One of the most important jobs of a parent is to teach their child responsibility. As a parent, it can be frustrating to introduce chores to children who are older. When you start assigning chores at a younger age, children realize their household chores are simply a part of their responsibility in the family. With this information, you will have an easier time understanding how to incorporate chores into your child’s daily routine so there is less stress. In this blog post, we explore what are the starting set of chores you can introduce to your kid.

Two to Three-Year-Olds

Though many parents view this age as being too young for chores, it is actually the best time to start implementing responsibility. A child this age is perfectly capable of helping to make their bed each morning and picking up their toys (with supervision). A behaviour chart can also be put in place around this age to help children better understand the ramifications of their poor behavior. Giving simple rewards like stickers to appreciate their good behavior is also a must.

Four and Five-Year-Olds

This is the ideal age to introduce chores. It has to be made part of your family routine. Kids at this age usually understand the cause and effect. So, putting in place a reward chart for completing the chores on time and for properly doing it is a must.  Some sample chores include:

• Set the dinner table
• Clear dirty clothes into the laundry basket
• Help mummy to match washed socks
• Mop floors with a dry mop

Six and Seven-Year-Olds

At this age, parents must implement a reward chart that allows a child to earn an allowance based on how well they perform their assigned chores. A chart should be posted that lists their chores each day and allows you, as the parent, to check them off and give them a smiley face. Common household chores for this age include:

• Put away dishes
• Vacuum the house
• Put their laundry away
• Empty trash cans
• Fold their laundry

Eight to Eleven-Year-Olds

If you haven’t started chores with your kids yet and doing all the household chores yourself, you should definitely start sharing chores. Some of the chores that you may offload include:

• Wash dishes
• Take the trash to the curb
• Rake leaves in the garden
• Learn to use the washer and dryer
• Clean the bathroom (with supervision)

Though this age allows a child to better understand how to perform more complex household chores, it is advised a parent monitors them in the beginning to ensure they are performing their tasks appropriately. Through a family organiser, you can keep track of your child’s chores and other members of the family to ensure all household chores are being taken care of.

Ages Twelve to Thirteen

Once a child enters their preteen years, they should be much more responsible. This is a good time for you to allow them to be fully responsible for keeping up with their duties.

• Dusting around the house
• Vacuum the house
• Help with washing dishes
• Cleaning windows and mirrors
• Helping mummy with meals
• Helping daddy with cleaning the car

Teens 

Once a child becomes a teenager, they must be held to a different level of behavior expectations and should learn to be responsible for themselves and the chores they are assigned.

• Yardwork/Garden-work
• Babysitting younger kids
• Preparing meals for the family
• Deep cleaning the home
• Buying groceries.
• If possible, involve them in budgeting, paying household bills,etc.

Teens are rapidly approaching adulthood so they need to learn the basics of caring for a home. As the child grows in age, their level of responsibility should grow as well.

With a positive reward system, behavior charts and a family organiser in place, a family can become much more efficient in keeping up with household chores and making sure they are carried out proficiently. Making your children carry out chores is one of the best things you can do to help them develop a good character.

Hope this list helps you guys in introducing chores to your kids and be one happy family!