Do you wonder when your child will ever learn to pick up his/her toys?
Are you asking yourself the question, "What age is a good age for my child to learn how to clean up toys?"
When it comes to getting your kids to help with chores around the house, it's critical to consider the age of the child. At first, very young children are going to need lots of direction and specific, step-by-step instructions on what to do.This will take alot of time and effort to begin with but it will pay off.
I know I am still in the teaching stage. My oldest knows when it is time to clean up but he doesn't always want too. Sometimes he does great and other times he doesn't do so great. He might be cleaning up from the outward appearance but on the inside (in his heart) he is messing up his toys...
So then I have to deal with his Heart.
It's much less frustrating to start with a small task while they are young and slowly add on. Do you feel yourself repetitively saying, "Clean up this room!" Or wonder, "why does this child not listen to me?" It is because you have to deal with the issues of the child's heart. Figure out why they aren't listening and stick with the consequences of them not obeying you. Don't let the child run all over you because--my sweet friend--you will have problems! Now, don't get me wrong, I do not have perfect children nor will I ever. Have they embarrassed me in public or in front of family and friends, YES...Did my child have a care in the entire world as to who was watching them while they had a complete meltdown....NO...And did I just want to crawl and hide... YES...But do we still love them after all of that? YES...With all our heart we do...
That is why we teach them, train them, pray for them, and have consequences to when they disobey.
So that is why you'll find that giving specific, step-by-step instructions, backed by consequences, will yield much better results.
With older kids who can read and write, it can be helpful to write their daily chores on a small white board that you hang on their wall or to give them chore cards that spell out the specific actions they need to take in order to complete a task. Again, be specific about the deadline for completing the task and what the consequence will be if they don't get the job done.
And--My Friend-- their needs to be consequences. They will begin to realize that you aren't going to do anything if they don't listen to you.
By the way, when using consequences with kids, it's most effective to balance both positive and negative consequences. It's just as important to praise and reward our kids for their good behavior. So when your children consistently follows though on their chores, such as cleaning their room, they should receive verbal praise, a hug and even an occasional small reward.
I know that with my oldest I started noticing that when I would go into his room in the morning he would say, " Mommy, I made my bed already." I then told him how proud I was and that he did a wonderful job. He would then beam with happiness...
I found this age appropriate chore list for children. I hope that it will help!
Age appropriate chores:
This list is only meant as a guide and reflects the types of chores that many children in these age ranges are capable of completing:
Ages 2 and 3
Personal chores- Assist in making their beds
- Pick up playthings with your supervision
- Take their dirty laundry to the laundry basket
- Fill a pet's water and food bowls (with supervision)
- Help a parent clean up spills and dirt
- Dust
Ages 4 and 5
Note: This age can be trained to use a family chore chart.Personal chores
- Get dressed with minimal parental help
- Make their bed with minimal parental help
- Bring their things from the car to the house
- Set the table with supervision
- Clear the table with supervision
- Help a parent prepare food
- Help a parent carry in the lighter groceries
- Match socks in the laundry
- Answer the phone with parental assistance
- Be responsible for a pet's food and water bowl
- Hang up towels in the bathroom
- Clean floors with a dry mop
Ages 6 and 7
Note: This age can be supervised to use a family chore chart.Personal chores
- Make their bed every day
- Brush teeth
- Comb hair
- Choose the day's outfit and get dressed
- Write thank you notes with supervision
- Be responsible for a pet's food, water and exercise
- Vacuum individual rooms
- Wet mop individual rooms
- Fold laundry with supervision
- Put their laundry in their drawers and closets
- Put away dishes from the dishwasher
- Help prepare food with supervision
- Empty indoor trash cans
- Answer the phone with supervision
Ages 8 to 11
Note: This age benefits from using a family chore chart.Personal chores
- Take care of personal hygiene
- Keep bedroom clean
- Be responsible for homework
- Be responsible for belongings
- Write thank you notes for gifts
- Wake up using an alarm clock
- Wash dishes
- Wash the family car with supervision
- Prepare a few easy meals on their own
- Clean the bathroom with supervision
- Rake leaves
- Learn to use the washer and dryer
- Put all laundry away with supervision
- Take the trash can to the curb for pick up
- Test smoke alarms once a month with supervision
- Screen phone calls using caller ID and answer when appropriate
Ages 12 and 13
Personal chores- Take care of personal hygiene, belongings and homework
- Write invitations and thank you notes
- Set their alarm clock
- Maintain personal items, such as recharging batteries
- Change bed sheets
- Keep their rooms tidy and do a biannual deep cleaning
- Change light bulbs
- Change the vacuum bag
- Dust, vacuum, clean bathrooms and do dishes
- Clean mirrors
- Mow the lawn with supervision
- Baby sit (in most states)
- Prepare an occasional family meal
Ages 14 and 15
Personal chores- Responsible for all personal chores for ages 12 and 13
- Responsible for library card and books
- Do assigned housework without prompting
- Do yard work as needed
- Baby sit
- Prepare food — from making a grocery list and buying the items (with supervision) to serving a meal — occasionally
- Wash windows with supervision
Ages 16 to 18
Personal chores- Responsible for all personal chores for ages 14 and 15
- Responsible to earn spending money
- Responsible for purchasing their own clothes
- Responsible for maintaining any car they drive (e.g., gas, oil changes, tire pressure, etc.)
- Do housework as needed
- Do yard work as needed
- Prepare family meals — from grocery list to serving it — as needed
- Deep cleaning of household appliances, such as defrosting the freezer, as needed
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