chores for kids

Kids Can Help with Family Chores – Do You Include Your Child?

2016/12/19 admin Leave a comment

With the date getting closer to Christmas, there’s more to do and kids can help with family chores. They like to be included and there’s lots to do.

kids can help with family chores

What are some of the chores that young children can do? This will depend on their ages but washing some non-breakable dishes, dusting, sweeping the floor, putting away clean laundry, getting all the towels to load in the washing machine, setting the forks, knives and spoons on the table for a meal, and putting away a few of the groceries are a few possibilities. The list for cooking and baking seems endless and little hands love to stir and mix. One of the big jobs is picking up and putting away their own toys but somehow this doesn’t seem to be in the same category. Since grownups do the other tasks, helping do those feels like a grown up thing to do.

communication activities for kids

A three-year old we know proudly announced to his mom that he had to help his dad put up the Christmas lights. There’s not much a three-year old can do except maybe watch and hold a tool but that’s not how it seemed to him. He was going to be part of a very important and adult job. When we got some glitter on the floor after doing a craft, Little Sister offered to vacuum. In her words, “I love to vacuum. I’m good at it.” From a child’s point of view, while it might be work, it’s also fun. With the number of times we’ve had to shovel snow this month, the kids’ efforts as really been appreciated, no matter how small.

including kids in chores for learning and fun

Is there something your child can do from the to-do list? Kids can help with family chores and very much need to. The month of December has more than two dozen holidays from a variety of cultures and traditions. For all of them, belonging to the group is an important part of the celebration. Doesn’t being able to help, as well as to celebrate, contribute to a child’s sense of belonging?

Nature Activities

Spring Fun: Kids Can Help with Yard Work

2016/03/31 admin Leave a comment

The weather may not be warm enough in your area for yard work, but it soon will be. Did you know kids can help with yard work? They usually love dirt.

Leaves and trash may have accumulated in the yard over the winter. Kids can help pick these up and put them in a bucket or wheelbarrow. There are kid-sized wheelbarrows that are fun to use, or try a big dump truck. Being closer to the ground, kids often see bits of stuff that adults miss. Sometimes though, they mistake the trash for treasure. Bugs, worm, and slugs may be hiding in old vegetation and they are a treasure of the nature kind.

With a small spade or shovel, little hands should be able to dig in the dirt. Give kids a small pail to fill with dirt. This can be dumped back out and kids will dig and fill it up again. This works the soil for planting. If it’s not too early, your helper might like to plant some spring flowers.

As long as a patch is all weeds, kids can pull and tug. Even for some grownups, it’s difficult to tell what’s a weed and what’s a flower or other plant, so watch kids aren’t pulling up the ones you want.

Kids like to see how strong they are. Are there some rocks that need to be moved to another part of the yard? As long as the rocks aren’t too big, kids may be able to carry them a short distance without dropping them on any toes.

Patio and deck furniture may need to be washed before setting it up. Warm water and soap in a bucket is like a magic potion for kids. Spilling and splashing water won’t hurt the ground, deck, or patio. An old dish brush works great for scrubbing.

Kids can help with yard work at a level that is appropriate for them. Being part of family tasks gives kids a feeling of pride and accomplishment. They like to contribute and feel big, even tho they are still little. Yard work is another way to be outside and connect to nature. It’s a very natural stress-reliever too. If yard work is on your to-do list, is there a way to include your child?

Early Learning

Kids Like to Help: Spring Cleaning with Young Kids

2016/03/30 admin Leave a comment

The month of March is the only month to suggest action—marching. There is a lot of other action too. Have you tackled spring cleaning with young kids?

At this age, helping can be quite appealing to kids. They like to feel grown up and so they are eager to try things like dusting, sweeping, and even vacuuming. While there are kid-sized items, children want to use the real ones that adults do. Of course, mops and brooms with long handles can be a threat to furniture with glass doors and anyone who might be in the area. If possible, you may want to take out a section of the vacuum wand and, if it’s adjustable, shorten the mop or broom.

Picking up toys doesn’t seem to be much fun because kids have to do this every day but washing them is different enough to be exciting. Give kids a big pan of warm, soapy water on the floor or deck. Bring out some plastic toys that could use a cleaning and let kids scrub away. A laundry basket is a good place to put the ones that are clean but need to air dry. The advantage here is any water and soap that spills can just be used to wash the floor.

While cleaning toys, kids may be able to sort out ones they don’t really play with any more. These could be donated, along with outgrown clothes and footwear. Toys can add to clutter and having a manageable amount is easier for the whole family.

A spray bottle with water, soap, and a little vinegar is almost like giving kids a magic wand. It’s definitely not for cleaning books on shelves and papers on a desk, but usually fairly safe in the bathroom and kitchen.

You may wonder if spring cleaning with young kids is more work than tackling it by yourself, but it’s important to include them. These are life skills and social ones, part of the way that we support each other. Being able to contribute makes kids feel valued. What tasks can your child do?

Uncategorized

Sing While You Spring…Clean

2015/03/28 admin Leave a comment

Remember the song to whistle while you work? In the same spirit, that work is easier when it’s fun, you can sing while you clean in the spring and turn chores into plays-of-the-day: This is the way we vacuum in corners, vacuum in corners, vacuum in corners. This is the way we vacuum in corners, … Continue reading Sing While You Spring…Clean →

Reading and Writing

March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #7

2015/03/09 admin Leave a comment

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Inspire Play-of-the Day Goldilocks and the Three Bears is another children’s story that can be used as a play-of-the-day inspiration. What adventures can Goldilocks have at your house? Read the Goldilocks and the Three Bears to your child or tell the story. Many children will have heard it, although not … Continue reading March into Fun with Books, Stories, and Activities #7 →