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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Helping Mummy

14 replies

MiaSparrow · 28/07/2013 15:16

Have just let DD (2.4) 'help' me do the washing up by giving her a little washing up bowl next to the sink for the first time and she did her own little cups and plates stood on a stool. She absolutely loved it!

It worked a treat and got me thinking - what else do you do with your toddlers that mean you get 'help' around the house?

Hoping for some tips...

Oh, I try to get her to play sock snap (actually helping me sort odd socks) but I think she's a bit young/not interested.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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MewlingQuim · 28/07/2013 15:38

DD is 16 months and puts clothes in the washing basket for me. She also 'helps' me hang the washing in the airer but this often just involves spreading it about the room

She also stands on a chair 'helping' while I do the washing up.

If only I could get DH to do as much

ThePskettiIncident · 28/07/2013 15:42

Ds helps make dinner... He's 2.7.

I give him the ends of the veggies and bits with a blunt child's knife and he happily chops things up and stirs empty saucepans.

He also likes doing the washing loading and unloading.

Verybusymummyof2 · 28/07/2013 17:52

The sock game is a popular one in our house.

Washing up!
And giving her a cloth to do the sides and a bit of dusting when I am doing it. She absolutely loves it, i have to sometimes go over it, but its great for occupying her when i have to do my chores! Also putting clothes in laundry basket and helping me load and put washing machine on!!

RobinBedRest · 28/07/2013 22:49

Windows if she can reach any, with a spray bottle filled with water. Might not get them any cleaner but is fun.

Sirzy · 28/07/2013 22:51

Ds will 'polish' anything with a baby wipe!

valiumredhead · 28/07/2013 22:54

My ds helped his mummy cook lunch today-he's 12

Original poster

MiaSparrow · 28/07/2013 23:20

Haha Valium I hope I can carry this on for another ten years... great ideas, all.

OP posts:

curlew · 28/07/2013 23:25

I had to stop playing sock snap with ds when he picked up two socks and said Oh no, they can't be friends, they are different colours".....

happypotamus · 29/07/2013 19:51

DD is 2.3. She 'helped' make dinner last week. She chopped (not very successfully with a blunt knife), weighed out pasta (poured it into the bowl until I said stop), did a lot of stirring, squeezed lemon, grated a lemon to make lemon zest, tore mozzarella into small pieces. It took about twice as long as if I done it all myself but kept her from whining.
She also likes to help empty the dishwasher, put the washing in the machine, hang the washing out, feed the cats, vacuum and wipe the cupboard doors with a cloth while I clean the kitchen.

DeWe · 29/07/2013 21:14

Ds even now at 6yo likes to clean the side oven when I'm cleaning the big one.
Loading the washing and setting the machine, very popular with toddlers-and pays great dividends now, ds can set the machine on his own.

Cooking, dd2 (9yo) and dd1 (12yo) can cook a whole meal now, having started with helping when small.

Ds once helped me to do a lesagne. He was slicing mushrooms with a butter knife. I got distracted and discovered he'd added a cut up apple, half a dozen grapes and a packet of cherry tomatoes. Tasted fine.

dixie12 · 29/07/2013 21:26

my ds is 2.3 and he helps me with the washing loading and unloading, he also wipes his table down with a baby wipe after his meals...he is such mummy little helper. all most forgot when he finish his tea he takes his plate out and put in the sink.

confusedofengland · 29/07/2013 21:49

My DS, also 2.3, loves helping around the house! He'll potter off with dirty clothes to the washing machine, help load & unload the dishwasher (I am careful to take sharp things out first), put things in the bin & follow me round with a dustpan & brush. He & big bro (4.7) compete over the job of putting the tablet in the dishwasher & turning it on

RNJ3007 · 29/07/2013 21:52

My DD (4) brings her washbin down on a Saturday morning and loads the machine herself! She also puts plates etc by the sink to help wash up, enjoys sweeping, passes me clothes and pegs when hanging on the line, loads the tumble drier in winter, takes recycling out and now is helping sort out everything for the impending arrival of DS.

Much more helpful than DH, with less nagging!!

OddFrog · 29/07/2013 22:01

DS (3) vacuums rather well. He especially likes taking the hose bit around the skirtings. When I'm folding laundry he places each item on the correct person's bundle, except pairs of socks which he throws excitedly into the basket for target practice(sock throwing is what keeps him on task, if he seems to be losing interest I pass more socks!). He uses the half sink beside me when we're doing dishes and he likes to peel carrots.

Fairly useful I suppose, but you need to balance this with the excess laundry, clutter, toy mess, bathroom cleaning, grime and general workload he creates on a daily basis... A few dishes, some socks thrown in the wrong direction and a peeled carrot when we're having pasta really doesn't cut it .

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