What chores do your 2-7 year olds do?

[nappyaddict]

DS 7.9

lays and clears the table, puts away washing up, tidies toys away, puts dirty washing and clean washing away (I fold it though), matches socks ,sorts clothes into piles and takes it to the right room, makes cereal, toast, cooks things in microwave, makes cold drinks and drinks in the tassimo, does his packed lunch, sweeps, vacuums and steam mops the floors and dusts (I often go over these things though when he's not about), puts rubbish in the bin and recycling outside, wheels the bins out and puts them out, feeds the cats (I open the tin), gets himself fruit, yoghurt, cheese etc out of the fridge in between meals, cleans up messes and spills he has made, makes bed, waters plants, helps me plant things. He doesn't peel veg (too clumsy) or use oven or kettle yet. It might sound a lot to some, but he doesn't do all of this all the time, but these are things he offers to do or things he can do if I ask.

Very little of that!

They are willing, though, and will muck in clearing the table etc, and of course making toast and drinks as it suits them.

X2 pre school age here

Put their washing in baskets, lay table for dinner, put dirty cups etc above dishwasher. Help chop for dinner sometimes. Oh and keep their shoes/ coats tidy and in right place. I think that's it

DS is 2.3. He helps me sweep up. Puts things in the bin. Puts the placemats and napkins out. Empties the washing machine or tumble dryer.

He will happily sit on the work top and help peel carrots with the veg peeler.

He also likes to flush the toilet and unroll the toilet paper

The only official thing my two (4 and nearly 7) have to do is put their clean undies/PJs away, but we are gradually increasing the amount (the fact is, I am totally chaotic myself so can't really expect regular stuff from them, but I AM working on it) - Eldest just learned to ball up pairs of socks so I have a feeling that will be her thing from now on :o

Other than that it's just doing stuff when I ask really. They like helping with the vacuuming, cooking, taking plates through etc, but nothing regular ATM other than the laundry.

Oh and they are helping hang washing out as well.

DD likes polishing her shoes, DH taught her.

My 6 year olds chores:

Setting the table
Vacuuming
Feeding the pets
Tiding up his own toys
polishing stuff
Washing up a few things (breakfast dishes are good as there are no knives)
makes cereal (messy, but we are getting there!)

My 6 year old dd does:

Puts dirty clothes in basket
Puts clean clothes away
Separates dirty washing and puts in the machine
Clears away plates after a meal
Makes her own breakfast and drinks
Feeds the cats
Dusts the living room
Tidies her bed/bedroom
Mops up any mess she makes from spills
She used to hoover but since we got a new one it's too heavy for her to push so can't do it any more

I can't think of anything else she does around the house...

MBTFS What veg peeler does your 2 year old use? I am thinking of getting one of these palm peelers to try.

fuzzpig Do you have to use a step stool or anything so they can reach the washing line? And what type of polish do you use? DS uses the sponge things to polish his shoes but DP does it when they need proper polish because he would get it everywhere!

DS carries washing to and from the washing machine and puts it in and out. He also helps me switch it on. He doesn't decide what goes in what load yet though.

He washes up but not sharp knives or really dirt things like pots and pans that need scrubbing.

My LO (2.6) will:

Sweep up
Mop the kitchen floor (she tells me she paints it black as it goes all shiny black and not matt)
Sorts dirty washing in to lights, blacks and colours
Puts washing in machine
Pours fabric conditioner in (with help)
Sets programme and presses start
Polishes living room furniture
Helps me out away food shopping (takes toiletry stuff upstairs for me)
Loads dishwasher
Waters garden
Finds her own breakfast in a morning and pours in to bowl

That sounds loads and I now sound like a slave driver in my defence, she has a great life!

My 2.3 year old likes to put things in the bin, and with the right amount of bribery will tidy toys away.

what?! SpiderRoaster can you send us your training manual?

Love that she puts her cereal into her bowl!

It's more of a hindrance than a help dudess
She's fearcely independent. The whole breakfast thing results in a screaming tantrum if she doesn't put it in (eg one of those porridge sachets). She wants to pour the milk in to, she wants to stir it, she wants to put it in the microwave too...

nooooo mummy, miniSpiderRoaster do it! - this is a regular statement said in our house, hence she just does the washing now, I can't be arsed to argue. I read MN whilst she does it!

