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5 Chores for Toddlers
When toddlers see Mom and Dad working around the
house, they are often eager to help. They love to try to
do the same things their parents are doing. Although it
may take longer to get the chores done when trying to
teach a toddler how to do them, it can help them learn
to enjoy housework and develop good habits that will be
an asset later on.
The most important thing to remember when selecting
chores for toddlers is to keep it simple. Very young
children do not have the cognitive or motor skills to
take on complicated tasks. But there are some things
they can do that, after some practice, will be helpful
to you.
* Picking up toys - Getting your toddler to
pick up after himself can be a great help. But it's
usually too much to expect him to put everything in its
exact place. A better approach would be to provide a
laundry basket or large box for him to simply throw all
of his stuff into. Then you can take it to his room and
put it where it belongs.
* Feeding the pets - Kids are often honored to
help take care of their pets. Toddlers are capable of
helping to feed pets, but occasional messes should be
expected. To minimize accidents, you could buy pet food
in individual packets or cans for small cats and dogs.
For watering purposes, toddlers can put the water into a
small watering can and then pour it into the bowl.
* Watering plants - Small children usually
can't resist the opportunity to water plants. This is
another task that could get messy, so make sure your
plants aren't sitting on or near anything that could be
easily damaged by water. It's also smart to make sure
they don't fill the watering can over half full. This
will help prevent spilling the water in transit.
* Cleaning the floors - It may seem like an
adults-only task, but floor cleaning is something that
kids often enjoy. The trick is to let them use tools
that they can easily manage. Cordless floor sweepers are
ideal for this purpose. There are also small, working
vacuum cleaners and brooms available in the toy
departments of most stores. While it might be too
ambitious to expect a child to sweep all of the dirt
into a neat pile, he can help get the dirt out of the
corners while you go behind him and sweep it all
together.
* Helping with the laundry - Every mom could
use some help with the laundry, and young children are
often happy to oblige. Toddlers can help sort dirty
clothes, and you can even turn it into a learning
experience. You could also enlist your toddler's help in
loading and unloading the washer and dryer.
When your child is old enough to walk and is somewhat
verbal, he can start helping with the housework. Getting
your child to help with chores will help him develop a
sense of responsibility. And that is something that you
will be thankful for when he is older and can do more
substantial housework.
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