Not Before Coffee

Kids always like to feel as though they are helping out around the house. It can even be rewarding to some teens – though you may never hear them say that.

When devising your chore charts for your own family, consider your child’s age and abilities. Expect to have to remind them constantly and for them to make mistakes at first – as they get older they’ll need less supervision and fewer reminders. Don’t be tempted to step in and take over even if it is taking much longer than you anticipated.

Toddlers and pre-schoolers

• Making beds Get your toddler to help pull up the covers; your preschooler can probably make her bed by herself.
• Picking up toys It helps if they have one large toy box to throw them into.
• Dusting Young children love doing this, especially if they get to use a proper ‘tool’ such as a duster! As a precaution, keep the furniture polish out of the equation if your kids are helping.
• Carrying laundry to the washer Get your child his own small laundry basket and train him to throw his dirty clothes in there at bedtime… thereby avoiding him picking up the traditional teen habit of leaving his socks to rot under the bed!
• Fetching the mail or the newspaper. Restrict this chore to sensible preschoolers and keep a close eye on your child if he has to cross the road to get to the mailbox.

Tweens…Kids aged 6-12

Children this age can continue helping the chores listed above in addition they might be able to help with the following chores:

• Washing the car Although you should mix up any detergent yourself
• Vacuuming or sweeping any hard floors. Older kids can mop, but supervise if there are any younger siblings who could slip if your tween doesn’t wring out the mop sufficiently.
• Walking the dog or generally helping to take care of pets, including brushing them and giving them food and water.
• Preparing after-school snacks such as a drink of milk and a bowl of crisps or some fruit.
• Setting the table and fixing drinks for themselves and younger siblings.
• Helping in the yard by weeding, raking leaves and watering plants.

Teens…

Teenagers can continue doing all the chores listed above in addition to::

• Washing windows A mix of vinegar in water rubbed on and buffed off with rolled-up newspaper does an amazing job.
• Doing the laundry They should be able to load up the washer, add detergent and start a wash cycle. And proceed on right through the drying.
• Taking out the trash and any recycling boxes that need emptied.
• Mowing the lawn with a push mower until you’re sure they can handle a riding mower.
• Cooking a simple meal such spaghetti or tacos.