Oh this is the age when they want to help you. More than anything they want to be your sidekick, to be useful and helpful. The reality is that once they are truly capable at doing the chore they want to do, they will no longer have any desire to do it. At this age you are just instilling in your child a habit of helping. The reality is that nothing they can do cannot be done by you more efficiently. So keep that in mind when they are doing their “chores.”
1) Help with the laundry.
Preschoolers are great at sorting clothes by color, stuffing clothes into the washing machine, pushing the button to turn the machine on. My 4yr old son will knock down anyone in his way to reach the washing machine and be the one to push the on button.
He also likes to help with the clothes after they come out of the wash. I will let him put the clothing into pilesbased on who it belongs to. He likes to match socks. He can carry towels to the linen closet and dishrags to the kitchen.
2) Unload the dishwasher.
I will remove the knives from the silverware basket and let him put the silverware away in the drawer. He loves doing this job. Depending on his mood it will take him 5 seconds or the entire afternoon. Not surprisingly the amount of time he spends directly correlates to how well organized our silverware is.
3) Washing dishes in the sink.
Pots, pans, and plastics are no match for my 4 yr old and his soapy sponge. This chore isn’t so much about cleaning anything as it is about keeping him busy. I am hoping that maybe when he gets to be the age of his teenage brothers he will remember the miracle of running water in the sink that one can– GASP– wash their own dishes in.
4) Setting the table.
It is never to early to start teaching them how to properly set a table. My son will put the placemats and silverware in each spot. He can also carry the plates one by one to the table and put them down.
5) Meal preparation.
Children who help prepare meals are much more likely to eat them. My son loves to help make salad. I swear that the salad spinner was the single best purchase I have ever made for the kitchen, in terms of being used my the kids. My lettuce has never been more clean.
And the most important thing… never let them see you redo their work. You want them to feel confident and proud.
Can you explain that “if they help make the food they will eat it” to my son. He loves to help and will help with all kinds of food, but still refuses to eat most of it. *sigh*
Comment by SoMo — July 23, 2009 @ 12:22 pm
Same with my daughter, SoMo! I even let her help shop and pick out groceries, all to no avail. My only consolation is that it gives me hope that she’ll take after her aunt, who was a fussy kid and is still skinny at over 40.
Comment by Brigitte — July 24, 2009 @ 6:55 am
My children are 10 months, 3 years, twin 4 year olds, and a 6 year old. All of my older children have chores and they love it. The chart has just made them want to do things even more. My children get the clothes out of the dryer, fold and put away there own clothes. They also all make their own beds and clean there room along with the toy room. They clear the table and help set the table. They also play a big part in helping to clean the yard and van. They love to sweep and vacumm. They might not always do it perfect but let me tell you they are so proud of theirselves when they are done. Let them have some independence and see how happy it makes them to be mommy and daddy’s big helpers, along with showing the how to be responsible.
Comment by Angela — July 27, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
Be patient and make food fun. We try one new food a month. Something that the majority of the house hasn’t tried yet. It is funny and interesting to see how it turns out. We all sit down together at the table and get a big ole bite and see who likes and who doesn’t. Just try making it as fun as possible, even if your playing and laughing. You will be so surprised if you like and have fun with it how much they will like and have fun with it.
Comment by Angela — July 27, 2009 @ 12:27 pm