“Kids who help around the house grow up to be more successful and happier adults.”
As I have told you before, I am a mom of two kids. My oldest one is 11 years old and my little one is 7 years old. When my son was around 5 years old, my daughter started to develop severe eczema and allergies. And at that time, I was doing pretty much everything for both of them. But when my daughter was in her worst moment, I realized that I need my son to help me with small tasks around the house.
I have read a lot about kids and household chores and everything. But being honest it was not until my daughter’s condition that I started to pay attention to all those articles.
We started to assign small chores to my son. He was able to help us with recycling, and he was in charge of picking up his clothes and help his sister get dressed. He also had to pick up the toys and do his bedroom (well that one is still tricky because their sense of organization may not be the same as me). After we assigned little tasks to him, (we could not do it for Bella at the time because of her skin being at its worst), we noticed that he was more independent and even more confident. He was in charge of helping to make the family routine smoother.
Involving him made him grow up.
After we were able to manage our daughter’s condition, it was time for her to also have some tasks at the house. At 4 years old, and she helped me with her clothing. Her job was to put all her laundry inside the machine, and also take the silverware (not the sharp knives) out of the dishwasher to name some.
We do not carry a board but they know what their responsibilities are around the house. I can’t lie to you, there are weeks they do it without me telling them, and others that I need to remind them that they have to pick up their dirty clothes from the bathroom. But I can tell you that involving them in household responsibilities, more than helping me, has helped them grow and be more responsible.
Here are some chores that your kids can do (by age):
It is a great idea to keep a board where they can see what they have to do. You can do it with drawings if they are too little to read. Or even cards with the chores on them that they can pick from weekly.
Between 3 and 5 years old, they can do around one chore.
From ages 5 and 7 years old, they can do around one or two chores.
Between 8 and 10 years old, they can do around two or three chores.
Ages 10 and above, they are able to help with three or four chores.
Some examples of household chores for kids are:
(Between 3 and 7 years old)
- Make their bed.
- Put their plate in the kitchen after eating.
- Put their dirty clothes in the hamper.
- Unload the dishwasher as a team.
- Get dressed and brush their teeth without being asked.
- Keep their shoes in the shoe basket.
(Ages 8 and older)
- Help to clean the garage.
- Take care of one assigned bathroom.
- Clean Mom’s and Dad’s vehicles inside and out.
- Help to cut the grass.
- Walk the dog in the mornings or afternoons.
- Help with cleaning some windows in the house.
- Ironing clothes. (For kids 10 and older.)
- Help prepare breakfast, lunch, or dinner, especially during the weekends.
- Set the table without being reminded.
- Help a younger sibling with something.
- Change their bedsheets weekly.
- Help with the laundry.
Please share with us any other household chores your kids help you with!
