Household chores for toddlers

Now that Emi turned 4, I wanted to rewind and focus on what worked well during her 2nd & 3rd year of life. You may notice that by 2 years old they will pick up favorite games and their personality will shine through the activities they perform. If a kid shows interest in something, then we should lean in and teach them how to do it correctly. Helping them learn will make their interest and confidence grow.

At 2, kiddos will start growing an unwavering confidence that they can help with anything and everything. Any time she tried to help, I avoid using words like : you can’t, you are too small, not now, etc because I want her to learn how to do it instead of closing that door. Your initial response will set a note for the subsequent requests.

Think to yourself, you don’t like to be fed by someone or have someone choose your outfits. Children start developing these same feelings in time and giving them time and space to choose is good for them. You don’t have to give them many options but options are good. There are plenty of studies in which we’ve learned that too many activities, responsibilities or choices can be overwhelming therefore limit choices to 2 – 3 options. In doing so your child won’t feel overwhelmed but will still be able to voice emotions and independence.

While one might think we should keep knives and such away from children, it is really how you approach the activity that will help. If they learn how to properly use something they won’t be as prone to accidents or secretly handling something they haven’t been exposed to due to curiosity.

Children are always willing to help and won’t know if they are actually helping. The point of helping and learning is not doing the job correctly but trying it.

Explain the process before starting a new activity: keep it short and sweet. The summary of the activity will help them understand what is happening and what is expected of them. Be positive and thank them for their help when they are done.

Don’t expect them to finish the entire task, they might but often they get bored and tired quickly. Be open to the idea of stopping before finishing.When a task is too complicated for their little hands, redirect their attention to an easier task.

For example:

If your child asks to cook with you, you can suggest help mixing before getting into cutting.

If your child wants to help with laundry, once the load is dry and clean, have your child grab the clothing and toss them into an empty basket.

If you are building furniture, give them an Allen wrench and ask them to tighten the screws. Regardless of properly using the tool, it helps kiddos feel like a part of the activity and slowly start learning what goes where. With time and practice, give them the proper tool so they learn what is used even if they can’t perform the job correctly. Have patience and give them guidance but don’t do it for them.

Another easy task is picking their clothing for the next day. When they start becoming threenagers, they stop liking the fashion choices parents make so, let them choose. Have a rack or shelf they can reach for this purpose. This encourages kiddos to make their own decisions and in time, it facilitates them to dress themselves. Place a hamper next to their rack so they can easily change from their pjs to daywear without making a mess.

Take small steps while they learn, each day helping them master new skills that promote their independence. At this age they are ready to try things themselves and when encouraged they can learn to do these skills safely.

There are limits to their engagement and to things children should be exposed to but the activities we’ve talked about will help them for their entire life.

Remember to be patient and to acknowledge that their attention span is very short which means that most likely the activity won’t be finished by them.

I hope this inspires you to share more activities with your little one in a way that is enjoyable for everyone. If you try some of these activities or your child developed other life skills, please share in the comments. We are always learning with you and sharing helps us all.