How to Teach Children Laundry Skills

Teaching children to do laundry does require a little bit of your time and patience until they acquire the laundry skills. If they complain, you can always feel good about yourself as you are teaching them 'independent living skills'. When they are grown, your children will really appreciate your having taken the time to teach them life skills.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Several laundry baskets
• Labels for laundry baskets
• Washing and drying instructions on cards or form

1. 

   SORTING SOCKS,FOLDING WASH CLOTH AND TOWELS: School age children can perform these projects even while they are watching TV. Show the child how to match socks. If you have a special way of folding socks, wash cloths, and towels, demonstrate the procedures to your child. You may have to repeat the steps a couple of times before they catch on.

2. 

   SORTING LAUNDRY: Label laundry baskets such as Towels, Underclothes, Work Clothes, Play Clothes, etc. You can use pictures along with words if children are very young.
   .
   In the beginning, show each child what type of clothes go into each basket as they may not have a clear understanding of the different types of clothes.

3. 

   WASHING THE CLOTHES: Place instruction sheet or card on or near washing machine in a place the child can easily read. 10 years old is a good age to begin this skill.

4. 

   You will need to demonstrate or 'walk through' this procedure with your youth. Have child take one laundry basket to the washer. As you supervise, have the youth turn on the washer. Child will read the instructions for washing the type of clothing in the basket.

5. DRYING CLOTHES: Place instruction sheet or card on or near dryer so child can easily read. You should 'walk through' the procedures with your child for the first couple of loads.

6. 

   EXAMPLES OF WASHING INSTRUCTIONS:
   WORK CLOTHES - BLUE JEANS, ETC
   Turn washer on warm water and full load.
   Add 1 cup of detergent.
   Allow machine to agitate (make suds).
   Add clothes.
   Close lid on washer.
   When washer has completely stopped washing, remove clothes and place in dryer.

7. EXAMPLE DRYER INSTRUCTIONS:
   WORK CLOTHES - BLUE JEANS, ETC
   Place wet clothes into dryer.
   Close dryer door.
   Turn dryer to HEAVY
   Push ON button.
   When clothes are completely dry, remove from dryer and fold or hang.

8. 

   Your time and patience will be well worth it! Not only are you getting extra help around the house, but you are teaching your youth independent living skills!

Tips & Warnings

• Just remember to thank them and brag on them for their help even if it is not perfect!
• Repetition is a great teacher!
• Be sure to 'walk through' the procedures with your child for several loads.
• Children need very detailed, step by step instructions.