Thoughtful Thursdays - Top 5 Chores for Kids Under 5!

As a Mom I can use all the help that I can get, just like most Moms out there.  Chores should be presented to children as a fact of life and not a punishment, and if you start early enough most kids really enjoy doing 'grown up stuff'.  So here is a list of chores that are beneficial for kids to promote character development and for Moms to get some extra help around the house!!

Picking Up:  At the age of 1 kids should be helping you pick up their toys.  This is good to do right before you start bedtime routine.  If you did all the picking up for them after they are in bed then they won't learn that those toys actually needed someone to pick them up.  They need to see the work behind cleaning up their play area.

Make pick up time fun with a song "Clean up Clean up everybody everywhere, Clean up Clean up everybody do your share!"

Make pick up time easy with 'homes' for all their toys.  You can use different color toy bins with picture labels, or cubby organizers.

Also, as soon as your child can take his/her clothes off by themselves, make sure you tell them where our dirty clothes go.  If you start your child out early with putting dirty clothes in the hamper, you will have a way easier time when they are older.  Which brings me to our next chore for kids!!

Laundry:  At the ripe age of 2 kids can already help out with laundry.  They can help you take stuff out of the drier and put it into the basket.  If you have a front load washer they can help you take the clothes from the washer and put in the dryer.  (NEVER let your child clime in or on your machine!!!!!!)

At an older age of 3 you child is ready to help you drag her/his laundry hamper to the laundry room, and help by matching socks together!  Make this a game for them.  Search and rescue to find the sock in the basket and then once all the socks are 'rescued' matching them all together (reuniting their loved ones).

And by the age of 4 they can help you put the detergent in the right place and push the buttons on the machines, if they can be reached.  Right now, my big 5 year old KJ can actually do all the laundry herself, but only because we have a washer and dryer that is front loading with the buttons on the front so she can reach them.

Dusting/Sweeping:  At around age 3, give your child a swiffer duster and let them run wild!  You will be amazed at how much fun they have and how much dust they will be able to find.  Since they are still short you will have to get up in the high places, but this saves your back from getting in all the low places in your house.  

Tie a towel around a mop and let your 4 year old shine up your hard wood floors.  They will love feeling like a grown up and your floors will look awesome.  Pop the towel in the washer when they are finished and you are ready for the next time.  Also the towel will prevent any damage to floor boards incase your child gets crazy and keeps hitting the walls :)

Cups, Plates, and Silverware... Oh My!!!  At the age of 2 introduce your child to setting the table.  Give them napkins to put at each place setting (this also helps with counting! Yay!)  When they are a bit older let them put out the napkins and silverware.  When they are around 4 they can usually carry one plate at a time and cups for everyone.  

At the end of a meal, have your child clear their area taking the dishes to the sink for you.  (KJ started do this at around 4.  Before then, she would ask to be excused and would leave her stuff on the table.)

At the age of 5 your child might really enjoy the idea of doing the dishes.  Who doesn't love to play with soap, water, and bubbles???  Well, I know most Mom's don't love doing the dishes, so have your kid help out.  Show them how to make sure the dishes are clean and how to save water by not letting the water continuously run.  If washing is still too hard, let your child dry :)

Bathrooms:  My daughter absolutely LOVES to clean the bath tub!  When it is time to clean the bath rooms she always asks to clean the tub.  This is perfect for me since I can't STAND cleaning tubs.  She was especially helpful when I was pregnant and physically couldn't bend over the tub anymore.  

Have fun with chores and they will go by much quicker for you and your kiddos.  The sooner they learn these life skills the easier your life will be in the future.  Take the time out this week and explain to your child how to do some of these things.  Try one new chore at a time and you will be surprised about how excited your preschooler will be to help Mommy out!!!!  Happy Cleaning!!!!!