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Age Appropriate – Chores for Kids
My daughter is 20 months old and has a daily list of chores.
She loves helping out and loves doing what mommy and daddy do.
So read on for a perspective on Age Appropriate – Chores for Kids.
As with anything in toddlers these skills needed to be taught and learned.
At the beginning, she would watch me perform the chore and then we would progress to doing it together and now she will do them when I ask or even sometimes on her own.
Need chore ideas for other age groups?
Chores For Kids: Toddlers Under 2 Years
Here is my list of age-appropriate chores for a one to two-year-old.
Show Animals Some Love
We have a dog and a cat.
I think it is very important for her to learn how to pet them gently.
She also needed to learn boundaries.
When the dog is eating she is to leave her alone (this one is a work in progress).
Clean Up – Put Toys Away
After bath time, she takes all of her toys and I put them away in their basket.
She also puts her toys away in her toy boxes when asked.
Sometimes she will hand them to me and I will do it but that is okay as well.
Clean Up – Garbage
When my daughter is done eating she will put her plate on the counter.
Tip – only give small children plastic plates as the counter is a bit of a stretch.
She will also put things away in the garbage (for example her banana peels).
Protect Yourself – Wear A Hat
My daughter is very fair skinned so we always apply sunscreen and have her wear a hat outside.
I consider her wearing a hat part of her chores as it is something she must do.
Before we go to the door I tell her to get her hat (always put it in the same place) and put it on.
At the beginning she would take her hat off when we were outside but then this happened we would go back in and start the whole process over again.
She now understands when we are outside she put on her hat.
Clean Up – Face
This chore is one that needs adult assistance.
In the bath or after a messy meal my daughter is given a washcloth to ‘dab’ her face.
She does a wipe but most of the time she needs an adult to ensure she is all clean.
Clean Up – Dishwasher
My daughter LOVES to unload the dishwasher.
She will grab all of the plates on the lower level and pass them to me one at a time.
I must say I like this one as well as it allows me to be super lazy and not have to bend over to get the dishes :).
Shut The Door
When asked she will also shut the fridge door, baby gate (it swings open and shut) and drawers.
What chores do your children do?
Great list! I also like getting them to put the chairs back into their place around the table, they love moving things!
We are working on this with our kids right now. It takes more time to get many things done this way, but I remind myself that it makes a difference in the long run.
Thanks for the helpful advice! There is some that I can use immediately! 🙂
My daughter helps pick up her toys before bed. She also helps with other little things around the house.
Wonderful list! My toddlers love to sweep the floor and clean off their kiddy table (yes, usually in that order…so they sweep the floor again) after eating. It is very important to teach them good habits like this while they are young 🙂
Like many parents,I am working with my children to find age appropriate chores for everyone.
Very helpful advice, it’s hard to find appropriate chores when they are that little but we’ve tried to do it with our toddler and so far it’s been great. She loves helping!
I’ve always asked my kids to put their dishes in the sink and wash their hands. They also are I charge of putting toys away, or else they are taken away for the week. Now at 5, my son took it upon himself to vacuum the area rug and wipe the table after dinner. My 2.5 yo daughter like to help with the laundry. I always make sure they know I am grateful for their help.
We will pull things out of the washer and hand them to our daughter to throw in the drier. She loves to help to the point she will cry if she’s not allowed. She will grab the broom or mop if it’s left laying around and try cleaning floors. She puts her DVDs away and throws trash away. She’s wonderful and I’ve never really worked with her on this stuff she just watches us.