How young was your DC before giving them house chores to do?

[BusyBee2017]

How young was your DC before giving them house chores to do?

What chores did you start them off with?

Less than 5. Quite young if I remember. Doing things like picking up toys and putting away. Matching up socks. Putting washing into the machine and taking it out again when done.
When they were a bit older....Progressed to hanging up laundry to dry. Little tasks in the kitchen like peeling garlic.
Teaching them how to clean a toilet properly. (Most important part is to keep your mouth closed while doing it.)
Emptying dishwasher.
Hoovering.
Folding laundry.
Putting a downie cover on.
Changing bed sheets.
Cooking (when tall enough to stir something on the stove without standing on a chair.)
Taking bins/recycling out when strong enough to carry them!

It all takes time teaching them how to do it and of course you'd be quicker doing it yourself but I've now got adult dc who can look after themselves.

Probably 2ish? As soon as they could carry an empty plastic cup into the kitchen or put a toy in a box.

What do you consider a chore?
Putting their plastic cup and plate in the dishwasher, maybe 3yo.
Clothes in the wash, maybe 3 or 4yo.

Stuff added as we went along and made it more complicated.

Mine are 4 and 6 and both help (with different degrees of supervision) with: laundry (sorting washing, loading machine and tumble, sorting and putting away clean clothes), setting and clearing the table, tidying their toys, preparing meals. I'll gradually teach them more as they get older.

I don't make them do any of this on a fixed regular schedule, more like when I can be bothered to supervise!

My Mum didn't make me lift a finger the whole time I lived at home. I didn't have a clue how to cook or clean when I left home and I'm still naturally quite untidy now, which annoys DH no end. This is why I really want both DC to get into good habits now as it's so hard to as an adult.

2ish here as well.
My 3yo is expected to help tidy, help sweep and dust, put her dirty clothes in the basket, and take her cup and plate into the kitchen. I don't sweat it or tell her off if she doesn't though, but mostly she wants to help.
The 5yo does all the above plus helps gardening, is expected to tidy up (I enforce it) plus put her own clothes away. I also ask her to entertain the baby in his car seat on long journeys if he's getting grumpy :D

Mine's 2.5. She cleans the (horrible glossy) kitchen cupboard doors, helps tidy toys and feeds the cat ( supervised ofc)

Can't remember when I first tried but DS is 17 and I've still not succeeded!

Just general housework.

DS1 is 20 months and he has been helping me load a washing machine and helps swap clothes to the tumble dryer. He has been doing this for about 3 months now - think because he is with me all day he just wants to help lol or maybe because I will always praise him.

At 14 months he will put his dishes in the sink (obviously there are odd times he doesn't want to lol)

In the morning he will come down and put the washing machine on and tumble dryer thinking we are going to put a load on.

He will hand me cutlery from the dishwasher when I am unloading.

I was just curious when everybody got their kids to do housework.

My dd is 9 and cleans the bathroom every week (not loo though) and keeps her room tidy. Also feeds the cat, unloads dishwasher and waters the pots in the garden. I think she could do more, but haven't worked out what yet.

And he will put his clothes in the washing basket lol although I have found clothes in there that don't need washing and also disposable nappies lol

How about folding and putting her laundry away?

Mine have always done them - age appropriate, of course. Partly because it's good that taking your cup / plate whatever back to the kitchen, or to the washing up pile if you've been using them in the kitchen, is just a really good habit to get in to - then it's just instinctive, it isn't "a job that needs to be done" if everyone just clears up after themselves as they go along.

Then partly because it occupies them whilst you are doing something in the kitchen.... put them in the high chair and get them to peel a couple of mushrooms whilst you are cooking, or let them "wash up" (ie, play with a couple of bowls in the water) whilst you are doing other stuff in the kitchen..... or stripping sheets off a bed whilst you are rummaging for the clean ones to put on....etc. It's just 'being with you' and talking with you whilst you get on with stuff.

Yes back for good I involve DS1 with whatever I am doing - he is now 20
Months.

You have given me a few more ideas to involve him more in household chores. Thanks

Yes busy she does fold and put her clothes away too. She's pretty good actually, gets her own breakfast most mornings, and makes her packed lunch some days too. Would like to get her doing some cooking to be honest, but not sure if she's a bit puny for heavy pots just yet. TBH I'm happy with what she does, she does it happily too, as she sees me and her dad doing it too.

DD1 is just turned 2 and she helps with whatever I'm doing - washing fruit and veg, taking cutlery and plastic out the dishwasher and putting it away (I quickly pull out the dangerous items before), putting washing in and out the machine etc.

I also get her to tidy her toys away (I help), set the table and put away her outdoor clothes - we have a basket for hats and scarves etc that she throws things in and a rack and hook she can reach for shoes and coats. If she's not in the mood to di these things or gets distracted then I tend to leave it. But I think they like copying adults at a young age so it's good to get them into the habit of pulling their own weight whilst it comes naturally to them!

I'm hoping one day she'll be able to bring me coffee in bed

I forgot to say she also insists on emptying and washing out her potty

That's brilliant

Yes you are right they do want to help loads. Yes I agree keep it up and it will come naturally to them when older

I think you're doing a great job involving your kids in household work. I did the same starting when mine were very young. Picking up toys, drying dishes, feeding the cats, etc. It's so good for them to learn about responsibilities.

I start mine young, while they ate still Kern and helpful, so by the time they have a chip on the shoulder, it's ingrained.
So mine were cleaning the bathroom sink at 6, ( with a spray, so quite good fun, used ecover as i figured if it s not to harmful to the earth, it won't harm my kids to much of they cover themselves in it) although we had always done packing away as we go along with toys.

I wouldn't call it a chore because DS1 2.5 yo still thinks it's fun, but he unloads most of the items in the dishwasher and helps hanging up the washing.
He also clears his toys away but only when I help and encourage him (a lot!)

My ds is 3.5 years and he will:
-get bowls/plates out along with cereal and spoons in a the morning.

• puts left over food in the bin and his plate in the sink.
• puts his clothes in the washing basket before bath, puts his towel on the radiator after bath (something his dad seems to struggle with at 37 ffs)
• helps load/unload the washing machine and dryer. Helps peg washing out/ bring it in

-helps put his clean clothes away

• general tidying up, clearing toys away. Packs a little bag with toys, books wipes and a drink for himself if we're going out for the day.

Dd is 22 months and helps out with most of the above too.

Mine is 1.5 and loves housework - loading/unloading dishwasher/putting washing in machine and hanging up, wiping windows, surfaces, anything in her way, sweeping the floor. Started with the washing I think before she was one. However I expect she will lose interest as soon as she's old enough to actually do anything useful instead of slowing me down so I won't be smug about it unless she turns into a helpful teenager