Household chores for kids | Raising Children Network

Chores for children of different ages · Water the garden and indoor plants. · Feed pets. · Help with hanging out clothes and folding washing. · Take ... Skiptocontent Skiptonavigation Householdchores:goodforchildren,goodforyourfamilyChildrencanlearnalotfromdoinghouseholdchores.Doingchoreshelpschildrenlearnaboutwhattheyneedtodotocareforthemselves,ahomeandafamily.They learnskillstheycanuseintheiradultlives,likepreparingmeals,cleaning,organisingandkeepingagarden.Beinginvolvedinchoresalsogiveschildren experienceofrelationshipskillslikecommunicatingclearly,negotiating,cooperatingandworkingasateam.Whenchildrencontributetofamilylife,it helpsthemfeelcompetentandresponsible.Eveniftheydon’tenjoythechore,whentheykeepgoingtheygetthefeelingofsatisfactionthatcomeswithfinishingatask.Andsharinghouseworkcanalso helpfamiliesworkbetterandreducefamilystress.Whenchildrenhelpout,choresgetdonesooner,andparentshavelesstodo.Thisfreesuptimeforthefamilytodofunthingstogether.HowtogetchildreninvolvedinchoresIt’sbesttostartbychoosingchoresthatworkforchildren’sagesandabilities.Choresthataretoohardcanbefrustrating–orevendangerous–andchoresthataretooeasymightbeboring.Evenyoungchildrencanhelpwithchoresifyouchooseactivitiesthatarerightfortheirage.Youcanstartwithsimplejobslikepackinguptoys.Choreslikethissendthemessagethatyourchild’scontributionisimportant.It’salsoimportanttothinkabout choresortasksthatgetyourchildinvolvedincaringforthefamilyasawhole.Asimpleoneisgettingyourchildtohelpwithsettingorclearingthetable.Jobslikethesearelikelytogiveyourchildasenseofresponsibilityandparticipation.Ifyourchildisoldenough,youcan haveafamilydiscussionaboutchores.Thiscanreinforcetheideathatthewholefamilycontributestohowthehouseholdruns.Childrenoversixyearsoldcanhelpdecidewhichchoresthey’dprefer.Youcan motivateyourchildtogetinvolvedinchoresby:doingthechoretogetheruntilyourchildcandoitontheirownbeingclearabouteachperson’schoresforthedayorweek–writethemdownsothey’reeasytoremembertalkingaboutwhyit’sgreatthataparticularjobhasbeendoneshowinganinterestinhowyourchildhasdonethejobpraisingpositivebehaviourusinga rewardcharttotrackcompletedchoresandgivesmallrewardslikechoosingaTVprogramorfamilymeal.Plentyofencouragementkeepschildreninterestedinhelping.Youcanboostyourchild’schancesofsuccessbyexplainingthejobandtellingyourchildthey’redoingwell.Thisway,yourchildwillfeelrewarded.Pocketmoneyforchildren’schoresSomechildrenaremotivatedtodochoresforpocketmoney.Butsomefamiliesbelieveallfamilymembershavearesponsibilitytohelpanddon’tgiveoutpocketmoneyforchores.Ifyoudecidetopaypocketmoneyforchores,explainchoresclearlysothere’snoconfusionorbargainingaboutwhatneedstobedoneandwhen.Somefamiliesdon’tlinkchorestopocketmoney,butmightpayextrapocketmoneyforextrachores.ChoresforchildrenofdifferentagesHerearesomeideasforchoresforchildrenofdifferentages.Toddlers(2-3years)Pickuptoysandbooks.Putclothesonclotheshooks.Setplacematsonthedinnertable.Preschoolers(4-5years)Setthetableformeals.Helpwithpreparingmeals,undersupervision.Helpputcleanclothesintopilesforeachfamilymember,readytofold.Helpwithgroceryshoppingandputtingawaygroceries.School-agechildren(6-11years)Waterthegardenandindoorplants.Feedpets.Helpwithhangingoutclothesandfoldingwashing.Takeoutrubbish.Helpwithchoosingmealsandshopping.Helpwithmealpreparationandserving,undersupervision.Vacuumorsweepfloors.Cleanthebathroomsink,wipedownkitchenbenches,ormopfloors.Putawaycrockeryandcutlery.Teenagers(12-18years)Teenagerscandothechorestheydidwhentheywereyounger,buttheycanberesponsiblefordoingthemontheirown.Teenagerscanalsotakeonmoredifficultchores.Forexample,teenagerscoulddothewashing,cleanthebathroomandtoilet,preparemeals,stackthedishwasherormowlawns.Whenchoosingchoresforteenagers,thinkoftheskillsyou’dlikethemtolearn.Youcankeepchildrenmotivatedbylettingthemchangejobsfromtimetotime.Thisisalsoawayofrotatingchoresfairlyamongfamilymembers.