Fostering Independence, Empowering Our Children, Lessening the Load for Parents - AKA - Chores

By: Parental Guidance

After another hectic morning getting my 3 1/2 year old and 19 month old dressed and organized, something dawned on me - maybe it is time to start giving some responsibilities to them. I asked my daughter what she thought about having some "very important jobs" to do each day to help me out.

Since I positioned the concept this way, she was excited about being big enough to start looking after some things all by her self. This made me start thinking about the concept of chores and familial responsibilities and so here are some ideas I thought were worth sharing:

Some chores most children between the ages of 2-4 could do: making their beds (pulling up the sheets/covers), putting dirty clothes in the hamper, clearing plastic dishes to the counter/sink, tidying up books and toys, wiping up messes, bringing in the newspaper, and helping to feed pets.

Some chores most children between the ages of 5-7 could do: all of the chores above, dusting furniture (old socks work really well), carrying in and helping to put away groceries, setting the table, clearing the table, bringing in mail, helping with cooking, and puttin their clothes away.

Some chores most children between the ages of 8-10 (and beyond) could do: all of the chores above, taking care of pets, folding and putting away laundry, vacuuming, sweeping, mopping, taking out the garbage, preparing simple foods, making their own lunches (using agreed upon items), emptying and loading the dishwasher, raking leaves, shovelling snow, and washing cars.

Although my son isn't quite old enough to take on any jobs independently, he does love to help out when given a specific task, often while I sing my version of the "tidy up song". By encouraging him to help out now and having him watch his big sister do her jobs, he will likely learn that this it what it means to be part of a family. I know that in the beginning, it will be a little more work for me as we make chores part of our routines. I also know that I'll need to let go of a bit of my neat-freak tendencies and be positive about their accomplishments even if it isn't exactly how it would look if I'd done it myself.

It is my hope to teach both my son and daughter how to take care of all household duties required to make life run more smoothly. From the perspective of someone wishing for my spouse to just notice (he is wonderfully helpful when asked) when household jobs need to get done, I want to raise my children to be the perfect partner when it comes to chores. I guess I'll get feedback on this about 25 years from now ... wish me luck!

Parental Guidance offers unique support for parents based on your own values and beliefs. Our professionals come into your home and coach you to develop better strategies to deal with your children’s inappropriate behaviour. Our Parent Guides are highly-trained educators with extensive knowledge of child development. They have numerous years of experience working with families and are able to listen intently, ask key questions and collaborate with you to create effective individualized strategies.

Visit us online at: www.parentalguidance.ca