Ahhhh, geddit now!

It's ok Spider, we are kindred spirits

Dd 2.7 does the following

Lays the table for each meal with placemats
Helps put shopping away (fruit and veg and toiletries up stairs)
Puts dirty clothes in the laundry basket
Loads washing machine and liquid (with supervision)
Puts toothpaste on family tooth brushes
Sweeps floor (with dustpan and brush)
Tidies toys/games away (with a certain amount of cajoling)
Puts shoes/coats away
Waters pots in the garden (getting water from water butt independently)
Puts specific clothes away (swimming stuff in swimming bag, daddy's cycling stuff on correct shelf)
Helps with cooking family dinner (twice a week on average)
Helps herself to fruit/juice
Puts rubbish in the right recycling bin
Cleans sink and windowsills

I need to get her ironing - it's the one job I don't like doing lol

Our 8.5 year old does most of the the ops list and also has
Feeds animals
Fills and empty dishwasher
Strips own bed and puts fresh covers on
Tidy and Hoover bedroom once a week
Makes cups of tea
Tidys and hovers playroom once a week
Helps me meal plan
All these as regular jobs...No jobs done, no pocket money.
Once she hits nine she'll expected to make supper once a week (including figuring out cost of ingredients) and do her own sewing if she has clothes to mend.

Once she leaves home I want her to haven. Thorough idea of what it takes to run her own household and budget well. My parents were too strict in many things but one thing I'm thankful for is that I left home knowing how to budget and look after myself. Dh was the polar opposite and it's a huge negative to share a life with someone who hasn't the first idea about looking after themselves.

DS aged 2

Sorts rubbish and recycling
Puts washing in machine
Turns machine on
Hangs out washing
Lays the table
Clears the table
Puts the shopping away
Washes up
Clears up any spills
Chops vegetables
Makes cake
Preheats oven
Mops
Sweeps

I have a DS (7) and a DD (5), they do similar list of chores to OP, not always without moaning, but there you go!

mine (3 and 7) don't have chores beyond the basic tidying up after themselves

they have to get their own bags ready for school, bring lunchboxes into the kitchen and unpack them, put clothes in the laundry baskets, hang up towels after baths, hang coats and shoes in the hall, clear the table after meals, tidy their rooms, and help tidy the sitting room.

it sounds relatively little compared with most lists, but these are things I expect them to do completely independently, day in, day out. I would imaging that all of these preschoolers making dinner and doing laundry are not doing this entirely independently, or every day without fail.

And judging by the reactions of some of their friends whom I've asked to clear the table, it's more than some DC of the same age.

Curious about the mopping - would love DD to help here! Isn't the op a bit big to hold? I was considering tying microfibre cloths onto her feet the other day

*mop

She has a mini broom which goes down well but not seen a mop!

DD (2.8)
Will stir anything and likes to make herself hot chocs/decaf tea (I do hot water obv and loads of milk before she stirs)
Gets her own outfits in full every morning (we have some interesting combinations )
Wipes surfaces with a baby wipe and will wipe up spills with kitchen roll
Puts rubbish into the bin (we even have to do this on the high street)
Starting to spread own butter/spreads
Puts plates on the side next to dishwasher (don't let her into it due to sharp knives at the front and glasses)
Will also wash me in the bath
Lays out cards for snap
Tidies away pens but not most toys
Waters plants using water butt

lioninthesin I have one of those extendable mops/brushes/inter-Changable head things. I can store under the cupboard and it is perfect toddler size when not fully extended. I think a mum invented it who had a toddler

It's called click n clean

3yo likes to help (or rather, likes me to help him) tidying his toys nd books away and he loves running a cloth and can lay the table (sort of) but we don't call them chores. Even my 12yo doesn't do "chores" but he keeps his space clean and helps with housework.

I always think mine do loads but reading this I dont think they do.
Put washing away.
Put rubbish out.
Help in the garden digging and planting.
Set table pour drinks.
Clean surfaces.
Stack the plastics.
ChA nge beds I help them make it.
Hoover.
Make bread
Stir things
pick up all the rubbish they drop on the floor
age 7x2
Age 8