Sometimes it feels like we moms have the weight of the world on our shoulders. We have to worry about getting kids ready for the day, feeding our families, cleaning the house, working, laundry, sports, the list goes on. One of my goals for this year is to stop making things more difficult than they have to be. This stems from being a self-proclaimed control freak. I have made myself believe that no one is capable of doing things as well as I can. The bottom line is I’ve made a lot of things more difficult than they have to be, and I am doing a disservice to my kids. Enter these chore lists, and chore charts for kids. While my kids are responsible for some chores, most are not responsible for consistently doing them.
Teaching your kids how to do certain household chores isn’t just getting some much needed help around the house (not that that part isn’t a huge bonus!), it’s also teaching your kids life skills. And, that’s the part I often forget about. Taking the time to teach your kids how to do chores, and to do them, is part of my job as their parent.
Chore lists and charts for kids
*for your convenience, there may be affiliate links throughout this post, so you can easily find the things i am showing you. by using these links, your pricing stays the same, but i earn a small commission. You can see my full disclosure here
Don’t forget to pin this for later!
Why should kids do chores?
When are kids old enough to start doing chores?
As early as 2 or 3 years old, children can be given small chores around the house. They can help with a family pet, pick up their toys, or help fold towels (they may not be great at it, but they can definitely help). As they get older the list of responsibilities, can, and should grow. Of course you will need to think about the age, and maturity of each child. On top of not being able to do everything, a young child should not be given cleaning supplies that could be hazardous to them.
This doesn’t mean young children can’t help. There are always things for younger children to do, and for older children to do. Our 9 year old unloads the dishwasher. The boys are all responsible for putting away their laundry. Our 4 year old feeds our dog, and is responsible for her toys, and other small chores.
More tips for chores
- Use a chore chart like this one
- Consider a reward system (a special treat after a given time, or an allowance)
- Stick to a routine
- Resist the urge to just do it yourself (my biggest problem!)
Do you kids have chores they’re responsible for? What are your best tips for keeping to a chore routine? Share them in the comments!! I love hearing from you all!
xo, Lorrin
Come hang out with us!!
facebook
instagram
pinterest
[…] Chore Lists and Charts – Embrace the Perfect Mess […]