Being a stay at home mom doesn’t mean I have to do all the house work. I have two kids shadowing me who crave independence and approval. Who could ask for a better work force?
My kids are 2 and 4, so the following tasks require some level of supervision but do not require them to use any dangerous tools or chemicals. Even with those restrictions, there is a lot my little ones can do, and most of the time they are excited to help out. My two year old loves to mirror what Mommy and Daddy do, and he becomes super excited about his achievements when he learns something new. Meanwhile, my four year old is more likely to notice that something is work. But, if we make it a race by using a timer or she gets individualized attention by working together, she is enthusiastic to help.
Cleaning:
- Attempt to clean up own spills
- Put trash in trash can
- Dust with dusters
- Sweep floors
- Clean window crayons off the windows with baby wipes. They get most of it, and I only need to clean the smudges.
Kitchen:
- Put empty snack bowls and cups into the sink
- My older child can set and clear the table, minus the knifes.
- Help cook
- Place dishes where directed in dishwasher
- Dry pots and pans
Laundry:
- Put own dirty clothes in the hamper upon taking them off.
- Help sort clothes into light and dark loads. This is also a great way to talk about colors.
- Move clothes into the washer and dryer with supervision.
- Fold wash cloths.
- Match socks.
- Help put clothes away, even if only carrying them or opening the dresser drawers.
General Helpfulness:
- Put toys away. They work best when directed to put away a specific toy, like the blocks or dishes.
- Hang up coats and put away shoes upon entering the house.
- Feed the pets.
- My daughter gets her lunch box from the fridge and packs it in her back pack.
- Put away bath room stool when finished using it
Don’t get me wrong, there are still plenty of times when I scoot them from the kitchen so I can use cleaning as an excuse for a few minutes of child free thoughts. But, the older my children get, the more I am seeing the rewards of building their independence, and I try to delegate them tasks instead of barking for them to please go play.
