Photo credit Maria Montessori
I ran across an article on Treehugger recently about having kids do chores. While the suggestion of kids doing chores isn’t really that profound {I say put ’em to work, let ’em earn their keep 😉 }, the article included a chart of what you can expect from different age groups. I’ll admit, I’ve been out of the “littles” game for awhile now, but the age breakdown surprised me. It reminded me that kids can do waaaay more than we think–and in the end, teaching them how to do chores is like teaching them how to be independent {no matter how much they resist and whine}.
The article also suggested that kids that have to do chores actually have a higher sense of belonging and purpose. It teaches them to be hardworking, complete goals, and gives them practical skills that, like it or not, they are going to have to use someday.
What do YOUR kids do for chores?
~Mavis
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Cptacek says
My four year old gathers eggs, gathers trash and replaces the lining, rinses dishes, gets clothes from the dryer and takes them to the bedroom, takes them out of the basket and helps fold his clothes (can do most of his himself). Picks up toys, tries to sweep, sets the table and helps clear it. Helps make supper. Cleans the bathroom mirror.
Of course not all of this every day, as I don’t clean that much everyday!
Ida says
Chores is perhaps not the right word… but my 15 month old knows the word “clean” in both English & Swedish and applies it to the messes he makes himself. So if he dumps out a laundry hamper or tosses Lego all over the place – we clean it up together. Most time he seems to like this more than making the mess! He also regularly takes the vacuum cleaner from me and tries to vacuum. If he manages to vacuum something visible (like a tuft of cat hair) he gets so happy he applauds himself. And his favourite toy is a little kids broom – it’s actually the toy he and his best friend most often fight over. If only I could feel the same enthusiasm!
Laura says
This is a pet peeve of mine. So many people in our neighborhood expect NOTHING from their cherubs so, not surprisingly, they wind up feeling and acting pretty entitled. We have our kids do a number of chores but we actually pull back in high school because they are so busy that they don’t have as much time to do things around the house.
My goal is for each child to know how to cook, clean, do simple repairs, do laundry, and generally fend for themselves by the time they head off to college. I remember being terrified of laundry because I had never done it before I went away to school. Decided they would not have the same fate. And hey, less laundry for mom to do is a GOOD thing!
Mavis says
Preparing them for independence is really what it’s all about!
Audra says
I love the idea of giving kids responsibility but I was disappointed to see mow lawn for such young kids. We had a neighbor boy (12) who was push mowing his yard, reached down to pull a weed and got his hand sucked in and lost some fingers. Mowers are very powerful machines and at the least require good supervision when used by anyone other than an adult.
Mavis says
Yikes! That’s horrible.
Tracy says
A 6-7 year old “making salad”? I don’t know any child that age I’d be comfortable whacking away with a sharp paring knife. Eeek!
Emily says
Hopefully they are thinking of kids making a salad by helping their parent(s) and tearing up lettuce instead of using a sharp knife for cutting. I think I’ve read somewhere that it’s actually better to tear lettuce for salad to keep the edges from browning. I think in general, it’s good to involve children in making meals so they appreciate the work and prep that goes into it.
Brianna says
My 4-year old daughter is the official “salad decorator.” I slice and prep everything and she puts the greens on each salad plate and all of the edible “decorations.” She is always so proud of herself and happy when she can help in the kitchen.
Mrs. M says
I recently read an article about children’s development and using knives…. interesting.
http://wellnessmama.com/61188/kids-use-knives/
AlysonRR says
My kids are 14 and 17. They can do almost everything on the under 12-yo list, and about half of the 12-and-up list… I guess we have some work to do, particularly painting and hedge trimming (first I need a hedge 😉 )
They can both cook simple meals, but they have a limited repertoire. We’re working on increasing the number of dishes they each can make and on following recipes for meals they haven’t been taught from scratch.
They each do their own laundry and help me with the rest (my mobility is impaired and they’re really strong!). They do the dishes and water the plants and take care of the dog and turtles and sometimes, their llama and alpaca (they are boarded at a farm that usually takes care of everything, but the kids do it on the days they visit, usually twice a week).
I remember as a child I thought that doing chores was “helping mom with the house”. I took it as a real revelation when I started living with roommates in a house we *all* had to keep clean – we weren’t helping anyone, it just had to get done and there were only the people in the house to do it – no mom, LOL.
I’ve made sure that my kids knew from an early age that chores are the responsibility of everyone in the house. We’ve never based allowance on chores. And whining or complaining result in a deep conversation which, at these ages, they think is like getting a root canal (I make them turn off everything electronic while I talk with/at them – the horrors!). So I get pretty good cooperation almost all of the time, thank goodness.
Jen Y says
Mine are married now so yes…they do a lot of chores & I don’t have to stay on them tog et it done! 😉
I love that a lot of moms now use have each child cook family supper once a month, using the summer to teach them how to make different things.
Capability isn’t usually the question, it’s accountability. It’s a huge job to teach th em when you could do it faster, easier & with so much less conflict yourself.