Here is a small list of do-able chores for the smallest members of the family!
1. Emptying the dishwasher – He helps mainly with the silverware. He can’t reach the drawer to put it away properly, but he stands next to the dishwasher and hands me the utensils one by one. This is tedious and takes 10X as long as it would if I did it myself, but he is proud of himself for helping, and I want to encourage him to find “helping” joyous! When he is a little older, I will take the silverware organizer from the drawer and put it on the floor to teaching him how to sort it as he puts it away.
2. Laundry – Little Man loves helping with laundry. Sometimes I pull a chair over to the washer and let him throw the dirty clothes in. More often, he gets the job of pulling the clothing out of the dryer while I fold (He usually gets a ride in the laundry basket too).
3. Putting diapers away – We cloth diaper, so after I fold the diapers he carries them all to the baskets under the changing table and puts them inside.
4. Cleaning up toys – I’ll be honest, I clean up the majority of his toys. He gets overwhelmed because he makes such big messes! But when he gets his special closet toys out, or his train set, any “set” of toys, he is responsible for cleaning it up. I usually have to help him still, because it will be too much for him to do all on his own, but he does a lot of the work, and because we have been working on it so much, he is starting to remember to pick things up without being asked!
He’s not old enough to be given these tasks along with the responsibility to remember to do them, so our consistency depends on my remembering, and how much I have to do that particular day.
Sometimes he doesn’t want to help, and I don’t force him. At this age I’m more focusing on teaching him how to help, and showing him how fun helping can be. Praising him thoroughly for everything he tries to help with and telling him what a “big helper” he is. I often praise him to daddy at the end of the day, explaining all the good and helpful things he did, and daddy then encourages him too.
I’m not sure when I will start making chores (or whatever they should be called) an official requirement, but for now this is our loose system.
What about you? Any one else have experience in this area? What age did you start teaching your kids to help around the house? Any thoughts or tips you’d care to pass along?
katie ridings says
lol my boyfriend’s sister’s kids are 4 and 6, if I told them to do chores they would probably laugh in my face. My little guy will be learning FAST!!
Dianna says
My little girl is three, and she is already becoming genuinely helpful. She can transfer the wet laundry to the dryer and start it all by herself! She can also help me unload the dishwasher. Anything she can’t reach, she stacks neatly and puts it underneath the cupboard it belongs in. She can vacuum up small messes with the Dustbuster. She can also fetch little things for me.
I like having my kids help. Otherwise they just cause trouble because my attention is on something else, and they want it to be on them!
Bonnie Way says
We have the same toybin as you do! :) I also get my girls to put their laundry in their drawers after they’ve folded it. I’ve thought about getting my oldest (4) to do the cutlery from the dishwasher. And when I cloth diapered, my daughter would put the diapers away as soon as she could walk (14 months). When I’m cleaning house, they like it when I give them “jobs,” so I often get one of them to vacuum small corners with my dust-buster or to wear my dusting mitt and go over any shelves in the house. I agree it’s good to get them involved early! :)
Rosilind Jukic says
This is great. Robi loves to throw things in the garbage…He gets great satisfaction out of that. haha!!! And cleaning up his toys – he is generally pretty good about that. Of course, we sing the Barney “Clean Up” song. Great post – and great tips! Thanks for linking up each week!
Faith @ Artistic31Mama says
Love this! I linked to this post in my post about our family chores and cleaning days. :-) I love reading about how other moms start teaching their young ones how to help out around the house. :-) I was very loose when my kids were those ages too. I agree that being more patient is something we moms can be taught through teaching our children. :-) Thanks for sharing.
http://www.artistic31mama.com/2013/05/kids-and-chores-our-family-is-team.html
Bethany says
My son loves the dishwasher, too! He loves it so much, he tries to empty it as I am filling it with dirty ones (not helpful ! ) He loves being my little helper and I love it, even though it takes longer :)
Laura @ Cookiecrumbs and Sawdust.blogspot.com says
Great tips Paula!
I started my kids out young with chores. I was always amazed at how capable they are at such a young age I’m visiting from Ginger Snap Crafts linky party. I would love it if you stopped by my blog.
Thanks for sharing,
Laura
Candice @My Little Circus & Me says
I think it’s great your teaching them chores starting early is good!! We do chores at our house too!! Found you through the inspire me please linky party. If you have time check us out
~Candice @http://mylittlecircusandme.blogspot.com/
Abby @ Just a Girl and Her Blog says
Thanks for the ideas! My 4 year old gets upset when my almost-2-year-old doesn’t have to help and he does, so I’m always looking for ways to incorporate my littlest guy! He loves “helping” with the dishes and is my little “gopher” (“go fer”?). If I give him a rag, he will also help me wipe down the baseboards sometimes too–he’s the perfect height for it, lol! Thank you for the great tips!
~Abby =)
Darlene says
Nice little chore list. I also had my girls throw recycling into the bins.
Jenn says
Thank you for the suggestions! My 20-month-old likes to “help,” so I am always trying to figure out ways to encourage this. :)
lisa says
Love these! I absolutely agree that it’s great to start teaching them to “help” at this age. My son is almost 23 months and he loves to help me clean when I can get his attention. If I’m cleaning something with a rag or paper towel, he likes to have his own so he can clean too. He also has his own feather duster (from the dollar store) and I think he’s getting this own broom for his birthday. He loves to help sweep! I make him sound like he’s a slave, but I promise he’s not :)
Carrie from Carrie This Home says
These are great ideas–pinning it right now! I made a little sorting game while my daughter helped put the clean silverware away. Sometimes making chores into a game makes it more fun for everyone! I think it’s great to help teach kids how to do chores at a young age to help prepare them for adulthood. Thanks so much for linking this up to Frugal Crafty Home!
