Chores & Kids

[Michelle in AR]

What can a 4 year old do? What should I make my 10 year old do? Any suggestions?? THanks, Michelle <img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[blah]" />

[Alyson]

Hi, Michelle. I have a four-year-old daughter who has her own chores around the house. The things that I have her do are: dust(I buy those dusting cloths so she doesn't have to deal with the sprays!),fold towels and rags(so it's not perfect, who cares?),make her bed(again, not perfect, but so what?),set the table(no knives,of course), water the plants and keep her own room tidy. I saw Dr. Phil one day on Oprah say that the earth is not going to stop spinning if these things aren't done 100% correct! He's right. I know that my daughter doesn't do a perfect job at dusting or making her bed, but I simply can't do everything and still feel like being a mother, so I let her do them. At four, they love helping out. I'd also love any more suggestions. I think it's great for the kids to have jobs they can accomplish around the house. It makes them feel like they are a "part" of keeping things running! Good luck!
Alyson

[Kristy]

My daughter just turned 4 and she loves to do anything. Her makes her bed, dusts, folds towels and rags, feeds her animals (cat, dogs, fish, hamster). She loves to bring me and her dad drinks from the fridge. Her latest thing is that she has been begging me to mop. So I gave her a mop and let her go at it. Today she wanted to sweep. No it isn't perfect but she loves to do it. Makes her feel so big. The thing she doesn't like to do that I make her do is pick up her toys. The other stuff she does when I'm doing something and she volunteers her help. I don't even have to ask. See what your child wants to do and likes to do. I don't understand why mine wants to help so much because I hate to clean house. I'm glad she does though it really helps me out.

Kristy [img]smile.gif[/img] <img src="graemlins/baby.gif" border="0" alt="[baby]" /> <img src="graemlins/jester.gif" border="0" alt="[jester]" /> <img src="graemlins/lmao.gif" border="0" alt="[lmao]" /> [img]tongue.gif[/img] [img]wink.gif[/img] [img]biggrin.gif[/img] <img src="graemlins/bunny.gif" border="0" alt="[bunny]" />