How to Give Your Child Household Responsibilities

Getting your kids to help out around the house not only gives you a nicer looking place, it gives your kids the opportunity to learn about contributing positively to the family unit, and being responsible for their own (and other people's) messes. Some people start very early requiring their kids to clean up after themselves. If you're just starting out and helping out around the house is a novelty to your kids, they'll enjoy a sticker chart or an allowance to keep them motivated. Take a look at your kids and decide which chores they would most enjoy, and let them head in that direction. It'll give your kids a good initiation into being responsible, and might make a very helpful adult in the future.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Enlist your child's help if he watches you longingly while you mow the lawn. Have him pick up all the sticks in the yard before you mow, and have him empty the grass out of the mower. If he's big enough, have him help you mow. Eventually he'll be big enough to mow while you watch. (Make sure his feet are in protective shoes!)
2. Give the kids each a room to tidy. Set a timer and have them try and straighten the room as neatly as they can before the timer goes off. Inspect their work and reward with a sticker or candy if they do a good job. (Always reward a very small child no matter how messy their actual work is!)
3. Show your child how you want her to keep her rooms: bed made, clothes put away, drawers shut and toys off the floor. Have her clean her room and give a sticker on her chart for each day the room is clean. Maybe 10 stickers means a special outing for the two of you.
4. Make each child responsible for their own outdoor equipment. When you're playing a game outdoors (T-ball, basketball or jump rope, for example) make sure each child knows to bring in their own supplies, and put them away nicely. Give extra stickers for helping out a sibling.
5. Have your child load or unload the dishwasher if he likes organizing things.