Age appropriate chores... (Full Version)

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VisitorinWaiting -> Age appropriate chores... (7/29/2008 11:12:56 AM)

I know the subject of chores has come up often here...so if my question has been answered elsewhere, please point me in the right direction.

My children are ANXIOUS to have chores because they hear about other people doing chores. I never had chores as a young person...my mom did it all...and I feel that I'm trying to follow in her footsteps as much as I don't want to. So, what are chores that are age appropriate for...
5 year old boy?
4 year old boy?
2 year old girl?

Maybe 2 years is too young...maybe for some parts...but she does pick up her toys and put them on the shelf when told. So, I think I could get her into some things. She loves to stand by the washing machine when I'm taking out the clothes and put them in the dryer for me. :)

Thanks in advance for your wonderful ideas and help!



Auben -> RE: Age appropriate chores... (7/29/2008 11:25:55 AM)

I personally think that it's easier to move into contributing and doing work the earlier you start. Not that great responsibility for a house should rest on a child but they should feel that they are important to the home and to the other people in it.

2 year olds can (with much parental direction):
put away shoes
help sort laundry into colors
help sort silverware back into the drawer
take things to the table for meals
clean up their toys
help fold washclothes into simple squares

4 and 5 year olds can:
sort silverware into the drawer
carry plates, cups and silverware to the table
pile up dirty dishes
feed pets
sort their dirty laundry
put their laundry away
put their toys away
help collect trash or recycling
do simple bed making
wash windows and mirrors (within their reach)

Small children also seem to like those carpet sweepers (the non electrical ones) and will gladly push that back and forth for you.

In our house we have at least 2 daily chores for everyone 5 or over (1 daily chore for 3 and over and everyone under 3 works only under mom's supervision). We do have other chores that are not daily that are assigned a few times a week.



garsyt -> RE: Age appropriate chores... (7/29/2008 11:41:44 AM)

2 years old is not to young!! And it is obvious that she loves to help!

Tamara has a very good list there! Other chores I had my kids doing at that age was to wipe down surfaces in living areas (living room tables, sinks in bathrooms with out chemicals of course) gather towels in bathrooms for laundry day, put away towels in linen closet, set out silverware for meals, and help clean up outdoor toys and bikes prior to mowing.

Blessings,

Garsy



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Age appropriate chores... (7/29/2008 11:49:00 AM)

quote:

2 years old is not to young!! And it is obvious that she loves to help!

For Sure!!!!!! My 2yo is sometimes the best toy picker-upper!!!!! (A whole lot easier to convince him that picking up is fun then the older kids sometimes...lol)

My kids mostly help me with things at that age. Anything that can be picked up or wiped off they can easily do. They help with laundry (I usually make sure to have a few things in every load that they can easily "fold"...and they help put their things away in their drawers). They help load the dishwasher (sometimes I even let them load clean spoons into it if there isn't anything they can safely load....I do the sharp things at the last minute before we start it, for safely reasons). It may take longer to do what you want to do, but most household things can be accommodating to kids helping out...just take the time to think about their abilities and the jobs required for the chore



MrsTracy72 -> RE: Age appropriate chores... (7/29/2008 12:11:37 PM)

I used to be really bad at having my kids do chores, but as I do it more and see that it takes alot off of me, I am getting quite used to it. I still do more things than I should because they can help out, but they for sure always have to make their beds, clean their rooms and help set the dinner table. We are starting to let Kali wash the dishes and Jake dry, but Kali still has to learn how to completely clean them and Jake just has to learn not to complain about having to "work"

Kay is little, but LOVES to fold things like sink rags, dish towels and wash cloths. She also likes to load the wash machine and dryer, but I have caught her trying to do it herself a couple of times so we are not encouraging that anymore because I don't want my darks and whites to go in the washer and be washed in hot water or anything like that. But she will sit and watch the dryer go. We have front loaders and when I wash her best friend lumpy (a very worn out elephant) she watches him go from start to finish and talks to him the entire time so he isn't "lonely".



VisitorinWaiting -> RE: Age appropriate chores... (7/29/2008 11:02:34 PM)

I'm sorry. I worded my stuff about the 2 year old to make it seem that I thought that she was too young...but I was just thinking that some replies would say that she is too young. I think she can do a lot. Anyway, thanks for the helps. I just thought of something right after I posted the message... I am going to take a picture of each chore for the older boys...post them on a paper to give them a guide of what they have to do each day. Since they can't read all the words I'd have on a chart, I thought this would work well. I took pictures of each of them near their just made beds, the floor that they decluttered before bedtime... So, I think this will be neat.

Thanks for the ideas. They love the idea that they have "chores."



Auben -> RE: Age appropriate chores... (7/30/2008 10:01:30 AM)

I had white boards up on the fridge where I'd put the words and then a picture (write silverware and then draw a fork and spoon, etc). It didn't take them long to understand the picture even when they couldn't read the words.



favoredmomof4 -> RE: Age appropriate chores... (7/30/2008 10:52:35 AM)

Just this past weekend my DH and I did a search for chore charts online. We have 4 kids: 13 yo daughter, 11 yo son, 6 yo son, and 2 yo daughter. We found a website that has free printable charts called successfulfamilychores.com and another that has chore advice/charts called Titus2.com.

My 6 yo is responsible for:
- putting recycleables in bin daily, and bringing bin out on trash day
- tidying up living room daily
- putting his laundry away (each of our family members has own basket)
- cleaning up after self (toys, dishes in sink, etc.)
- feeding dogs PM

My 2 yo is responsible for:
- helping 6 yo tidy living room
- "setting" table (forks & napkins for each person)
- she also likes to help put laundry in washing machine and dryer
- cleaning up after self (often with help)

I didn't refer to older kids because yours are younger - but, they have quite a bit more to do. Also, all of the kids help with dogs - letting them in and out, brushing them, etc.

I grew up in a home like yours where my mom did everything (pretty much) and I felt very unprepared to be a wife and mom. I know our kids will have an advantage because they have had responsibilities - they are going to make better husbands/dads and wives/mothers! God Bless!



isaacsmom -> RE: Age appropriate chores... (7/30/2008 11:07:36 AM)

This is what my 3 y.o. can do:

--Carry dinner dishes to sink/counter
--Clean up after himself at breakfast/lunch (put cup/plate in sink, throw away napkin, wipe his table)
--Make his little bed (just pull up the covers then put the pillow and his bear on top)
--Put away his clothes/shoes
--Clean up his toys. I push everything into a pile for him, he grabs armfuls and puts them away singing "Clean up! Clean up! Everybody clean up!" lol.
--He's pretty good about cleaning up spills



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