By Sarah Hunt, AZFB Communications Intern
Photo: StockSnap on Pixabay
Each household has a different way of doing chores. Some have a chore chart, others know their assigned chores, and some have a day once a week where everyone helps clean the house. Usually everybody pitches in to help out around the house.
Whatever your method is, some of these chores take priority in what makes the house clean. I learned to do chores when I was young and the importance of keeping a clean house stuck with me. Here are some of my experiences with chores growing up, as well as my top seven chores I recommend kids learn how to do and at what ages.
Top Seven Chores for Children
- Doing dishes is easy and can be fun for little kids, ages 3-7. Get a stepstool so they can help you wash dishes in the sink. Wash all the knives and glass objects or put them in the dishwasher before getting your little one involved. Rinsing and scrubbing the plastic cups, plates, bowls, and utensils with mom or dad and all those bubbles makes doing dishes more fun for both parent and child.
- Sweeping and vacuuming makes your floors look and feel nice. I don’t know about you, but I hate the feeling of stepping on crumbs! Kids ages 7 and up can help with these activities. The only thing you need to make sure of beforehand is if they are tall enough to use the broom and strong enough to push the vacuum. If they are under 7 or smaller, get a hand broom so they can handle it easier. You might plug in the vacuum for them to avoid outlet problems.
- Laundry is so important to teach your kids early on! I want to thank my mom for all those years she did my laundry. I really could have done it starting when I was 10 or so. It’s much easier than a kid thinks it is. When kids first learn how to do laundry, it can be confusing to decide what load a piece of clothing goes into if it has multiple colors in it. That’s why my favorite laundry buddy is Color Catchers! You can put whites, darks, and colors all in one load if you throw one of these sheets in with it. Or you can put one in if you’re not sure if you put the right clothes together in a load. It absorbs excess dyes that would otherwise end up ruining your clothes!
- Dusting is probably the easiest chore out there. Get a duster and some Pledge you/re good to go. If you’re having your little kids dust, make sure you hang on to the Pledge and spray it for them so they don’t get it in their eyes or mouth on accident. Dusting makes everything look clean and sparkly for when guests come over, or just for your personal satisfaction!
- Making your bed is another simple task that takes only five minutes. Studies have shown that people who make their bed right after waking up are more productive and feel accomplished. Teach your kids how to make a bed from the very beginning. Wash your sheets and blankets. Show them how to put on the fitted sheet, top sheet, blankets and pillow cases, and also teach them how to make their bed in the morning once they’re done sleeping in it. Picking out a fun bedspread can also make kids excited to make their bed and keep their room clean.
- Taking out the trash in the kitchen is essential to keeping your kitchen smelling fresh and looking nice. Have your kids take a big kitchen trash bag, go to all the rooms in the house and empty the wastebaskets in each room. We do this as well as mow the lawn before every trash collection day. Get your kids a cute trashcan to put in their room to keep trash from building up under their beds.
- Picking up after yourself is another important chore. Whether its putting your toys back in the toy bin or taking your backpack to your room instead of leaving it on the stairs, mom and dad appreciate it! It keeps the house clean longer and stay less cluttered.
Looking for more tips and tricks? Search Fill Your Plate’s blog!
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