I've heard a lot lately about what chores are suitable for certain ages, which of course leads to a debate on whether or not children should be doing chores. I have a few different points of view on this topic, all of which might be helpful.
As a mom I think it's important for children to have chores, and to start at a fairly young age. This helps take some of the work off mom, and also teaches them responsibility, as well as preparing them for both school and the rest of the world where they will have to do certain things. A child who had their mom do everything for them will continue to expect that, which in my opinion is just going to create a lot more work for me, as well it teaches them that stuff will just get done. If they don't pick up their toys then someone else will. For those moms who want everything done to their higher standards, please just consider how they are ever going to meet those standards of cleanliness if they don't start young and learn. If you always put away their toys then they will never learn to put things away the way you want, and you are setting yourself up for years of fixing everything they do. If you MUST have it done a certain way, I recommend allowing them to do it then 'fix' it when they are in bed or at school. This way they will think they are helping and that they are doing things well, please don't teach your child they can't do anything well enough for you.
As a preschool aid and teacher, I feel it is important for children to have chores at home so they are not set up for confusion and difficulty adjusting to school. Once they start school they are expected to clean up after themselves, put away their garbage from snack, and track some of their school supplies. They must know how to hang up their jacket after going outside, put on their coat, and get their snack from their back pack. There is usually one adult to 4-6 children in such settings, even more in kindergarten, so if they need to hand hold every child through putting on a jacket or cleaning up their snack they have so much less time for other activities. When you have a line up of 17 kids who need help putting on shoes and coats, you add at least 15 minutes to getting ready, which of course comes off the time they spend outside. It also creates adjustment problems for them, as they don't understand that they must clean up after themselves, or why. If mommy has always just done it, then they expect someone else always will.
As a former child myself, I honestly wish that I had had more chores when I was younger. My only responsibility was to take my plate to the kitchen and to make my bed. As my bed was in my room, it wasn't really checked so I rarely ever made it anyway, and I suffer that lack of structure now. I always take my plate to the kitchen, but getting dishes done is often a struggle for me, and no matter how much I love crawling into a neatly made bed I rarely ever make it. This also creates issues in other rooms of the house, as I had to learn all the responsibility of running a household after I had already moved out. Suddenly no one took out the garbage, no one else washed my dishes, and there wasn't anyone to tell me when it was clean sheet day. I honestly wish I had been taught these habits and values ealier, it would have set me up much better for adulthood, and I honestly have found myself angry with my parents at times for not teaching me the things I needed to know. Now I struggle to keep things done and I'm not sure how to instill those values in my own daughter so she will not have the same issues later.
That being said, it is important to select chores for your child that they are ready to do. Most people feel there is an age limit for certain chores, but I feel there is a more child specific way to do it. I think if they can reach it and use it themselves, they can be responsible for it. Can they put on their own shoes? Great! Then they can also take them off and line them up or put them on the shoe rack. Can they colour themselves? Then they can put the crayons back in the pencil case (I still think it's hard to put them in the box, so a larger pencil case can save a lot of headaches) This is the same with clothes. Once my daughter was old enough to pick out her own clothes she also started putting them away. I fold them into outfits, hoping they stay that way, and she puts them into the drawer. They go in wrong, with no organization, and it makes me crazy, so I don't open her drawers and I then I don't have to see it. She will learn that it's easier to find them when they are put away properly when she is old enough to do so. Since she can sleep in a toddler bed, she can make that bed, and helps me change the sheets for it. As they grow they will do more, and if you have taught them to put away what they use, it will do well for them when they grow.
Chores are specific to each family, and often to each child. What you feel they are ready for is probably your best guide, and I encourage you to let go just a little. I know it's hard watching them grow up and I miss the days when she needed me for everything, but the extra time you gain and knowing they will be better adults for it is a reward that makes it all worth while.
As a mom I think it's important for children to have chores, and to start at a fairly young age. This helps take some of the work off mom, and also teaches them responsibility, as well as preparing them for both school and the rest of the world where they will have to do certain things. A child who had their mom do everything for them will continue to expect that, which in my opinion is just going to create a lot more work for me, as well it teaches them that stuff will just get done. If they don't pick up their toys then someone else will. For those moms who want everything done to their higher standards, please just consider how they are ever going to meet those standards of cleanliness if they don't start young and learn. If you always put away their toys then they will never learn to put things away the way you want, and you are setting yourself up for years of fixing everything they do. If you MUST have it done a certain way, I recommend allowing them to do it then 'fix' it when they are in bed or at school. This way they will think they are helping and that they are doing things well, please don't teach your child they can't do anything well enough for you.
As a preschool aid and teacher, I feel it is important for children to have chores at home so they are not set up for confusion and difficulty adjusting to school. Once they start school they are expected to clean up after themselves, put away their garbage from snack, and track some of their school supplies. They must know how to hang up their jacket after going outside, put on their coat, and get their snack from their back pack. There is usually one adult to 4-6 children in such settings, even more in kindergarten, so if they need to hand hold every child through putting on a jacket or cleaning up their snack they have so much less time for other activities. When you have a line up of 17 kids who need help putting on shoes and coats, you add at least 15 minutes to getting ready, which of course comes off the time they spend outside. It also creates adjustment problems for them, as they don't understand that they must clean up after themselves, or why. If mommy has always just done it, then they expect someone else always will.
As a former child myself, I honestly wish that I had had more chores when I was younger. My only responsibility was to take my plate to the kitchen and to make my bed. As my bed was in my room, it wasn't really checked so I rarely ever made it anyway, and I suffer that lack of structure now. I always take my plate to the kitchen, but getting dishes done is often a struggle for me, and no matter how much I love crawling into a neatly made bed I rarely ever make it. This also creates issues in other rooms of the house, as I had to learn all the responsibility of running a household after I had already moved out. Suddenly no one took out the garbage, no one else washed my dishes, and there wasn't anyone to tell me when it was clean sheet day. I honestly wish I had been taught these habits and values ealier, it would have set me up much better for adulthood, and I honestly have found myself angry with my parents at times for not teaching me the things I needed to know. Now I struggle to keep things done and I'm not sure how to instill those values in my own daughter so she will not have the same issues later.
That being said, it is important to select chores for your child that they are ready to do. Most people feel there is an age limit for certain chores, but I feel there is a more child specific way to do it. I think if they can reach it and use it themselves, they can be responsible for it. Can they put on their own shoes? Great! Then they can also take them off and line them up or put them on the shoe rack. Can they colour themselves? Then they can put the crayons back in the pencil case (I still think it's hard to put them in the box, so a larger pencil case can save a lot of headaches) This is the same with clothes. Once my daughter was old enough to pick out her own clothes she also started putting them away. I fold them into outfits, hoping they stay that way, and she puts them into the drawer. They go in wrong, with no organization, and it makes me crazy, so I don't open her drawers and I then I don't have to see it. She will learn that it's easier to find them when they are put away properly when she is old enough to do so. Since she can sleep in a toddler bed, she can make that bed, and helps me change the sheets for it. As they grow they will do more, and if you have taught them to put away what they use, it will do well for them when they grow.
Chores are specific to each family, and often to each child. What you feel they are ready for is probably your best guide, and I encourage you to let go just a little. I know it's hard watching them grow up and I miss the days when she needed me for everything, but the extra time you gain and knowing they will be better adults for it is a reward that makes it all worth while.