Although it starts off with Mum and Dad doing everything for the baby, when the baby has grown into a toddler and then a young child, jobs can be redistributed. Numerous parents have asked me what age a child should be before they can do something like a little job around home. Children should be participating in household chores or jobs from a young age, about 2 years old actually. It teaches them responsibility, gives them an array of different abilities plus competence, self-esteem and skills for a lifetime.
Little children love to help, love to do and learn new things, and love to be ‘big enough’ to help. Learning these things when little enables them to carry them on as a normal function when older. So stop doing everything for your children. Allow them the opportunity to learn to do things independently for themselves. This way you are teaching, and they are learning the vital skills for life.
If started early, it is just so easy to have your children do their jobs. No problem and no complaints, they just do it as it is expected. It becomes a normal part of their life, like using the toilet and eating or washing hands. It is just what you do, doesn’t everyone?
A two-year-old child can learn to pack away their toys and items (with help), maybe not brilliantly yet with some assistance they can. They can find their shoes and socks, attempt to put them on, place dirty clothes into the hamper, and use a dustpan and brush (a bit).
A three-year-old child can do all the above better plus much more. They pack all toys and items away correctly, they can fold and place clothes into correct drawers, toilet themselves, organise boxes of toys, sort their shelves, start using utensils correctly, dress themselves, place items in correct places, and wipe over benches or tables. They love cleaning up with you.
A four-year-old child can also set the table, collect dirty utensils, plates, cups, and place them in the sink. They can wash basic items at the sink, maybe standing on a small stool, tidy up better, manage their own self-cleaning, dress themselves, pour a drink, make a basic sandwich, learn how to use a knife and fork correctly, use their DS and the TV, and start learning to make their bed.
A five-year-old is a little person and should be fairly independent doing all the above, including make their own bed such as pulling up their sheets and quilt. They can start placing spreads, cheese, meats on to sandwiches or plates, setting the table, then clearing away the salt, pepper, sauce, and so forth, after dinner, putting placemats into the draw, and so on.
By six to eight years, they can assist cutting up vegetables or salad—under supervision. They love helping in the kitchen. Children love to wipe clean and polish, they can sweep or vacuum, pack items up outside. They can do it.
Just look at the Junior Master Chef shows on TV, my goodness, those ten-year-olds are cooking like superb adult chefs. They can only learn that by doing, from instruction and by being allowed. Children can be so very clever. Honestly, who would have thought a ten-year-old can make a Welsh pie or Pavlova the way these kids can? It’s amazing.
It just shows if they can do that sort of complicated thing, they sure can pack away, pick up their wet towels, fold their clothes and place them into the drawer, put stuff on or off the table, and help mix, cut, and prepare things in the kitchen. Let them try.
Raise the bar, and you will be surprised how well they can rise to the challenge. Set the bar low, then it is low you will receive, set the bar higher and they should strive towards achieving to that level.
And think about the older eight-year old sibling in third world countries, raising their younger siblings, comforting them, collecting food and water, preparing meals. Scary thought in our world, but they do all this because they have to and because they can.
Children therefore, can start looking after their belongings and doing basic little jobs from about two years old. The older they are, the more competent they become. Allow and expect them to, and they will.
Just think about this, do you really want your son or daughter at home at age 28 years, not helping out, not being able to cook, wash their clothes, iron or vacuum? Well if these children have never had the opportunity to learn or to be shown how do we expect them to learn these skills. It is like not sending your child to school and then expect them to be able to read and write when 28 years old. They can’t if they have never been taught.
image credit: via celcomplan.com
