Teaching Kids to Take Care of Themselves: Must-Do Chores
Content Written/Updated on April 5, 2007
Children who aren't taught to clean up after themselves grow up into messy, disorganized adults. Plus, if you don't teach your children to clean up after themselves, you get to spend your waking hours being their servant.
Be sure your child is mentally and physically ready to do any activity that may be dangerous.
Teach your child to:
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Set the table
Even a toddler can pass out forks and napkins. Preschoolers can setup plates and cups as well. Older kids can practice setting a formal dining table with folded napkins and forks and spoons all placed in traditional positions.
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Take her dirty dishes into the kitchen
Most kids can start doing this when they are three-years-old. Older children should scrap off their plates refrigerate leftovers.
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Wash dishes
Children need to know how to wash dishes with a dishwasher as well as by hand.
Have your children help you load the dishwasher. Make sure you explain how to position items as well as which items shouldn't go in the dishwasher. Also, be sure to teach your kids how to scrap off food from the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Otherwise, you'll end up with a clogged filter or drain.
Washing dishes by hand is essential. It surprises me how many kids don't know how to soak dishes in soapy water, rinse in clean water, and dry.
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Wash his laundry
They'll probably need help with this until their older, but start them in the habit early. Teach them to always put dirty clothes in the hamper. Then show them how to sort laundry by color, put it into the washing machine, add the soap, turn it on, and wait. When it's finished, teach them how to use the dryer in the same way.
Also take time to teach your kids how to wash clothes by hand, in case a washing machine isn't available, and how to dry clothes by hanging them up or laying them out on a drying rack.
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Fold her laundry
Teach your children step-by-step how to fold pants, shirts, socks, etc. Then require them to fold their own laundry. It's an excellent lesson in sorting as well as an exercise to build hand-eye coordination. Plus, it cuts down on your laundry chores.
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Put away his laundry
Every child over the age of two can put away laundry. True, they probably won't put it away as neatly as you do, but they'll at least get it into the drawers and on the shelves or hangers. Smaller children may have a difficult time reaching clothes bars for hanging clothes, so give them drawers and shelves and hooks instead.
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Put away her coats, shoes, backpacks, etc.
Kids (and many adults) have a tendency to just dump things on the floor or on a table as soon as they walk in. Teach them where their belongings go and have them put their things away every time they walk in the door.
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Put away his toys
This will likely be your toughest challenge. Kids seem to hate putting away their toys. Make the experience fun, and use a reward chart to encourage them to do the work. They can always bring the toys out and play with them later. Keep toys in bins and on shelves, so kids can put them away with little effort.
...by Feed