When you have little ones in the house, sometimes having them help ends up being more work than doing them yourself. But it’s so worth it – teaching our children to help while they’re young lays the foundation for a lifetime of hard work and a helpful family dynamic.
But what chores can a preschooler do? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Cleaning the windows
Kids love this one! If you have little ones, your glass doors and windows probably have lots of little fingerprints! You can allow your child from about age 3 and up to have some paper towels or a squeegee – you spray the glass and they get to clean. If your child completes the task (no matter if there are streaks) compliment them on a job well done.
Gathering dirty laundry
If you have clothes hampers in your home your little one can either use a bag or basket to make stops and pick up the dirty clothes to bring them to the washer and dryer.
Switching clothes from washer to dryer
You may have to aid a little in the beginning but this is a task that a little one can easily do. You might even consider putting a sticker on the dial to show them how to turn the dryer on if they’re tall enough.
Sorting Flatware
Sorting forks, spoons, and knives is perfect for preschoolers – and it’s a great learning activity too!
Yardwork
Even the littlest ones can help outside!
Getting themselves dressed
If your 3-4 year old is not already attempting to self-dress, now is the time to start. You can lay out the clothing and sometimes you may still need to help with buttons and zippers but they are capable and will feel a serious sense of accomplishment.
Clearing the table
Though you may not want your preschooler to break your glasses and dishes they can still help carry things from the breakfast or dinner table to the kitchen. (If you are concerned about your dishes, switch to some cheap plates from Ikea while they’re learning.)
Feeding your pet
All that is needed is a scoop for your little one to be able to scoop the food and to know how much to give. Add a small jug of water next to the animal dishes and they should also be able to master making sure that the water bowl stays filled.
With a little bit of patience (okay maybe a lot of patience) your little one can begin the road towards being a great help to you around the house. The best part about teaching them young is that you are setting expectations, from the beginning, for them to have responsibility in the home. This will be invaluable to you later, even if right now it seems a chore.
