Little Monkey was sick this week, so I had a lot of time sitting holding her sometimes while she slept, other times not. I had a lot of time to think, and do some checking on what I was thinking on. I only have one child at this point, so I'm not sure if this is the same for parents of multiple children. I have been thinking on ways LM can help around the house. She is 4 now, and I feel that there are some things she is capable of doing, though not neccessarily to my standards. There in lies the hard part for me! I can do things much faster and have them done in the way I want them done. However, as a wise older lady told me, your kids have to learn, and though you can always do it faster and better, it is wonderful to see their little faces when they have done what you asked and they are praised for that. So I started searching online for age appropriate chores because other than emptying the silverware in the dishwasher, and gathering all the trash cans on trash day, I was coming up empty for ideas. I actually found a couple of great lists on Pinterest!
This is from The Boyer Blog, and has a very extensive list for kids over 6 years old, and a small list for 2-5.
This is from The Happy Housewife, she has a very extensive list for ages 2-18!! I think this was one of the most helpful ones for younger age kids, I didn't look too close at the old age chores.
Another with an extensive list for ages 2-18 is imom, this list had some chores for the littles that other lists did not.
Now, an article I found on imom called 21 Creative Consequenses, it is not about chores, but it is one of the funniest most helpful articles you'll ever read! It is thinking outside the box on discipline, not just using a time out or taking away a toy, there are some great ideas here. I know my sister uses some of them on her 5 year old and she says they really work! One of the best things, some of these consequenses get some of your deep cleaning done! (washing walls, baseboards, cabinet fronts, etc.)
So, LM is now learning to make her bed, pick up her dirty cloths, put away clean cloths, match socks, and the biggy, picking up her toys after she is done playing with them and actually putting them neatly where they go. She practiced all of these this weekend and did great! At this point it is still fun for her, I know it won't always be that way! I am also going to be adding wiping the door knobs and cabinet pulls, and occasionally wiping baseboards and trim work. I don't want to use her as a slave, but I am hoping this will help teach her some responsibility, and give her a sense of accomplishment, as well as helping me out a little. So, do you have any tips or tricks or jobs that your kids do? I'd love to hear them!
Melissa
Another with an extensive list for ages 2-18 is imom, this list had some chores for the littles that other lists did not.
Now, an article I found on imom called 21 Creative Consequenses, it is not about chores, but it is one of the funniest most helpful articles you'll ever read! It is thinking outside the box on discipline, not just using a time out or taking away a toy, there are some great ideas here. I know my sister uses some of them on her 5 year old and she says they really work! One of the best things, some of these consequenses get some of your deep cleaning done! (washing walls, baseboards, cabinet fronts, etc.)
So, LM is now learning to make her bed, pick up her dirty cloths, put away clean cloths, match socks, and the biggy, picking up her toys after she is done playing with them and actually putting them neatly where they go. She practiced all of these this weekend and did great! At this point it is still fun for her, I know it won't always be that way! I am also going to be adding wiping the door knobs and cabinet pulls, and occasionally wiping baseboards and trim work. I don't want to use her as a slave, but I am hoping this will help teach her some responsibility, and give her a sense of accomplishment, as well as helping me out a little. So, do you have any tips or tricks or jobs that your kids do? I'd love to hear them!
Melissa
Ethan and Cooper take laundry to the laundry room, take out trash, help clean the bathrooms, pick up toys, and Ethan is now responsible for taking care of the dog (feeding, watering, picking up poops). They have gotten pretty good and the bathroom and Ethan loves to mop with my steam mop (apparently Johnn does also as he asked if he could mop the floors yesterday when I was cleaning...of course you can!). Kids are way more capable than we give them credit for and they need to learn to work hard so they aren't lazy little toots when they get older.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a great idea that your are training LM. Training takes time, more the first time, a little less the second time, but before you know it, you don't even think about giving a request that a job be done. A lot of the Creative consequenses were used around here. I didn't realize until I read them, that I wasn't the first to use timers, repetitive slams of the doors, or screaming at the top of their lungs in that way... not that I am THAT creative, but you just don't share things like that... at least not over 30 years ago. When the 4 girls were older, (more the girls - the boys had jobs from about 14 on...) the summer months they each had a responsibility for a week. One had baking, planning and preparing meals, #2 had laundry, gathering, washing, ironing of the boys shirts, folding, etc, #3 had cleaning of the house, vacuuming, dusting, windows, #4's job was to clean up dishes and general kitchen keep-up. At the end of the week, a swap was made and another would take over a different job. If you were particularly messing in your job the week before... watch out! They all had to do their own ironing, and if the job was folding clothes, the clothes went onto the bed of the recipient, not into the private drawers... We did this for a few years before they got jobs of their own before marrying... I think because they had small jobs at younger ages, they were able to do the more complicated jobs -- and all with supervision. But, I was not afraid to tell any one of them that we were expecting a crowd over, to make sure the house and food were ready and they came through every time. They all run their own homes now, better than I run mine. Whew! long reply, sorry...
ReplyDeleteYou are such a good mom! It is so important for kids to have ownership, and not feel entitled.
ReplyDeletexo,
RJ
I understand the "I can do it better and faster" concept. I've been there, done that, still do sometimes. It is good to let her help with things. She is very capable at 4 to do more than you think. Last night when our cabinets were coming in, Brian had even his littlest ones helping to carry stuff into the house. Calder at one was carrying in a tool, Carmen at 3 was carrying in a shelf board. They all thought it was fun and were excited to help. At that age, they think it is fun to help. Try to encourage that so that when they are older, they still enjoy helping others. We are working on that concept. Of course, to my kids, it is always funner to help others instead of at home. ;)
ReplyDelete