Doing chores is a tradition in many families. Chores help kids learn responsibility, and sharing chores gives you help around the house.
We all need to feel needed and know that we’re making a contribution – even kids. It’s good for a child to have some responsibilities.
Allowance for Chores?
Should your child get an allowance for chores? Usually not, say most parenting experts.
Chores are partly about responsibility and partly about learning household tasks. They’re not focused on earning money. Yes, kids need to learn how to handle money, but not by doing chores they’re supposed to do anyway. It’s especially important to not tie allowances to chores for younger kids, says Elizabeth Pantley, author of parenting books including ‘Kid Cooperation: How to Stop Yelling, Nagging and Pleading’ and ‘Get Kids to Cooperate’. That’s because a younger child may be less motivated by money and simply choose to not do them.
Chores for Children
Your child may be able to do more than you think. “Keep in mind that a child who has mastered a complicated computer game can easily run the dishwasher,” Pantley says. In general, she says pre-schoolers can handle one or two simple one-step or two-step jobs. Older children can manage more. Here are her pointers on kids’ chores by age:
ages 2 to 3
• Put toys away
• Fill pet’s food dish
• Put clothes in hamper
• Wipe up spills
• Dust
• Pile books and magazines
ages 4 to 5
• Any of the above chores, plus:
• Make their bed
• Empty wastebaskets
• Bring in mail or newspaper
• Clear table
• Pull weeds, if you have a garden
• Water flowers
• Use hand-held vacuum to pick up crumbs
• Unload utensils from dishwasher
• Wash plastic dishes at sink
• Fix bowl of cereal
ages 6 to 7
Any of the above chores, plus:
• Sort laundry
• Sweep floors
• Set and clear table
• Help make and pack lunch
• Weed and rake leaves
• Keep bedroom tidy
ages 8 to 9
Any of the above chores, plus:
• Load dishwasher
• Put away groceries
• Vacuum
• Mop floor
• Help make dinner
• Make own snacks
• Wash table after meals
• Put away own laundry
• Sew buttons
• Make own breakfast
• Peel vegetables
• Cook simple foods, such as toast
• Take pet for a walk
ages 10 and older
Any of the above chores, plus:
• Unload dishwasher
• Fold laundry
• Clean bathroom
• Wash windows
• Wash car
• Cook simple meal with supervision
• Do laundry
• Iron clothes
• Baby-sit younger siblings (with adult in the home)
• Clean kitchen
• Change their bed sheets
Source: www.webmd.com.