Chores for Toddlers

[Jessica at Parenting.com]

Does your toddler help out around the house? No? Think they're too young?

Think again!

In the November issue of Parenting magazine, we show how small chores can lead to big rewards for your toddler.

When they're two and three years old, why not let them do some simple tasks like rinsing off vegetables, matching socks, watering plants, or feeding the pets?

It not only teaches them a new skill, it also reinforces the concept of family teamwork.

Reply to this message and let us know how your littlest ones help out around the house!

[cay8099]

My 5yo has been picking up his toys, helping me dust and feeding his cat for a year now.

[craftyashley]

My 2 year old picks up toys and alerts me to "icks" (the dogs having an accident on the rug). That's about the most they can do at this point. I can't wait until I can have them do the laundry, the dishes, or take out the trash. That will be a great day.

[ra11en]

My 2yr old helps me unload the dishwasher (hands me all the dishes), picks up her own toys at the end of each day (and puts them in her toybox), helps me dust, hands me laundy when I'm folding it, and picks up her own dirty clothes and put thems in her dirty clothes hamper. Little ones love to help, and there's always something they can help with!

[lindseyh911]

My kids are 3 1/2 and 2. They help set and clear the table, pick up their toys, put the laundry in the dryer, throw things in the trash, feed the cats, and put away their dirty laundry. I've never specifically told them anything is their "job" and we always praise their efforts so to them its a game.

[kikajean1983]

My 4 1/2 year old feeds and waters the dog, puts away her pajamas after I wash them, and of course picks up toys after playing with them. She calls them her "jobs" and says it makes her "feel like a grown up."

[somkmoreau]

My two boys, ages 1 & 3 help me with several different 'chores' around the house. They are only 'expected' to clean up the toys they play with, but they also enjoy doing other things like, putting socks away, feeding the dog and cat, and they even love to help me mop ...(after I've done the mopping first of course), then I allow them to run it over their bedroom floor) I think that it teaches them responsibility and prepares them for 'bigger chores' to come, so I allow them to help as much as they want. And if I'm having a hard time getting them to pick up their toys at the end of the day, telling them that we're going to 'clean' the floor always helps...then they are eager to get their toys off the floor so we can mop it before bedtime!

[MaysonsMOM]

Mayson is 1yr and 11months, she cleans her room without direction, she also feeds our Ferret Cleopatra, and helps me with the laundry!! I always praise her for the help, and she gets a sucker!! She loves that!!!

[Miles2Grow]

At 20 months, my son brings his plate to the sink. Although we have to hand the plate to him off of the high chair, and meet him at the sink to take it from him, we feel that it will teach him to do it without asking (eventually). We still have to work on cleaning up his toys!

[Liana]

Our 3-year-old helps clean up toys, brings her dishes to the sink, and helps feed the dog. Sometimes, she also helps with dinner (when there's something to be stirred, she's there!) and I also try to give her little odd tasks whenever there's something she can handle. She likes helping out.

Our just-turned-1-year-old is new to responsibility, but she's getting the hang of putting her toys in the bin (except she usually takes them right out again).