I Gotta Try That says
What a good thing you’ve got going here. What a great mom you are and what a darling little guy you have!
Thanks for sharing!
Hugs,
Marcie
Jenn says
Those are all good, manageable ideas for a 2 year old! We also like to give our 2 year old a dusting cloth (with no spray on it) and let him follow after me or older brother and sister to help. He likes to wipe mirrors along with them too (we use vinegar and water to clean, so it’s safe for him). It’s fun to see them learn and be eager helpers! Glad you’re teaching your children that too!
Monica says
Love this list – I’ve been missing out on a great opportunity and I can do more in this area. Featuring this at Family Fun Friday!
Monica
http://happyandblessedhome.com
Ruthie says
Fun ideas for the little ones… they always want to help! I’m so glad you came to share at Super Saturday Show & Tell last week… this week I’m co-hosting a HUGE bash with 2 other bloggers! Come on over http://www.whatscookingwithruthie.com and share again! xoxo~ Ruthie
Lisha says
It’s so helpful when you make the best use of their desire to help at that age! It goes a long way in showing them that they are an important part of the family.
I try my best to start teaching them to help around 2 or 2 1/2 years old. My almost-3yo:
puts some of her toys away
helps empty the dishwasher (I let her put away the plastic dishes & silverware)
sets the table for lunch a couple days a week (by no means perfectly!)
helps me load the washer and switch the laundry to the dryer
“makes” her bed (she makes sure her blankie and lovey are on her bed after breakfast).
She doesn’t do them all every day, but it’s a start!
My 7 & 6 year olds get a list (almost) every morning of their jobs for the day; the 3yo mostly shadows my jobs :)
Great post! Thanks for sharing! I found you at the Living Proverbs 31 link-up!
~Lisha
lisa says
Great to get started now! My son is 2 and he loves to help out and clean (don’t know where he got that from). His favorite right now is putting his dirty diapers in the diaper pail, so we make a big deal of carrying them down the stairs and putting them in the pail. He also got his own cleaning kit for his bday so he will be able to “help” sweep and dust. I haven’t opened it yet, but I know he’s going to go crazy when he sees it!
Angel says
these are great. Jacob loves to help clean with a cloth. He still considers warm laundry as his pile to jump into but he loves to put cloths into drawers. Thanks for sharing with us at our Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop.
Angel
Becca says
Great idea! Never too early to start learning chores! Thanks for sharing! Stop by my Friday’s Five Features and link up this post (and others)! http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/09/fridays-five-features-no-7.html
Nicolette Springer says
We also start having the kids help early. My 16 month old helps put her dishes away, can pick up any food off the floor she dropped while eating and puts things in the trash. She also helps feed the cat. We see it as little steps for her to understand that we are all a team and everyone needs to work together. You’re doing a great job! Thanks for joining the Mixer this week.
T'onna says
My daughter wants to help out. She’s 2 and she’s been throwing away her own diapers for a while. She’ll also help put her toys away after she’s destroyed her room. lol I never thought about letting her put the clothes in the washer. Great idea! Thanks for linking up at Submarine Sunday!!
Dominique says
Love to see what other families do re: chores. My kids are older but youngest (3 years old) can help sorting laundry into piles for different family members, matching and folding socks, and take some of the clean laundry back to different bedrooms (I only give her the stuff that does not need to stay folded neatly like socks and underwear). If My kids loved washing and drying plastic dishes at 2. As far as washing goes, I made sure they were clean beforehand…
Lisa- The Domestic Life Stylist says
Start them young has always been my philosophy about doing choirs. My daughter is 3 and she now wipes the table as well as most that you mentioned. She doesn’t get everything but I am just teaching her the principle of it all. Great list Paula!
Debbie @ Deliciously Inspired says
As a grandmother I think what you are doing is wonderful – letting them help in age appropriate ways.. Each day we have with our children is one day less to help them be self sufficient and independent. I found you on Watch Out Martha. Perhaps if you have a few minutes you will come visit me.
senf says
My toddler boy just turned 20 month. What he does is loading and unloading the washing machine – we have a front loading machine. He helps with the dishwasher, helps to set the table, feeds the cat, helps wiping the table. He also helps to put away his toys. He also loves to go shopping. I tell him what to get and he will put everything in the shopping cart. He also likes to help me vacuum the floor and he has his own broom to help me swipe the kitchen floor.
Stasia says
Love these! I already have my one year hold help me put up her toys and cloth diapers. We will have to try some of the others!
Themistoklis Papaioannou says
I disagree with you. Kids should NOT be made to do chores. The housework is NOT the child”s responsibility. The parents are the carers and providers. The children are NOT the help. Kids should PLAY not WORK. Schoolwork is plenty enough. Chores are not difficult to learn anyone can in MINUTES. Its not the child’s role to contribute to the family. As for self-confidence, deep relationship, pride, etc can be gained via many other ways. These include play, art, sports, family time, etc.