Children's chores

[Eileen101]

Do your children do chores? If so what do they do and what are their ages?
Mine are 7 and 5 and I'm trying to introduce chores gradually- laying the table, pairing the socks, getting the milk out for breakfast etc.

Interested in what others do.

My DS is responsible for putting away his toys, all the shoes, laying and clearing the table. He feeds the dogs when asked (and can reach the food) and other ad hoc chores that are appropriate to his age. He loves asking if any cleaning up needs to be done at bedtime.

My 1yr also likes to help. She helps unload the dishwasher and load the washing machine and such like

Have a 7 and 9 year old and try to get them involved in household chores. Certain clearing and tidying, laying table/clearing it, helping with washing, putting ironing away, feeding animals....

Basic stuff - tidy up washed clothes, fix bedding, put dishes away

for complex stuff I though I pay up: clean fridge, scrub toilet floor!

A 1 year old empties the dishwasher?

She said ‘helps’. Our DD (20mo) does the same - yes it takes twice as long requires close supervision but she loves it

@coxesorangepippinyes she likes to help by handing me an item at a time or emptying the cutlery drawer where we keep the knives and forks (still needs sorting into the correct slots afterwards). Yes it takes a lot longer but she sees her brother having to help empty and who wouldn’t love being picked up to place the cups away one at the time with huge praise 🤷‍♀️
it is not like she is left alone to empty it on her own

2 year old helps fill and empty the washing machine and emptying dishwasher - no knives obvs but most other things, tidying up toys and books, a bit of chopping (mushrooms or bananas chopped with a butter knife) and other food prep like kneading bread dough, clears up his place after eating, wipes up spills of water, helps make his bed, puts his clean clothes away.

6 year old helps cooking a lot, sweeps and hoovers, folds washing and helps put it away, tidies toys and books, sets the table, clears her plates away, makes her bed, lays her uniform out for school, helps weeding and watering the garden.

They just muck in as needed and always have done as age appropriate.

Ds is 2.5 he tidies his toys, puts his laundry in the laundry basket, helps load and unload the washing machine, helps me with our veg patch, helps chop veg for dinner and helps wash dishes when I don't mind the waterworks! Also cleans his highchair tray after eating. Helps lift out the milk/cereal/butter/spoons for his breakfast and put them away again after. Obviously he needs help and supervision with some of these things but with support he can do a lot himself and he feels really proud of himself for it.

My kids' ages range from 3 to 8. They all do chores, but obviously at different levels. We are teaching our youngest to tidy up his toys after he has played with them, and he likes to watch and help his older siblings with some of their chores.

My other kids:
Set the table for meals
Clean their rooms, including make their beds
Help with some gardening tasks
Help put shopping away
Help with vacuuming
Take their laundry to the laundry room, and put their clean laundry back in their room
My oldest pops to the supermarket for us when we need a couple of things
Oldest walks with younger siblings to school
Help with cooking and baking

They do not get any pocket money for doing chores, because we don't want to teach them that they only have to help out or work in the home if they get paid for it. We give the pocket money, but not as a reward for doing chores.

My son loved pairing all the socks when he was 3.

My 7 year old gets pocket money for his regular chores:

• putting his own laundry away
• making his bed and keeping his room tidy
• feeding the dog
• taking rubbish out to kerb before collection

As a joint sibling effort, my 3 year olds also help him to

• clear and wipe the dining table after meals
• tidy away toys
• water plants
• wash my car