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<\/p>\nSharing the Load<\/p>\n
Trying to juggle working from home and entertaining \/teaching \/ keeping busy a 4 year old is a challenge in itself. Not to mention trying to keep my home organised and get the housework done. An easy option on some occasions is to allow my child to watch some TV or play on the iPad however \u2018nanny iPad\u2019 opens up a whole new world of problems and I try to limit the screen time daily.<\/p>\n
I found myself one day trying to give my 4 year old some toys or craft activity to complete on her own while I cleaned the bathroom. This became a stop and start job from the beginning and so when my daughter said \u201cMummy can I help you clean the bath?\u201d I thought \u201cWhy not!\u201d While initially this perhaps slowed the cleaning process down in time she has become really good at certain jobs around the house and it not only helps me out with the chores but also gives my daughter some independence and feeling of responsibility.<\/p>\n
As a result she has become really capable at setting the table and helping prepare the dinner, she loves weighing, measuring and counting out ingredients to use. She is also really skillful at vacuuming the floor (she asks for the handle to be shortened for easier hold) and she is more than competent at loading the dishwasher and putting it on (also knows to ask for help to put the cleaning tablet in). Another good skill (or maybe it\u2019s not so good) she has developed is to regularly encourage me to clean the bathroom and kitchen \u2013 e.g. \u201cMummy we need to clean the bathroom \u2013 I\u2019ll get the cloths\u201d.<\/p>\n
Household chores: good for children, good for the whole family.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Household chores are not only beneficial to getting things done as children can learn a lot from doing jobs around the home.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Taking part in household jobs helps children learn what they need to do to look after themselves, their home and family. They can learn skills that they can use in their adult lives such as cleaning, preparing meals and sorting and organising.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Another bonus to carrying out chores with your children is that relationship, cooperation and communication skills are developed.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 When children are given the chance to contribute to chores it helps them feel competent and can appreciate the satisfaction of completing a job.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Perhaps most importantly sharing housework can help families work better and reduce family stress. Chores done sooner, parents have less to do, which means more time to do fun things together.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Chores help children learn responsibility and self-reliance. Assigning children regular chores helps teach them responsibility.<\/p>\n
How to get young children involved in chores<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Initially you could give your child the job of looking after their own toys \u2013 this shows their contribution is important.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 You could let them vacuum their bedroom then maybe another room. Encouraging responsibility and importance of hygienic practice.<\/p>\n
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\u00b7 You could ask them to pick up their clothes and put them on hooks or in a drawer. This promotes organisation and sorting skills.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 You could give your child the job of setting the table for dinner and \/or clearing the table at the end. This again encourages responsibility and participation.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Working together you could get children helping to prepare meals \u2013 this encourages mathematical language as you weigh \/ measure and count ingredients.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Children could also help to do the dishes. Encourage good hygienic practice and responsibility.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/ea\/public\/tapteamwebsitemain2019\/uploads\/sites\/12691\/2020\/05\/12083027\/dishes.png\")
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\u00b7 You could get children to help put the groceries away \u2013 this promotes organisation skills. You could also get them to look at labels to identify products. This promotes the ability to read environmental print.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Children could hand you wet clothes to hang up or hand you the required number of pegs. Or by using a chair to stand on and if children are able they could help to peg out the washing. This is good for developing fine motor skills; strengthening fingers.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 You could ask them to sort washing into piles \u2013 whites and colours or pick out towels \/ sort big clothes and small clothes. This promotes sorting and matching skills.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/ea\/public\/tapteamwebsitemain2019\/uploads\/sites\/12691\/2020\/05\/12083008\/washing.png\")
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\u00b7 Children could help by watering plants indoors and in the garden. Encourages looking after plants and caring for the environment.<\/p>\n
\u00b7 You could allow children to help feed pets or clean out cages \/ tanks etc\u2026 This encourages caring for others and responsibility for pets.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/ea\/public\/tapteamwebsitemain2019\/uploads\/sites\/12691\/2020\/05\/12083020\/pets.png\")
<\/p>\n
Even if the job is not done perfectly ensure you give them encouragement and praise and help them until they can do it.<\/p>\n
By Carol Munro.<\/p>\n
Refs<\/em><\/p>\n https:\/\/raisingchildren.net.au\/toddlers\/family-life\/chores\/chores-for-children<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/harmonylearning.com.au\/why-having-responsibilities-and-helping-with-chores-is-critical-for-growth\/<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.momentumlife.co.nz\/stories\/why-kids-should-have-chores<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Sharing the Load Trying to juggle working from home and entertaining \/teaching \/ keeping busy a 4 year old is a challenge in itself. Not to mention trying to keep my home organised and get the housework done. An easy option on some occasions is to allow my child to watch some TV or play … Continue reading Tuesday 12th May. Supporting Children to Develop Responsibility.<\/span>