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Household Chores
- Expectations vary
between families and cultures. You must decide the responsibilities your
children will assume. Don't expect too much too early - but remember young
children love helping. By encouraging this you are building up good habits
for later on.
- At about 18 months,
children love to put things in other things. Make use of this instead of
putting things in rubbish bins and toilets, encourage them to put toys,
clothes and plastic containers in drawers or cupboards. They can have fun
and begin helping. Don't be surprised if they tip everything out and want
to do it all over again.
- From age three to four
years children will enjoy tidying up if they have a place to put away
their belongings. Open shelves will help them see where things belong and
makes it easier to put them things away. Children at this age like to do
things 'like mum' or 'like dad' or other special people like grandparents,
but are easily distracted and may forget what they are doing half way
through a task.
- From age five or six,
children can help make sandwiches, dress themselves and are more
successful at finishing jobs.
- Seven, eight and nine
year olds are thoughtful and understand reasons for asking them to do
things. They may also give reasons why they shouldn't! Asking rather than
demanding is the key.
- Seven, eight and nine
year olds can do most simple tasks like:
- washing and drying
dishes,
- putting clothes away,
hanging out clothes and
- sweeping floors.
- Children enjoy your help
too! A task like cleaning a bedroom is enormous for a child. You can help
by making the task smaller, eg: getting them to first pick up all the
animals or all the blocks. Matching and sorting is important learning.
Talk with them while the job is being done. Give incentives such as time,
activities, as encouragement to finish the job.
- By 10, 11 and 12 years,
children enjoy 'earning' money for small jobs and love the buying power
money gives!
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