How to Get Young Children Excited About Household Chores

Keeping a house with young children clean is a challenging feat for any parent. So, your choices are to have your kids help out or finish up as one exhausted parent.

But how do you convince your young kids to help out with the cleaning? What is even appropriate for their age level?

We have these answers and more in the article below! Continue reading to learn more!

Toddlers love to imitate parents and older siblings. So, let them do the chores that they try to emulate when they see you doing them. Sure, they won't really be helping clean in the beginning, but they will be learning how to do it and having fun with things like sweeping with the broom and pushing the vacuum around. A toy vacuum or broom is an excellent way to help toddlers start associating positive feelings towards these activities!

When it comes to young children, they need a chore that produces clear, visible results. What we mean by this is that, for example, when you dust, sometimes the difference is barely noticeable at all. Whereas picking up toys or helping load the dishwasher is something that you can clearly see the difference you've made.

When young children see that they've made a considerable impact on the room, they get excited about helping out. So ensure that you're giving your children chores that they can clearly see the results of completing them. This will provide them with the confidence and reassurance that they really help and make a difference in the household.

Practically every parent has asked their kid, at some point, to do a chore, and when they've checked the work, it's clear that your child has rushed through it or struggled with it. Try not to go back over what they've done unless it's absolutely necessary, as it can only make them not want to try again.

Thank them for the job they did, and explain to them how to do it better next time. It's crucial to understand our children's' limitations based on their age group. So long as it's a chore that fits your child's age range, give guidance in the beginning and reassure them with thanks when they're finished.

Give them chores that you know they complete to at least a standard you can live with. It doesn't have to be perfect, but as long as you can live with the results, they'll get better at it with practice.

Remember, it can be frustrating for any child to learn something new, and they may struggle with grasping the concept of the chore at all. Try not to over-correct and do your best to encourage them, so they don't just give up altogether. The goal here is to learn and have fun so that cleaning up after themselves becomes something they take pride in when they get older!

If you're struggling with ideas to get your kids involved with cleaning, here are some excellent chore ideas based on your child's age:

Toddlers

• Place dishes by the sink.
• Wipe up spills.
• Vacuum with a toy vacuum.
• Pick up toys.
• Put shoes away.
• Throw trash in the garbage can.

Pre-Schoolers

• Make their bed.
• Feed pets.
• Put dirty clothes in the washing machine.
• Put folded clothes in their dresser.
• Fold easy laundry, such as towels or washcloths.
• Pick up toys.
• Put shoes away.
• Straighten couch throw pillows.

Elementary School-Age Children

• Load dishes in the dishwasher.
• Fold their own laundry and put it away.
• Wipe down bathroom and kitchen counters.
• Sweep/Vacuum
• Set the table.
• Clean windows and mirrors within reach.