Do your little ones help around the house?
Getting your kids to take on some chores not only helps keep the place in shape but also arms them with key skills they’ll need for life.
But when should you start getting them to do housework and what should they be doing?
That depends on how old your child is – and you might find this chart helpful.
Created by US parenting bloggers The Flanders Family, it breaks up chores into age brackets.
Naturally, it suggests that younger kids take on more basic tasks while older kids do more difficult ones.
According to this chart, toddlers should be able to put toys in a box, put dirty washing in the wash basket and set the table.
Four and five-year-olds, it says, should carry out chores like make the bed, dry and put away dishes and wipe up spills.
On the far end of the scale, the chart suggests children aged ten and 11 should be able to clean the bathroom and cut the grass while those aged 12 and above should be be trusted to iron clothes, cook dinner and change a lightbulb.
It can be easy to coddle our kids or simply get frustrated and want to do something ourselves, but the chart is a reminder of what children are able for.
Parents can underestimate their kids but we reckon that by starting them young, they can pull their weight and become more capable as they grow.
What do you think – is this chart realistic? Let us know!
