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5 Chores for School Aged Kids
When our kids reach school age, we often expect them
to help out around the house. Ideally they will have
already been doing some small chores for a while.
Starting chores young makes it much easier to get them
to do more substantial housework as they become capable.
You might be surprised at the chores a school aged
child can handle. If you can find tasks that they both
enjoy and can do easily, it will make chore time much
easier. Here are some good chores for young school aged
kids:
* Setting and clearing the table - Kids are
often eager to help at mealtime. Setting the table is a
simple but important task that they can perform. You can
make it easier by using placemats that have outlines of
where the plate and utensils go. You might also want to
consider getting plastic plates and cups to help avoid
breakage. After the family eats, your child can help
clear the table.
* Folding and putting away the laundry - The
laundry can be quite a chore. Enlisting the help of the
kids to get it folded and put away can be a huge help to
a busy mom. It's usually unrealistic to expect a young
school aged child to fold an entire load of laundry on
her own, but she could fold her own clothes and put them
up. She may not fold them as well as you or put them
exactly where they belong, but there's no need to make a
big issue out of it. The important thing is that she is
trying.
* Dusting - This is a very simple task that
kids usually enjoy. Give your child a duster or a sock
to wear on her hand and let her have a blast. If you're
worried about breakable items, move them all to a safe
place before she begins.
* Help with the dishes - The dishes may go
more slowly when you have a child helping, but things
will get better once she has helped a few times and
gotten the hang of it. If you have a dishwasher, your
school aged child can help with the loading and
unloading. If you wash by hand, she could rinse and dry
the dishes. Storing them in low cabinets will allow your
child to put them up herself as well.
* Pet care - Kids usually prefer playing with
their furry friends to assisting in their care, but
having your child help with pet care is a great way to
build her sense of responsibility. You could start
small, having your child give the pet food and water.
Once that is mastered, she could clean cages or litter
boxes, and perhaps help with grooming if the pet gentle
and even-tempered enough.
School aged children can help around the house in
many ways. Your child may be able to take on more
complex tasks, or she may need some coaching on the
simpler ones. Either way, making housework a part of
your child's routine will make your life easier in the
long run.
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