Mumsnet users hare the times their toddlers have ‘helped’ around the house with Fairy Non Bio

[JustineBMumsnet]

NOW CLOSED

Whether it’s their facial expressions or what they’re doing around the house, toddlers love to copy mum and dad. Fairy Non Bio would like to hear your stories about when your toddler has tried to ‘help’ around the house, seemingly unaware that they’re probably reversing your hard work.

Here’s what Fairy Non Bio has to say: “’We love it when a family unit comes together and everyone wants to help out, but because of all the chemicals in a laundry detergent we want to ensure that doing the laundry is only a mum & dad chore, however we would love to hear of all the other examples of how your toddler tries to help around the home”

Has your child attempted to do the hoovering? Perhaps they repeatedly empty and put away the contents of any cupboard they’re able to open? Maybe they enjoy destroying your organisation by sorting the clean washing?

All who share their stores on when your toddler tried to ‘help’ around the house, on the thread below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[BristolMum96]

My 1 year old loves to 'help' sweep up her dinner mess with the dustpan and brush. Usually just scatters about my nicely tidy pile that's due for the bin but, oh well..

[Caillou]

Ds who sas 17 months old at the time, helped cleared the plates from our take away night (movie + take away in the lounge) without being asked, he did put the plates in the sink 😍
His sisters 7 and 3 just looked at him and didn't help.... He certainly became my favourite child of the day when he did it 😉

[treegone]

Got a new sink, a ceramic one. Wish I'd started with, 'put your plates on the side' instead of, 'put your plates in the sink'. Still getting smashed plates 2 years on.
They also love to wipe the table when they've made a mess which just involves wiping the mess straight onto the floor.
They are good with putting dirty clothes in washing pile. Can't fault them there!

[Angelik]

Polishing! Both dc loved it but the amount of polish used to super clean one corner of a table made my eyes water! I would spend time showing how to spray on cloth and do whole piece of furniture to no avail. Let them get on with it in the end. I would then find polish and duster much later in a really obscure place. Ahhh happy days amd good training for other household duties.

[JellySlice]

I'll never forget dc2's fascination with the laundry basket. They would remove garments and put them on willy-nilly. The number of times I'd turn around on the Tube and realise that they were wearing a pair of dh's briefs, or my bra, as a lanyard! I'm sure dc1 was colluding behind my back, as there's no way I wouldn't have noticed the accessories while strapping dc2 into the buggy.

[m0jit0]

My toddler loves to help "hanging up the washing on the clothes horse" I.e removing all the clothes I have just hung up 🙄.

[1wokeuplikethis]

My 5 yo helped with the polishing...I left her to it. Came back in to find all the side tables and photo frames with a white lake of polish dripping off them.
She said she got bored. Welcome to cleaning kiddo!

[3boysandabump]

When dc3 was younger one of the jobs he liked to do was take all of the clothes off the airer and put them in the basket. He did it so often I really didn't pay much attention when he was actually doing it. Turns out that's a big mistake as I found out when I'm standing at the checkout in Sainsbury's and he whips a breastpad out of his dungarees with such a flourish it smacks the cashier straight in the face 😳

[IonaAilidh11]

my youngest used to help put shopping away but i would always find random things in places they shouldnt be

[GreenDinosaur]

My toddler loves to get all the washing out of the basket for me to hang up and enjoys pairing up socks. He likes to help in the kitchen where possible, whisking eggs etc.
He's also very keen on putting things in the bin but I'm not so thrilled about this one...

[JudgeRulesNutterButter]

My 2yo specialises in laundry. Chucking the contents of the laundry basket all over the entire house, basically. It’s my own fault, I tend to make big heaps of darks/whites/etc on the landing on laundry day, so from his perspective he probably thinks throwing it everywhere is exactly what I’m doing too.

Cleaning the bath is another one he loves. With his toothbrush.

[ChampagneCommunist]

Mine "helped" clean the TV. And killed the screen

[Wavingwhiledrowning]

DD2 has watched me (and adults at nursery) wipe the table and sweep the crumbs into my hand countless times. Now she insists on doing it herself. Sadly she hasn't understood what the hand is there for. She presents it to the table and promptly pushes the crumbs to the side of it and onto the floor. Every time.

[Valkarie]

Ds1 likes to "help" with the washing up. Everything gets thrown in the water and up the walls. The day he discovered the squirty water bottle, I even had to wipe down the ceiling. But after all the help, strangely nothing is actually cleaner.

[LauLau82]

My toddler likes to help with the hoovering by getting out their own hoover and joining in!

[Tefiti2]

I found my toddler washing the floor for me once... shame it was with cold water and fairy liquid....!

[Ratbagratty]

Pairing up the socks from the "sick box" normally results in a sock fight with us all and socks being found from everywhere a week later (unpaired of course!)

[asuwere]

My DC were always keen to help as toddlers and I've always encouraged it! Washing the dishes was a favourite: the dishes weren't actually clean so I had to do them after but I was going to do them anyway but I had the bonus of a happy (but wet) toddler :)

[OrdinarySnowflake]

Oddly, both really loved cleaning the stair banisters when little, they still do'nt mind it now. God knows why.

DC1 used to get some baby wipes and go round wiping the walls, kitchen cabinets etc when he saw me cleaning. Was very sweet. Now he's 9 and any request for help comes with a question about if this means he gets extra pocket money for helping...

[Justbackfromnewwine]

My pre schooler is very independent and ‘helpful’! A favourite activity is spraying the cleaner on the table, but far too much and all in one spot!!

[jitterbugintomybrain]

My DC loved helping sweep up. And cooking. Cupboard emptying was their favourite one.

[storminabuttercup]

My DA mastered the ‘washing McClean’ at an early age, he once set it off containing my best shoes, three cast iron trains and a handful of Cheerios

[storminabuttercup]

DS i mean

[katienana]

My 2 year old likes to take clean dry washing out of the tumble dryer and put it in the washing machine.

[Raspberry88]

My 15 month old son just loves the vacuum cleaner. He screams with delight when it's turned on and follows me trying to hold on to it. For Christmas he got a toy vacuum and he wanders around the house pushing it up and down. Another favourite game is to put clothes in the washing basket...usually the clothes I've just washed and neatly folded! He has all the makings of a very helpful boy. I'm just looking forward to being able to better direct that help!