Toddler Chores

Lots of moms wonder when is the right time for those cute little hands that seem to make tons of messes start with the clean up chores. Well, those cute little hands can begin helping around the house NOW!

Giving yourtoddler a daily chore to complete is a great learning experience and will help to prepare the way for more advanced chores when he is older. It’s never too early to start involving the kids in common household chores.

Even babies can even help. When you are leaving a room with baby in your arms, stop at the light switch and teach him how to turn it on and off as you go in and out of the room.

After diaper changes, give him the diaper as you approach the diaper pail or garbage can and let him drop it into the pail. Toddlers can walk their own diaper to the garbage and drop it in.

Around 2 years, those little ones can do a few more things to be mommy's little helper. When doing laundry, have him pull clothing from dryer to laundry basket. When folding laundry, have him hunt for socks in the basket and place them all together in a pile. Now the chore has become a treasure hunt game and a lesson in grouping like things together. Talk about multi-tasking!

Understand that the little ones are not going to do the chores to mom's exact liking - they will not pass the white glove test or the infamous mother-in-law standards of clean. The point is not that everything is done exactly right, but that they are being trained to help out - builidng expectations. Give lots of praise for a being a helper- It helps them feel BIG!

Other ideas for toddlers include:

Give your little one a dust cloth and have him dust all the tables or baseboards.
Make a homemade, non-toxic cleaning spray of vinegar and water for him to spray on windows and then wipe.
If his drink spills on the floor or table, have him help you wipe it up.
Teach him to place dirty dishes into the sink or on the counter.
Use a small cup into the pet food container and have him scoop food into the pet bowl.
Show him how to water houseplants and pick up any fallen plant leaves and throw them away (all toxic plants should be kept out of the reach of children).
Children can learn very early that everything has a place to belong. Have your child place his dirty clothes in a hamper.
When he is finished playing with his toys have him put them in a basket in his room before he gets out another toy or activity.
After you make his bed, have him put the pillows in place along with any stuffed friends. Around 3, let him start making the bed. Show him how to pull the sheet and blanket up.
Teaching them early to clean up and to help with the chores, not only helps mom out but more importantly, it builds respect for belongings, a sense of pride, responsibility and that they can contribute to the family. All of these things will serve them well as they get older.