop.
- Set the table.
- Clear the table and wipe it.
- Unload the dishwasher.
- Clean bathrooms.
- Light yard work.
- Collect trash from small trash cans.
- Clean out the car.
- Light dusting.
- Clean baseboards.
- Make snacks.
- Make lunches for school.
- Take large trashcans to the curb and bring them back.
Turn it Over to the Professionals
While general cleaning tasks and vacuuming are essential, don’t forget how important routine professional cleaning is to maintain a healthy home. Chem-Dry has been in the cleaning business for a long time and understands what your Logan home needs. As a trusted professional cleaning service, Chem-Dry of Northern Utah can clean your carpets, rugs, tile, upholstery, remove pet stains & odors, and more!
Check out our other blog posts.