Got a lazy kid? Of course you don't! Kids are NEVER lazy. Har har. Everyone seems to have a different opinion about how much responsibility kids should have, and at what age. I remember being surprised to learn a friend of mine had already taught her 3-year-old how to make his bed. My next thought was, Why isn't my kid making his own bed?
Because! I hadn't shown him how to, yet. That's why. My 3-year-old was living off the fat of the land, with no responsibilities whatsoever. Well, that put me on notice. There are some household chores a preschooler is capable of taking on. These tasks teach them self-sufficiency and help them feel more a part of their family community. How many chores you assign is up to you and your child, but here's a few you might want to start with.
1. Make your bed. Your child may need help, but 3 or 4 is a good age to start teaching your child to make their own bed. Just don't pressure them to get it done perfectly.
2. Pick up your toys. This important habit should start early -- kids should always pick up any toys they play with as soon as they're done playing with them. You know the song: Clean up, clean up.
3. Clear dishes from the table. Start with just their own dishes, then move on to the family's dishes when they're a little older.
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4. Put silverware away from dishwasher. This simple sorting activity is easy enough for more preschoolers. Careful with knives, though.
5. Put dirty clothes in laundry hamper. Another important daily habit.
6. Help load laundry in washer or dryer. Kids love helping in the laundry room, so take advantage of that and let them help move laundry from machine to machine. Always supervise carefully in the laundry room.
7. Wipe up spills. Don't scold! Just hand your child a washcloth whenever they spill and calmly ask them to clean up. This helps them to take personal responsibility for their messes -- and helps teach them to be careful not to spill in the first place.
8. Clean out bathroom sink. When your child is brushing their teeth, make sure they rinse away any toothpaste or left inside the sink.
9. Feed pets. This is another chore kids might need extra help with -- but it's a fun one, I think.
This downloadable chore chart for preschoolers by SimpleMom is a cute way to make chores more fun.
What chores do your children do around the house?
Image via WellspringCS/Flickr