November 6, 2019
Children are very capable human beings when they’re given the chance. Kids should be able to help out around the house, even when they’re young. Just remember to find age appropriate tasks and keep your child’s skill level and abilities in mind when assigning chores to them. And as long as you don’t make cleaning seem like a punishment, it can actually be a lot of fun for them, and may give them a sense of accomplishment.
You can start giving your children small things to do around the house at the age of 2. Between the ages of 2 and 3, children are able to help with certain chores, such as picking up toys, while under the supervision of an adult, of course. Here’s some suggested chores for children ages 2-3:
Pick up toys and books
Put laundry in hamper
Help wipe up messes
Place their own plate, cup, or silverware in dishwasher
Help make their own bed
Dress themselves
Once children get to the ages of 4 and 5, they should be able to do all of the chores from the previous list along with some added tasks. Take a look at the suggested chores for kids ages 4-5:
Clear and set the dining table
Load and empty the dishwasher
Take laundry to the laundry room
Match socks and put away laundry
Clean up their room
Help out with the family pet (giving them food and water)
Help put away groceries
Continue to use the previous lists for your children and add these on for kids ages 6-8:
Wipe down counters and tables
Put dishes away
Help pack school lunch
Vacuum
Clean bathroom sinks and counters
Light yard work such as raking leaves and watering plants and flowers
Keep using the tasks from the previous lists, but feel free to include these chores for children ages 9-11:
Sweep and mop floors
Fully clean bathrooms including toilets
Help prepare food (wash fruits and veggies, measure out ingredients)
Brush the family pet and take them on a walk
Take out the trash
Clean the car (wash it, clean mirrors and windows, vacuum)
Bring in mail
Pull weeds
Giving your children tasks of their own to be responsible for will teach them how to be responsible later in life. It also teaches them how to clean and may instill a good work ethic in them. Remember that the items on these lists are simply suggestions and that each child works at their own pace. Allow your children to perform the tasks that they are comfortable doing, and give them the proper supervision they need to safely finish each task. For reusable use, check out this printable chore chart for your children.
Hopefully having some extra helping hands will allow you to focus on getting other things done around the house. Or maybe it’ll finally give you the free time you deserve. But when your home is in need of a deep cleaning, or you simply don’t have the time to take care of the bigger jobs that your kids aren’t ready to help with, then give the experts at American Housekeeping a call. Their professional staff is licensed, bonded, and insured for your added security and they’re trained to provide a quality house cleaning service every time. Connect with American Housekeeping today!