Raising helpful humans

It's time to stop doing everything ourselves and get kids to pitch in

I strongly believe that children should be encouraged to help with daily household chores.

Start early by getting children to tidy away their toys into their boxes and baskets when they are very little. Make sure that toys have a 'home' so that it is an easy job to return them back to where they 'live'

Make it a condition of moving on to the next activity such as ‘let’s tidy these blocks before we go outside to play’ Or make it fun by putting music on and saying ‘let’s get these toys tidied before the song ends’.

In my experience small children really enjoy being involved with tasks such as getting their own cups and plates from a cupboard ready for their snack, helping to lay the table or putting their clothes in the dirty laundry bin. Be super encouraging and thank them for their help.

Helping with chores teaches children that homes don’t run by magic but takes effort and teamwork. Gradually as they get older, increase the difficulty of the jobs and perhaps give members of the household different responsibilities that are theirs to own. Rotate jobs if there are any particularly disliked tasks.

Start to teach children to be organised by putting their football or swimming kit back into the kit bag as soon as it comes out of the wash. Get children involved in meal planning and meal preparation which can help set them up later in life.

This sharing of responsibilities will contribute to developmental growth, help with problem solving, builds skills and shows children how to be valued members of their household.

Many hands (big or small) make light work

More to come on coping with pushback...