Chores for a 5 year old? - Page 2

[Lisa85]

Oh there is plenty she can do at 5.

Set the table - either get the dishes down for her or move them to a lower cabinet.

Meal Cleanup - scrape scraps into the trashcan and stack plates, gather silverware, help put leftovers away, sweep, wipe the table.  She could do the dishes as well.  My 3 year old does the dishes *almost* without help.  I get the sink ready, fill it up and line the counter with towels.  She doesn't always get everything, but I just secretly wash it myself before putting away.

Laundry - she should be able to do her laundry start to finish independently with supervision.  Gather it, throw it in the wash (may need help with sorting, if you sort), measure appropriate soap, and push proper buttons.  Switch to dryer, select proper buttons.  Take out when done, fold, and put away.  By the age of 18-24 months, a child is generally able to fold wash cloths, 2-3 they can put things on hangers, and by 5 they really shouldn't need much help with anything.  Now of course, they aren't capable of doing it perfectly the first time, every time but they will learn.

Picking up toys - NOt always a popular opinion on MDC, but I firmly believe children are capable of picking up their own toys every time.  With us, the main problem was they had too many toys.  They were overwhelmed and never really played with any of their toys anyways, but always seemed to drag them out.  We cut back on the toys, and then again, and again until we got to an amount they could handle.  I remind them that if they don't want to pick up toys, that's fine, but then they don't get to play with toys. Part of playing with toys is picking them up, even when we don't want to.

Vacuuming - you do the main part, she can do the hose around the corners and baseboards.

Bathrooms - there's no reason she can't wipe down the counter, the tub and the toilet.  We also have a child sized broom and mop and while it often isn't much cleaner after they're done, it's important to start the habit.

HTH!  I wouldn't start off with all of this everyday - that would be a culture shock to a child who doesn't do much for themselves.  Start with one thing and then build off of that. If it isn't cleaned to your standards, do your best to not reclean it in front of her.

[Hokulele]

I can't seem to type under the quote box, but yes, it absolutely makes sense to me for you to set out dishes for her to help her set the table.  Especially if she isn't used to doing chores, just the idea of helping is great.  (And, really, she IS still actually setting the table).  With my DD, the times that she happily and graciously helps out around the house are not always the times that are really helpful for me, necessarily, but they make her feel useful and needed.  And that's the goal for me right now. 

We don't have a set list of chores.  DD makes her bed and sets the table when I ask.  But mostly I will ask her to help with random things as they come up - i.e.  helping with laundry (even just sorting socks or folding dishtowels and napkins), reorganizing our craft basket so it is tidy, picking up toys etc. 

I'm glad you posted this because it makes me realize that DD is old enough to start taking on more things and maybe getting into the idea of a more regular chore plan. 

 

Originally Posted by laohaire 

- She could set the table but she can't reach the cabinets. I think some kids her age can climb up onto the counters but she is hypotonic and this is sincerely out of her ability. I suppose I could get all the dishes out and just pile them up on the counter and just make it her job to bring it to the table and set it out. Does that make sense to do even though it's not really helping me that much?

[verde]

 Picking up toys - NOt always a popular opinion on MDC, but I firmly believe children are capable of picking up their own toys every time. 

I agree. When 5y/o DD balks at picking up her toys I make it clear that if she doesn't pick them up, fine, but I will. And when I pick up the toys I decide where they go. And I reserve the right to make them disappear. When I did make a few things disappear she knew I was serious. Now I ask her if she wants me to pick them up and she emphatically says, "NO!"  Then she puts them away.  :)

[Hokulele]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa85 

Picking up toys - NOt always a popular opinion on MDC, but I firmly believe children are capable of picking up their own toys every time.  

Hmmm... interesting.  I hadn't noticed that on here.  What is the reasoning behind it NOT being a good idea? 

I often am the one picking up toys... mostly because I enjoy it!  It makes me happy and calm to pick up toys and get instant tidy-room gratification! 

But when I want help, my girls know that they need to help me pick up or I get to "keep" (hide in my closet for a while) whatever toys I have to pick up because they didn't when I asked.

[averlee]

My daughter, who's 3, does several little helpful things around the house. She can help fold laundry, like towels & washcloths, and match socks, and sort the laundry into whose underwear are whose. She uses baby wipes to clean things, doorknobs, windowsills, the phone & remote, fridge door and cabinet doors, even the walls. She can sweep (but not well, similarly with the folding laundry, but I don't mind). She helps with the yardwork, pulling weeds and raking, watering plants. She can match up the shoes and line them up on the rack by the front door when they've become a jumble pile. 

[babymommy2]

I haven't read the reply's yet, but this is what my 4 and 6 year old are expected to do each day"

Make their beds and put away their dirty clothes, straighten up room (no toys in there), also get ready for school (dressed, breakfast, teeth,hair) beofre they are allowed to play in the mornings.

After school lunch bag and anything in book bag must be put in the kitchen, and put away coat/boots. this is all to happen as soon as they get int he house before they do anything else, otherwise it is really hard to get them back to do it later. They are supposed to put all the toys away before bed, but I'm not always conssitent with this. If we have a really busy day, out of the house a lot it tends to not get done, and if it is not day for 2 or 3 days, then everythin is mixed together and I need to help them clean it up. Once in awhile my 6 year old might help vaccum or wash the floor, but not a regular thing. 

My 4 year old needs constant reminds to do things. For example if he is supposed to get dressed, he may take off his clothes, all or part then get sidetracked with a book, eventaully get dressed 30 minutes later. This is fine on weekends, but weekdays, he takes constant reminding.

Also to get them ready for bed, about 30 minutes before they are told to get ready, and if really really slow they run out of time for prebed quiet time and have to go straight to lights out. This is a pretty good moitvator!

edited to add,

they are to put their dishes on the counter after eating, and if they help set the table I do put the dishes on the counter first. They can reach the cutlery themselves.

[echodonn]

I read in "Home Away from Home"  a lifeways publication.  My eye opening moment occured when I read how most parents do most their house choores when children are napping or sleeping.  Lifeways indicates that all domestic work should be witnessed by children and further more children participating in domestic work builds their physical body, including organ and brain functions. 

[Suki Lu]

Ask her what one job (we avoid the word chore around here) she would like and write it up somewhere on the wall. We have chalkboards. Maybe put 7 empty boxes next to it. One check mark for each day. When the week is over, do something together to celebrate: dance party, read a book, go to library, nature walk.

Add one each week. She is more than capable but may not know how. Make the process specific, so that there are clear steps that you can show her. Give her a "lesson." and then step back and encourage her to do it. Say things like, "you forgot to feed the dog" or "the dog is waiting for his food" or "the dog looks hungry." Stay away from commands or judgement. 

My kids to tons of jobs, but mostly when the mood strikes them!

We try to show our appreciation and excitement. We are helping them help themselves, teaching them life skills so they know how to take care of themselves and their own houses some day. Not something my parents gifted to me.

We've been focusing on doing "house work" together on the weekends when we are all home. They can choose from the list we post. My 6 yo DD is the best sink scrubber in the house, for sure. She loves it!