Family life has become more complicated than they were before. Kids these days tend to whine and complain about house chores like folding the laundry or doing the dishes. But these tasks are not meant to make their lives hard. It is one way for parents to teach them responsibilities and life skills that they would appreciate learning in the future.
The key here is to treat these chores as if they are real jobs. While you’re teaching them about accountability, time management, and honesty, it can still be a lot of fun. Checkout these age-appropriate tasks that you can assign to your children.
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For 2-Year-Old Kids
Pick up Toys — Teach your little ones to pick up their toys and tidy up after themselves. Have a designated area for play and model the act of picking up toys and placing them in baskets for them to follow.
Wash Produce — kids become interested in various types of food if they are part of the meal preparations. Have them help wash produce so that they start learning some tasks in the kitchen.
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For 3 to 4-Year-Olds
Wipe Down — assign areas that your kids can wipe down with a dust cloth. They are perfect cleaning spots you cannot reach, like lower shelves and baseboards.
Sort Grocery — ask your kids to help you sort groceries and put them in their places. They will learn to unpack groceries themselves in a few years.
Make the Bed and Clean Their Room — they can start trying to make their bed and straighten pillows and stuff toys.
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For 5 to 6 Years Olds
Take Care of Pets — at this age, they can start learning how to care for pets, such as feeding them in the morning and night or check out their water bottles. It will teach them about schedules and responsibility for others.
Getting Dressed — ask kids to sort their clothes, identify items that are appropriate for the weather or occasion, and pick out those that can be donated, sold, or kept for the next season.
Make A To-Do List — have kids help make the grocery list or the to-do list for the family.
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For 7 to 9-Year-Olds
Meal Preparations and Cleaning Up — at this age, they can be a big help in setting the table, cooking dinner, and cleaning up after meals.
Yard Work -assign yard work for everyone in the family. They can do simple tasks like pulling weeds, watering the plants, and cleaning the outdoor furniture.
Room Cleaning — get your kids in the habit of cleaning up their room at a young age, not to be a hassle for them in their teenage years.
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For 10 to 12-Year-Olds
Wash The Car / Clean the Garage — cars are a magnet for dirt and grime. Get your kids to help you wash the car regularly. Kids at this age can also help wipe down the garage door and clean off dirt and grime. Professionals from garage door repair service companies do recommend basic cleaning as part of best practices and maintenance.
Setting Dials and Knobs — give them more responsibility to handle the laundry load of jeans and sweaters by setting the proper setting.
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For Teenagers
Mow the Lawn — at this age, they can work on the lawn and rake leaves efficiently. They may even offer services to the neighbors for a small fee.
Help Pay Bills — teach them financial literacy and technology by making a list of the bills to pay and due dates. Show them how these bills are paid and how you budget the expenses at home.
There are various other tasks that you can assign to kids according to their ages. These tasks can be made fun and entertaining too. Be the model for the kids so that they become more willing to learn and do their tasks. Ask kids to sort their clothes, identify items appropriate for the weather or occasion, and pick out those that can be donated, sold, or kept for the next season.
