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Baby Responsibilities!!Aug 16 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Small children can and should help out around the house, but only with love and guidance and not too many expectations!
When I was a child I was responsible for several odd jobs around our home. Both of my parents worked, and each one of them took a turn staying at home as well, so there were times when one parent was home all the time but I still had to do my share of the chores. When my mom started work she would often leave a list on the table of what she needed me to do before she got home. It was never anything unreasonable--just things around the house that I could do to help out. I can remember starting out with setting and clearing the table, doing dishes, cleaning the bathroom, laundry, running the vacuum, dusting, etc. Now that my own two children are 4 and 2, my husband and I enforce certain "chores" for them as well. We feel they are old enough to understand why they should take care of their things, including their home, but yet we also remember that they are just small children. The following are suggestions for chores that are appropriate, in my opinion, for small preschool children. CHORES FOR THE OLDER PRESCHOOL CHILD My daughter is only four, but she loves to help me around the house. Most of the time she thinks it's fun, but there are some things that she treats like they're chores. Oh, wait--they are! :-) Here is a list of some chores that my four-year-old daughter helps with: Laundry: My daughter loves to match socks, and she can also put her clothes away and her brother's clothes away. Her Bedroom: She also is responsible for her room. She makes the bed each day, picks up her toys, straightens her doll house and book shelves, and every night at bath time she puts her dirty clothes in the clothes hamper. Around the House: My daughter also sets the table and is responsible for carrying her dish back to the kitchen after she's finished. (Each member of our family is responsible for that, so there is not one person in charge of "clearing" the table.)She also feeds the kitties, picks up the play room, and always puts her towel in the bathroom after her bath. She can also carry small, lightweight grocery bags from the car to the house after a shopping trip, and then she loves to put away the canned goods, etc. These little things really help me, as well as teach her to take care of her home and belongings. CHORES FOR THE YOUNGER TODDLER/PRESCHOOLER My son is barely two, but he knows that there are some things that are expected of him as a member of our family. His Bedroom: My son is responsible for picking up his toys and putting his dirty clothes in the clothes hamper each night. He also knows that all of his books need to be on the bookshelf. He doesn't have to have them all neat and tidy, but just there instead of on the floor. Around the House: My son is also responsible for helping to pick up the playroom with his sister, take his empty dishes from the table to the kitchen, and water the kitties. He also helps carry in small grocery items when we get home from the store. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I know as my children get older that I will increase the amount of chores they do around the house. Eventually they'll be able to help cook, wash clothes, load the dishwasher, etc. Their rooms will always be their responsibility. I try to make my home a loving and fun environment for both of my children, but yet I want them to know that there are certain things that have to be done in order for our home to run smoothly and efficiently. I offer praise for completing these jobs, and gentle but firm reminders when they need them. (Especially my son who is so small.) I try to offer incentives for when our chores are well-done and rapidly completed, such as watching a movie from the rental store, or going to McDonald's. I want my kids to know that I appreciate them for the help they give Mommy and Daddy! I also want them to start out doing chores around the house now, so that when they are older I am not suddenly "enforcing" something that is completely new to them. I'm hoping that they will come to do these things as second-nature, and not just because Mommy and Daddy want them to.  |
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