Chores for 5 (almost 6) and 3 year old? And how to get them to do them?

[Gardeningnovice99]

Been feeling a bit like a slave lately —always—

And I think my kids are old enough to help out a bit.

The question is, what chores do you all think a 5-year-old and 3-year-old can do?

And how on earth do I get them to do them? Without it being any kind of fight? (I don’t need more fights to get them to do anything!)

Do any of you give your little ones chores?

I’ve used a pasta jar before when mine were younger to motivate them for everything, e.g. tooth brushing, not arguing in the car, etc. That worked really well with them. Now they are older I can just say that jobs need to be done and they have to help, we are a family, I am not their slave.

DD (2.5) does the following (I don't make her but she likes doing these things):

Gets a new toilet roll from the cupboard if it's running low

Sweeps the dining room floor with dustpan and brush

Puts dirty clothes in the laundry basket

Puts the shopping away (asking where things go as she does it)

Wipes her own table mat at the end of a meal

Tidies her toys (this one is the most difficult to get her to do!)

Turns upstairs lights off if we're coming downstairs (this is a current obsession now that she can reach standing on her step so I’ve decided to make use of it)

I find you need to be really specific with what you are asking them to do.
This, plus make it fun. If DS leaves his clothes on the floor I tell him "there's socks here, pyjamas there, I can't walk past to read your story or they'll EAT ME".

I have an 8 year old ds. Started very early to encourage him to help and take responsibility around the house. Whilst he gets pocket money, I don’t pay him for chores. He now vacuums his room and wipes the surfaces, writes a good shopping list, makes sure our cat has fresh water every day, puts shopping away, puts his laundry away. Super proud of him.

I don't set actual chores got my 5 year old but I do expect her to help. she calls it doing jobs. she sets the table and puts the mats out for tea, helps in a morning sometimes by making her own snack for school or filling her own water bottle. we tidy her room together. she likes having a go with the hoover 😊

My two are the same age. They love helping out with sorting out the recycling. Other than that I just expect them to tidy up their own toys and put their coats and shoes in the right place. Chores is such a hideous word.

Ours have to bring their plates out and scrape them off and put them in the sink. They help set the table too and put their dirty washing in the wash basket. They tidy their room too.

HuloBeraal my mother thought that, and thrashed us concave if we demurred. DGS(2⅓) has a little brush and mop, and is small and bendy enough to get under the dining table. He shouts when we drop crumbs.

What does 'thrashed concave' mean??

Of course kids should recognise responsibility and help out in their family

We don’t have chores but we tidy together - we race to see if we can beat our time to tidy a room / everyone gets to pick a song for the playlist & we tidy until playlist ends /everyone put away your age x10 things / smallest does the skirtings, tallest does the door frames, etc/ clear floor at 4 before we read stories
OTOH I have low standards & the house is always messy

They can help set a table for dinner every evening, and the 5 yo can help clear away.

Make bed daily. Put pajamas neatly on bed/under pillow.

Take lunchbox and water bottle out of school bag and put on counter. Empty leftovers into the bin.

Empty waste paper baskets into the bin daily. Put recyclables into recycle bin.

Hang up coat, put away shoes.

Pack bag for the next day.

Put dirty clothes in laundry basket.

You have to be there with them at that age, helping and encouraging.

Daily chores are easiest to get established because they get into the habit far quicker.

Other chores are helping sort laundry, putting their own away, and a weekly tidy-up of their rooms.
Again, you have to do it with them.

You can call it 'family time'.

My two, 5 & 9, set table for dinner. after the youngest wipes the table, eldest sweeps
floor. Both clear their plates from the table.

Both keep room tidy, make beds, put clothes in hamper, put away clean clothes on their laundry day.

Both had have to pack and unpack school bags, hang up coats and put away shoes at the end of the day.