It is never too early for children to learn that everyone plays an important role in the upkeep of the household. Age-appropriate chores are a must! From the earliest moment that your child is mobile and able to pull out toys with which to play, he/she needs to be taught how to put them away. Of course, your child will need this behavior to be modeled first, and will need your help with it, but it is never too early to begin to teach responsibility. Other ways a very young child can help around the house include putting his/her clothes into the laundry basket or hamper, putting his/her books back into the basket or onto the bookshelf after they’ve been read, and putting his/her shoes away in the closet.
As your little one grows, involve him/her in scooping your pet’s food into the bowl, and matching socks as you pull the laundry from the dryer. Teach your child where his/her clean clothes belong in his/her room, and teach him/her how to put the clothes away. Make changing the bedsheets a game – as you work together to pull the old sheets off the bed, turn them into a fort by hanging them off the end of the bed for a few minutes, then ask your child to carry the sheets to the laundry room.
Once children approach age 3, they’re ready to start setting the kitchen table (of course, you take care of anything sharp), helping to clear it, and making sure the napkins end up in the garbage. They can help empty the trash cans throughout the house, dust the baseboards, dust the house, and even put away groceries (on the lowest shelves). Store the dust-buster at his/her level, so you have an extra helper for vacuuming up crumbs. Little ones think this is a game if you make it one!
This is just a brief introduction to ways your child can help. Involve your child in thinking of ways he/she can play an important role around the house. I bet he/she will come up with some great suggestions — and will enjoy those tasks even more because! I’m not advocating child labor, but, rather, am advocating responsibility. Children need to learn how to contribute to the household, and that everyone needs to help!
Posted by M 
