chores and kids

**joycenalex** · 06-21-2009, 01:41 PM

helena is staying with us for the foreseeable future.

. i'm sure i'm gonna ask for advice from the more experienced parents, and parent backups. first questions....she's 4 1/2, will be 5 in august, are these chores too much to expect from a kid that age? 1- making her bed and putting her jammies under her pillow (pulling up the sheet and bedspread over the pillows) 2- putting the dirty clothes in the basket and picking out what to wear for school the next day 3-scrapping off her dinner plate and putting the dirty dishes in the washer or next to the sink 4- hanging her towel up and putting the bath mat on the tub edge after her bath at night 5-"helping" me tidy the living room at night before bed (putting the pillows back on the couch and resetting princess peanuts blanket). 6- putting her school bag and shoes next to the door for the morning rush. i was the oldest kid, so i grew up moms' third hand and had more duties as i recall, but that was a long time back....thanks for advice

**Medusa** · 06-21-2009, 01:45 PM

Not too much at all, IMO. It's been a long time since my son was little tyke but he was making his bed when he was barely old enough to walk. He didn't do the best job but I didn't care so much about that as I did that he learn responsibility and was taking pride in his room. Sounds to me like you're on the money.

**joycenalex** · 06-21-2009, 01:49 PM

and oh yes...she's fast to pick up the fur fluffs that float down the hall

**pomtzu** · 06-21-2009, 01:56 PM

Maybe start her out with a few things at first, so she doesn't feel too overwhelmed, especially if she hasn't had any chores to do before. Then add one or two each week until she's up to where you want her to be. Maybe she'll want to do even more than what you have in mind.

**lizbud** · 06-21-2009, 06:56 PM

I'd wait on a couple of those chores like the dishes & picking out
her own clothes. (unless you are willing to send her out the door with
a plaid skirt & striped purple shirt

) Good luck.

**RICHARD** · 06-21-2009, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by lizbud

I'd wait on a couple of those chores like the dishes & picking out
her own clothes. (unless you are willing to send her out the door with
a plaid skirt & striped purple shirt

) Good luck.

It figure you would side with the ladies.

Us guys know fashion. It's a purple plaid shirt and striped pants.

Here's a hint?

Make it a game, impress upon her that any thing she does will help out the household and will make you very happy. If you over dramatize your reaction to her doing chores she'll do anything to make you happy.

**BitsyNaceyDog** · 06-21-2009, 09:47 PM

My kid is only 2, but I don't think that's too much to ask of her at all. My 2 year old can handle some of that. I'd probably introduce all of it to her from day one, so she knows all the rules right off the bat. I'd help her with all of it at first and one by one start letting her do the things by herself.

Originally Posted by lizbud

I'd wait on a couple of those chores like the dishes & picking out
her own clothes. (unless you are willing to send her out the door with
a plaid skirt & striped purple shirt

) Good luck.

With my son, I show him 2 shirts and ask him which he wants to wear. Maybe that would work with Helena too? Or maybe when you put her clothes away in the closet you could put complete outfits together on one hanger?

Good Luck!