My biggest tip for chore training is to start early. We start small, such as our 2-year-old is learning to pick up his toys. From learning toy clean up, he now delights in picking up a piece of trash to put into the trash can or bringing a kitchen towel to clean up a spill.
Our older children have certain areas of our home in which they are responsible. The younger children naturally see everyone in our family with daily responsibilities, which reinforces working together as a family–everyone is important and everyone participates.
Having responsibilities helps instill initiative into our children,
a highly sought after character trait {that momma is learning too}.
Here’s the growing list of tasks that our {almost} 5-year-old is able to complete:
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Empty small trash cans – We have 3 small trash cans in our house. Naomi empties those as needed.
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Put in small can liners – A grocery bag goes a long way—she replaces the old bag with a fresh grocery bag, in each small trash can.
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Fold wash cloths, kitchen towels, baby bibs, and baby blankets –
I have her fold items that I would not necessarily fold otherwise. For instance, I don’t think baby bibs or cleaning rags need folded—both could just go into their appropriate storage bags. However, I’m always looking for tasks that she can do that will give her the skills to complete larger task as she grows older.
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Sweep Kitchen – Just like any responsibility that a child is training in, I give out boatloads of grace and encouragement.
With her personality she loves to “race the timer.” I set the timer on the stove and it encourages her to race the clock. I’m all about whatever works!
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Keep shoes organized in our entry way – For this job I’ve taught her to make “shoe families” by matching the shoes and keeping them lined up on the shoe shelves.
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Table Chores – She sets the table with a napkin/fork and wipes the table after meals.
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Babysitting – She calls “babysitting,” when she entertains her baby brother with toys, acts out stories, reads him books or dances for him {what she calls “putting on a show for the baby”}.
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Cook with mommy – I open cans and she is my official “can dumper.” She also loves to measure, pour, and stir.
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Dust – The dusting in our house is very simple. She takes a damp rag, and wipes off shelves and window sills.
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Make Tea – Helping make tea is her newest job, and has instantly climbed to the top of her favorite list. As soon as she sees her daddy’s empty tea pitcher, she is ready to make more!
That’s how chore training works in our home. How does it work in your world?
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Update: You can now download my free Age Specific Chore List for Children ages 1-12!
Great list for your 5 year old. We have always given a new responablity for each birthday. With each new responability comes a new privilidge. I know longer do any of my children's laundry. At age eight they fold their laundry and put it away. At nine they switch their laundy to the dryer and learn how to operate the dryer. At ten I teach them how to use the washer and their laundry is theirs to do. They actually look forward to their new responabilities because they know a privilidge comes with it.
What kind of privileges do you let them have each year? My daughter is only 2, so we are just starting out with the chores. So far she cleaned her own dishes from the table, helps set the table, picks up toys, helps throw away diapers and watches her baby sister, and helps dust. I like the idea of her earning a new chore for each birthday…which is tomorrow
Lynnea,
As our family grows in children it has become hard for me to manage privileges. There are privileges that come from getting older. Our daughter is now 6 1/2 and she can go outside by herself and swing on the tire swing, where our 3 1/2 year old has to have someone go with him. These are examples of age privileges in our family. And of course with more privileges comes more responsibility.
We really stress that everyone is a member of our family team, so everyone must do jobs and help one another. It does become easier for us now to train our young children in chores since we have older children leading by example. Blessings!
Consistent training is a must. Our older two (3 and 4) know that they have the same chores, everyday and the same time as well as other randomly assigned jobs as I need their help. They feel so valued when they do things that they can see make a difference in our home…K
@Miss Moe, I love your idea of birthday graduation to additional chores! Our older children have “jurisdictions” much like the Duggar/Maxwell’s teach. We give them an area to manage and they {over time} train their younger siblings in that job as well. I feel this provides them with great life skills!
@Kyndra, Yes–consistency is key, as you see with your young ones. We have to be consistent in a family of seven; it’s all about routine here. : )
I love this! I always like to know what others do. My 5yo daughter puts away the dishes from the dishwasher (her 2yo brother does the silverware). She also makes her bed.
She does a lot of the other things you mention, but not as regular chores. I need to make these a little more part of her routine. love love your ideas!
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This is great! It's so easy to just do housework alone to get things done "quicker", but training and spending time with the kids is so much better, and gives such sweet memories – not to mention the character building!
I love this! Gets things done faster and gives more time to spend with each other while teaching responsibility, values, discipline. What a great post!
-Samantha
http://www.kreativekaring.com
So glad to see other moms that expect every family member to participate in chores. I have gotten the are-you-serious stare when I mention that my now six year old has a regular chores he is expected to do. Kudos.
All great ideas. Seems like she enjoyed helping her mom!
@jubilee: Wait till the "are you serious?" starers have pre-teen/teen who are appalled they are suddenly asked to do chores.
I actually enjoy the chores more when it becomes playing with my kids!
Oh yes, it has to be FUN play
Working with my daughter makes me feel like we’re “playing house", lol!
I love this post! The Amish start their children on chores at the age of two and that's how we do it in our house too. I really like your ideas! Sweeping is a great one and the side to side motion is great for their eye development when it comes time for reading!
These are great tips! My two boys (3 and 5) are just now starting to help with chores. It's definitely something I should have started earlier but at least they are still little! Thanks for sharing your ideas! I'll definitely be using them!
Excellent tips. Getting them involved early makes such a big difference when they are older. It's been a blessing to watch the fruit of my labor as my older children continue to incorporate lessons learned while young. I also watch the older ones teach the youngers ones what they have been taught. God is good.
Keep up the good work.