This was for a group post that I had answered about my youngest daughter and how to give them chores. what a age I started so they can help you instead of you doing all the work. There is much more to it but this was a game changer for exhaustion of a burnt out mother trying to do it all. Why do we do it all when we should be training them to do it. When they are young they want to help. If that wasn't the case then they wouldn't have such things as kitchen sets and fake food for them to try to cook and shop for. Just give them the real life activities and they can be proud.
Here's the group post I answered...
When mine were littles we did chores if they could walk they could do chores. Even if it was throwing away their own diaper.😊
My daughter wanted to do them when she was little cause she wanted to be included with the boys. She was younger then 2. Because her older brothers were 4 and 5. I had one clear the table, I taught her how to wash the table in quadrants. She even climbed up on the table trying to get to the middle. I showed her how to see if it was wet to know what she already washed. Then I taught her how to feel for stickiness and wash those areas really good. Her brother would wipe down the chairs and load those dishes in the dish washer. the oldest would vacuum. He was taller so he had the job a little longer. eventually she wanted to wash the chairs down so I had to find other jobs for my middle...pot washing! 😁
I also found little jobs for her so she felt included. She was so eager. I had her wash down the cabinets in the kitchen and sweep the floor with a little dollar tree disk broom and pan. Those make good gifts too.😀 good for the car too. She wanted to vacuum so bad. I could have gotten a dust buster but I figured I'd let her graduate to it when she was tall enough. In the living room I had her dust. She dusted the shelves and pulled the cushions off the couch to be vacuumed. Baseboards when dirty.
Laundryroom we started out with helping fold laundry. She did the wash clothes. She handed me the towels so I could fold and put in the cabinet. Eventually, she grew into doing the towels and laundry on her day. She could sweep the floor or wipe down the appliances if they needed done. Later swish the toilet.... Without touching it! 😉
Her best area that was totally hers was the entry way. She was to make sure the hats, gloves, shoes were all put away. Coats properly hung up if they werent.she could whisk the floor if she wanted.
Oh, she also unloaded the knives, forks, and spoons from the dishwasher. The sharper knives were unloaded by her older brother so no accidents would happen. Never had one either! She eventually was very careful at putting the other silverware away that she was able to do the sharp knives.
Little kids are amazing. I can't believe how fast they learned. Eventually they all learn the chores and I gave them designated rooms on rotation. I switched their chores around for fairness and cleanliness. Some were just better at an area then others Then, they all picked their favorite rooms on their own. If we had unexpected company pull in they ran to their designated rooms and had them all cleaned by the time the guests made it to the front door. Then, they beat it to their rooms to hurry up and pick up their rooms. The bathroom was the best because you can shut the door and spend some time in there.😀 no one suspects your cleaning it! 😂
Eventually the kids would show themselves so I knew they were all done and greet our guests. It wasn't very long. I loved it though because their chores were all done and I knew the house was ready .
