Ok, so now that I am a parent I realize just how much work my mom and dad put into raising us, 4 kids. It takes work to raise children that are well mannered, responsible and hard workers. Today I am listing out easy chores for children that will take time as a parent to teach but will make your life easier in the long run, and hopefully theirs too!
I recently listened to a podcast about how a mom woke up one day and realized her children all left their plates on the table after meals, their beds were only made if she made them and they thought the dishes magically got washed. She spoke on her journey of training her kids to do the chores she had been doing for them. Now if you are anything like me, it is sometimes just easier to dress your kid, make up their bed, pick up their plate and take out their trash, however, are you helping them become responsible humans?! You see, my mom spent SO. MUCH. TIME. training us 4 kids to clean the bathroom, dust the baseboards, vacuum, cook and grocery shop. I know her personality and I know that it would have been so much easier for her to just do it herself. However, she took the time to patiently show us how to do chores and in turn how to be functioning adults. Whatever we as parents teach our kids now will translate over when they are adults. That is a terrifying thought! 🙂
Last year, I made it a point to give George 2 “chores”. He was in charge of bringing the bathroom trashcans to the kitchen for me to put with the main trash and place his plate in the sink. For a 3-year-old, I thought that was sufficient in getting him to at least be aware of picking up after himself and helping me out. This year I added on making up his bed. Obviously it is not as neat as I would do it, but you know what, that’s ok! He is learning to get up and start his day with a picked up room! I remember reading a Wall Street Journal article about a Navy SEAL who wrote about if you want to rule the world, start by making your bed. The premise of the article was that learning little responsibilities and being faithful to them would lead to bigger opportunities. At the end of the day, we as parents are in charge of teaching our children good character. Setting up easy chores for children is a great way to get them involved in household work and teach them that life is not centered around them.
Below I have listed out easy chores for children to get your mom’s brain going. We keep a sticker chart on the fridge that G gets to place stickers on when he completes his chores. If I do not have to remind him to do them, then he gets 2 stickers and if I have to remind him he gets 1 sticker. When his chart is filled up he can choose $5 or a toy that is worth that much. Later on, I will probably do away with the chart and just say it is a part of life but for now, the chart is a great way to keep him motivated and excited! I would love to hear if any of you moms have ideas about incorporating chores into your child’s day and how you teach them!
Easy Chores For Children
bring trash to the central garbage can ( dump it if they are old enough to not make a mess!)
place their plate in the sink
wipe their own little tables and chairs off if they eat at a smaller table
make their beds
pick up their toys
help dust furniture (G loves his little duster!)
help wipe glass top tables (I make sure he uses a safe, non-toxic cleaner!)
pick up pinecones/sticks in the yard
fold washcloths and their clothes
help get laundry going
put up silverware from the dishwasher (this is his favorite!)
