Ensure that your child, who has become a member of your household at any age, does housework for his development and contribution to the home, and ask your child to do this from a young age. However, the work you give should be age appropriate and consistent. Now, let’s learn how to involve your child in which housework and how to make it a habit.
Age 2-3: Give Simple Commands and Praise
Housework teaches your child life skills and all members of the family can do it together. When can they start? 2-3 year olds love helping you out so let them! Your child can put clothes in the basket, wipe up any spills, throw the trash in the trash can, put their toys in the bucket, bring you something you want.
Does your child seem too young for household chores at this age? These ages are actually the best times to start housework. When children perform simple tasks, they both begin to feel competent and develop motor skills. Praise them abundantly for their efforts.
Ages 4-5: Include Them in Your Works
Your child can collect and sort the laundry with you, help while preparing the table in the kitchen, water the plants, feed the animals you keep at home. Enjoy doing business together.
Children of this age need to feel ‘needed, capable and free’. So get them involved in the housework, regardless of the outcome of their work. If they resist you, talk like ‘if we get this done, you can go out’.
Ages 6-7: Don’t Expect Perfection
A 6-7 year old can fill the pet’s food and water, help make a sandwich, make his bed no matter what he does, pick up the trash and throw it in the dustbin.
In this period, your child learns to be responsible and self-confident as they work around the house. They can do more than you think, show them how to do it and pull away.
Ages 8-9: Enjoy
Can prepare simple meals, set and remove the table, empty the dishwasher, fold and put away clothes, use the vacuum cleaner.
Housework doesn’t have to be boring. They can do their work by listening to music, or you can let them do whatever they want before in return for the chores you ask for.
Ages 10-12: Choices and Awards
They can wash dishes, mop, vacuum, carry car groceries or wash your car.
Ask your child to select a few of the things they do well and decide what they want to do as a division of labor. You can make housework list and reminder calendar. If so, thank and reward them for what they can do and help you.
13 Years and After: Prepare for Real Life
Can help with sibling’s care and schoolwork, can cook any day, shop for home.
Housework teaches adolescents the skills of being self-sustaining and being roommates. Do household chores regardless of gender. Men can cook, iron and do laundry. Girls can use household appliances, change the oil of the car, do gardening.
