A wonderful way to play with and teach children is to bring them into your world, where ‘real-life’ happens. Children love to do ‘grown-up’ things and to imitate you. And when they contribute, they see themselves as players and get a well-earned self-esteem boost!
Age-Appropriate Chore Ideas
Toddlers
- Pick up toys and books
- Collect dirty laundry
- Dust with socks on hands
Preschoolers
- Make the bed
- Help with laundry
- Help in the kitchen – cooking and preparing food
- Set the table
- Take dirty dishes to the kitchen
- Carry and put away groceries
Pre-Kindergarteners
- Empty the dishwasher
- Feed the family pet
- Vacuum
- Take out the trash
- Fold and put away laundry
These activities are fun learning experiences, especially if you are teaching informally along the way. The chores may take a little longer as they learn the ropes and make mistakes, but the value for their learning and their self-regard are more than worth the extra time.
Tags: First chores, Pre-Kindergarten, Preschoolers, Toddlers
Great points on chores. The key is to make it fun for the child and The Goddard School of Cedar Park offers a parenting course (Love and Logic) that touches on the importance of chores. More can be found at the following link under “blogroll.”
http://blogs.goddardschool.com/Cedar-Park-TX/