Chores. It’s a broad term for the many responsibilities in life and they aren’t always fun. For parents, it’s easy to get stuck in the mindset of “it’s just faster if I do it.” But Studies have shown that allowing children to help with chores early in life is not only beneficial developmentally, but they often really enjoy it! Children feel a great sense of pride when they are given the opportunity to be responsible, and it is a great boost to their self-esteem! 

Helping with chores allows children to feel like they are an important part of the family unit and that they are part of the process that keeps it all running smoothly. When a child sees their mom wearing the socks that they helped to match and put away, they feel a sense of pride. As your child learns to be responsible and realizes how helpful they are by doing chores, it will become more of a routine. Getting your child started with helping around the house doesn’t have to be complicated, in fact, it’s best if you start slow and simple (with a lot of successes and praise!) Check out these tips to help you and your little ones keep chores simple, fun and a part of your daily routine: 

Start Small: Little kids can get overwhelmed easily. They need small, simple tasks to start with so that they can feel capable and successful. A big messy playroom and instruction to “clean your room” are too vague and too overwhelming for a young child. Instead try “Pick up all your stuffed animals and put them in this basket.” With every completed task, praise your child’s success and encourage them with the next task, “Yay! You did it! Now let’s pick up all the cars and put them in the yellow bin!”

Do It Together: Doing chores with your child instead of just delegating tasks is a wonderful opportunity to connect. It provides a backdrop to communication, silliness and just being together. Working alongside your little one also models family and household responsibility and that will encourage them to be a part of it. 

Keep It Fun: Chores don’t have to boring; Tug of war towel folding? Sock sorting races? Create a silly game, use funny voices or turn on dance music… Children will feel more motivated to keep up with chores when they feel positive and engaged while doing them. Keep in mind that helping around the house doesn’t have to look perfect. Let your little one do it their own way, without criticism.

There is no set age to start giving your little one some household responsibility, as young as two or three years old is a good time to incorporate some simple tasks. Here are some ideas for age appropriate chores:

• Two to Three years old: Put their toys away, help feed the pets, pick up dirty laundry, dust or wipe down surfaces with socks on their hands or a duster, help make their beds.
• Four to Five years old: All the chores from above plus… help load the dishwasher, rinse fruit and vegetables, set and clear the table, match and put away clean socks, help carry in groceries.
• Six to Nine years old: All the chores from above as well as… vacuum, sweep, mop, fold and put away laundry, load and unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, organize things.

Remember that you know your child best and that age is only a small factor in determining what and how much chores are appropriate for your unique child. Some children are ready for much more responsibility early on while some older children need to go at a slower pace and stick to simpler tasks. Keep your expectations reasonable and realistic. The most important thing is to be consistent, have fun and give your child a lot of praise and encouragement!