Have kids? Think you need a maid? Think again! Put their boundless energy to work! Chores are a great way to teach kids about responsibility, and help build self-esteem. Here’s a list of some suggested chores to keep the kiddos busy.
- Make the bed — Younger kids can help strip the bed, fluff pillows, and get fresh sheets from the linen closet.
- Fold socks and/or towels — This is a great way to introduce kids to folding their own laundry.
- Sweep the floor — This is one of Emily’s favorite chores.
- Wash windows — Another favorite. A soapy sponge and a towel works well.
- Pick up toys — Emily started doing this from the time she could walk, and now I am so grateful that she knows her toys are her responsibility. If possible, make this a habit from an early age.
- Weeding/Watering Flower Beds — Emily has kid-sized gardening gloves and small gardening tools to make this job a little more fun. She also loves picking up twigs, and raking leaves with a kid-sized rake. Teach your kids how to water the flowers, and you will be teaching them about science and nature too.
- Dusting — I get the high spots, and Emily gets the low spots. She loves using the feather duster!
- Clean the car — The car is frequently over-looked, but it is really an extension of your home. Kids can pick up toys, wash windows, and help give the car a good washing.
- Set the Table — I usually take out a stack of plates, and hand them to Emily to set the table for us. She can get the silverware herself, and Mark gets the glasses and drinks.
- Clearing the Table — Teach the kids how to scrape their plates, and place them by the sink or in the dishwasher. This can be a big time-saver.
For more great tips on Spring Cleaning with Kids, check out Sunny Side Up!
Have a great kid-friendly chore that I forgot to add? Leave a comment and share your ideas with us!
Our daughters also help to gather the trash and recycling on trash night. They empty out the small cans in their rooms, and carry it down to the garage.
My son was responsible for feeding the pets and making sure they had fresh water.
@ Jenny Henny — How cute! Before we could throw all the recycling into one bin, Emily used to sort it all out. She would be quite proud of herself!
@ centralillinoisian — Great idea! I’ve never thought about that, but it’s definitely something Emily could do. 🙂
My kids love to strip their beds, but they hate to make them. Hmmmmm. Folding pants is another thing they can handle from about 5 on. And helping to collect the waste baskets from various rooms.
Great list! I completely agree with you on starting toy clean-up at a young ages, it’s something that has worked well for us too.
Great List. I totally agree that children need to learn young to be productive and to take pleasure in a job well done. My kids unload the silverware from the dishwasher from the time they are very young… great sorting skills. Another one is to let them wash baseboards. Or, they can dust pretty easily too. My son has been taking out the trash ever since he was tall enough to reach the outside can. He does a great job… and washes his hands when he comes back in.
Great to meat you… Amy Ellen from HealthBeginsWithMom.com
I’m a little slow, but I wanted to let you know that I linked to this post on my weekly roundup. Love your posts! :>)