Suggestions on chores a 5 yr old can help out with

[siddie]

Aloha, I was wondering what kinds of chores you have your 5 yr olds helping out with around the house. This is such a great age, my ds LOVES to help out in anyway he can. We just unpacked our kitchen stuff after our remodel was completed and he had a blast. He pretend-sipped out of each and every teacup, glass, wineglass, brandy snifter, etc. after unwrapping it and the process actually went faster with his help. He was so excited aboutmoving into our new kitchen. He periodically helps out with cooking, vacuuming, sorting and starting laundry, scrubbing the bathtub (with baking soda) but I don't have any regular jobs for him other than pick up toys and help recycle. What types of chores do your 5 yr olds do? Our problem is one of consistency I guess...

[FancyPants]

I'm not consistent either. :
but today my 4.5 yo sorted the clean cutlery into the cutlery drawer, filled the ice cube trays, helped to vacuum (not very good at that), put away stuff so I could vacuum and helped me (very good help actually) to clean the bathroom - he loves to spray the vinegar/water solution on things :LOL

I'm guessing dishwashing/washer unloading is pretty regular, so maybe a chore like putting forks, spoons and butter knives away?

don't know. Will watch to see what other mamas say.



CJ

[USAmma]

I just assigned Abi the regular chore of loading the dishwasher. She loves rearranging things. I rinse and stack them for her, she puts them in. (I rearrange a little before starting the washer up, when she's not looking)

She is expected to put her clothes in her hamper, too.

[UnschoolnMa]

We don't have chores really, but there were several things my kids enjoyed doing when they were 5. Things like getting laundry out of the dryer, sweeping, dusting, sorting recycling, and helping with dishes or anything that involved water was always a favorite lol.

[Willowrose]

My son is a bit younger, but his *job* is to take the garbage out. He loves this and feels very important. He also likes setting the table, using the vaccuum, feeding the dogs, putting the plates(from dinner) into the sink.
they love doing every little thing to help out at this age!
In the yard, he loves gardening....shoveling, watering the garden, trimming the weeds, gathering sticks, etc....

[singermom]

I was pleasantly surprised to find out the other day that my 5 year old is a darn good table setter! She even got the silver on the right sides of the plate! I also recently began asking both of them to bus their own places at the table, and it worked alright, except that the 2.5 year old thought that everything--plate, cup, etc.--went into the garbage can. So, a little redirecting is in order!

The older one likes to help me fold laundry, but sometimes I'm a little picky about how things get folded... : But I'm trying to relax about it!!

Our problem is consistency, too. And I try not to make chores the "big issue." Sometimes dd#1 will say to me "I just don't want to set the table tonight." So do I push it and say "I don't either, now get going?" Or give her a break and do it myself (which would be faster, anyway)? It seems like both of these solutions are wrong. Anyway, I guess I'm straying from the topic, though...

Mia

[AmandaBL]

My son is 6 & loves to sort laundry. He makes an underwear pile, a white pile, a red pile, a dark pile, a towell pile, & a jeans pile. I usually give him 2 to make at a time. He also puts all the shoes away that wind up in a pile by the door.

[roundpegmom]

My 5yo puts the clean silverware away. We have a toilet paper holder that hold 4 rolls for back up-she is supposd to reload the TP stick. She cleans the bathroom mirror twice a week (the three kids each have certain days). Those are her specific chores, she also helps setting/cleaning the table, matching socks and folding washclothes, she loves to dust with the feather duster and she will sweep a small area with the little dustpan/sweeper brush. She is also in charge of the pantry, keeping cans organized and rotated and she can always tell me when we are getting low on something. She is my happy little homemaker!

If you think I am terribly anal for wanting the bathroom mirror cleaned everyday-here is my defense. The kids (5,7 and 11) just have a bad habit of spitting toothpaste carelessly and I was tired of toothpaste dots everyday. So I made a schedule, showed them how to wipe it (vinegar water and a miracle cloth-pretty steak proof). I thought they would get more careful if they had to clean it themselves. Well, the first day it was 5yo's turn, I catch her in there with her mouthful of water just spitting at the mirror! She said if she was going to clean it, she was going to have fun with it first :LOL

[UUMom]

Some things my 6 yr old enjoys doing- Dusting, (we don't use sprays), emptying silverware from the dishwasher, filling the dog bowls (we use dry food), giving the dogs water, putting clothes in her drawer, setting napkins and silverware at the table, picks up toys, collects library books from around the house.

[onlyzombiecat]

We don't have set chores that are dd's to do all the time. She helps out sometimes.
I insist that she help with picking up toys and cleaning her room.

mopping- I let dd go at it until she is tired of it.
laundry- dd will help put clothes in the machine, hand me hangers or clothespins, put her clothes in her dresser sometimes.
cooking- she helps sometimes

[Caroline248]

Originally Posted by singermom

I
Our problem is consistency, too. And I try not to make chores the "big issue." Sometimes dd#1 will say to me "I just don't want to set the table tonight." So do I push it and say "I don't either, now get going?" Or give her a break and do it myself (which would be faster, anyway)? It seems like both of these solutions are wrong. Anyway, I guess I'm straying from the topic, though...

Mia

What I am trying to do with my older two (ages 10 and 6) is to allow them to "barter" chores. If one can get the other to do a trade, they can go for it. OR they can pay the other one. They get allowence for doing EXTRA chores around the house, outside their two regular chores (we call them family resposibilities). If it is a chore that noone wants to do, and I have the time to do it, they can barter with me....I don't take money, but I will trade a job that I would have to do. It is actually fun....they come up with some great trades!! My six year old offered to buy me a car if I would please clean her room!! (Still waiting on that car....)

~C~

[GruppieGirl]

My 4.5yo dd...

gathers the shopping bags and puts them away after food shopping

makes her bed each morning (it doesn't look perfect but she feels very proud)

takes her dishes from the table to the counter

delivers the laundry to each bedroom


I really want dd to play an important role in our family.

I grew-up never having a chore. When I went to college I didn't know how to make my bed or wash my laundry. .

[LiamnEmma]

We have really similar things... our four year old puts away cutlery and helps change laundry over from machine to machine. Both kids set the table for meals and the five year old removes his dishes after a meal and also helps take the dishes to the table when the food has been put on them. Both kids are likely to vacuum or "swiff" after a meal (our vacuum is very light--a broomstick one). They are both expected to put their dirty clothes into a hamper, and they both "clean" their rooms with direction and assistance in a periodic fashion (aka I can't take it anymore). The five year old likes to help his dad build things and do the yard work on the weekends...omg I'm seeing how stereotypical this sounds as I'm typing. It's really not my intention!