Lovely Ian asked for some ideas on
age-appropriate chores for children, especially for him, what he can help me.
These are some sample guides:
These are some sample guides:
Some points
to consider:
Patience
Don't get them helping if you're feeling rushed, they'll sense your impatience. Accept that their 'helping' will make chores take longer.
Forget perfection
It's not about getting things done to our standard, it's about being involved together, and as they become older, doing it so that they feel they're doing it well enough.
Praise
Don’t forget to praise them by appreciative words as it’s an important motivation to them. Like saying “Thank you” or “Good boy! What a brilliant job you did putting books away. You’re amazing”
Patience
Don't get them helping if you're feeling rushed, they'll sense your impatience. Accept that their 'helping' will make chores take longer.
Forget perfection
It's not about getting things done to our standard, it's about being involved together, and as they become older, doing it so that they feel they're doing it well enough.
Praise
Don’t forget to praise them by appreciative words as it’s an important motivation to them. Like saying “Thank you” or “Good boy! What a brilliant job you did putting books away. You’re amazing”
Consistency
Fitting chores into your routine, like living in a general rhythm anyway, helps children accept chores as part of the daily life.
If you really are rushed and choose to do something yourself, choose something that they probably won't notice it's been done for them. If a child learns it's optional, that's such an easy way out, for any of us!
Teamwork
I find that just asking a child to do a task can be hit or miss. If I can do something side by side with them, there's a better chance of success. If I remind them the toys need tidying, I'll also mention that I'll start lunch. When he was younger, we tidied his toys together.
Be Specific
Tidy up, clean your room, clean that mess, even set the table.... Try instead, time to place the toys in their boxes, please could you pick up all the dirty clothes from the floor/your room, here are the cutlery for you to place for each person. The wording would change, but being specific goes for every age.
Fun
Make it fun whenever possible. It can also be a time to chat together.
Children love 1-2-1 time with their parents, so if household tasks means also special time with mum or dad, wow, what a motivator, right?!
Fitting chores into your routine, like living in a general rhythm anyway, helps children accept chores as part of the daily life.
If you really are rushed and choose to do something yourself, choose something that they probably won't notice it's been done for them. If a child learns it's optional, that's such an easy way out, for any of us!
Teamwork
I find that just asking a child to do a task can be hit or miss. If I can do something side by side with them, there's a better chance of success. If I remind them the toys need tidying, I'll also mention that I'll start lunch. When he was younger, we tidied his toys together.
Be Specific
Tidy up, clean your room, clean that mess, even set the table.... Try instead, time to place the toys in their boxes, please could you pick up all the dirty clothes from the floor/your room, here are the cutlery for you to place for each person. The wording would change, but being specific goes for every age.
Fun
Make it fun whenever possible. It can also be a time to chat together.
Children love 1-2-1 time with their parents, so if household tasks means also special time with mum or dad, wow, what a motivator, right?!
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