When are children old enough to help out around the home?

Liza - posted on 07/31/2010

as early as 1 year old.. my kids started helping me since they start understanding words and started to walk. like, put you bottle in the sink. fix toys. my daughter who is four years 1omoths now, is helping me fold her clothes, clearing the table. do some dusting and fixing their toys. and his little brother(2 years old 2months) is copying her sister now.. and yeah that already a big help even though i gonna do it again later..lol

Andi - posted on 01/25/2010

well, my kids are pretty young, me 4 yr old helps clean, fold towels and do dishes. it may not be done right but they are learning that they need to take care of there toys and to help out in the house so we all can enjoy our home,

Jane - posted on 01/09/2010

As soon as they can walk! There's always something for them to try to help out with even if they don't get it perfect. Then as they get older the jobs can get bigger.

Linda - posted on 11/10/2009

With my children I started them when they started walking having the help with picking up toys and graduated to more things around the house the they could do as they got older the earlier the better they will learn it becomes part of their lives.

Julia - posted on 10/06/2009

I'm with you Racheal, as soon as my kids were old enough to make a mess they were old enough to help clean it up. I was never strict or harsh about it, but I did expect reasonable requests to be carried out. They loved to help and cleaning up was never a chore to them. Now they are older and help me blitz the house each day before Dad get home. They are really good at it.

Rachel - posted on 10/05/2009

lol. In my opinion, if they can reach it they can help in some way. I have physical restraints keeping me from being able to do most simple house work, so my kids have had to help out more than the normal kids. my 18 year old (just moved out) from the age of 3 he was helping me dust the end tables (or anything he could reach) I would give him a rag and let him loose. Kids that age love to use the swiffer duster (although they love chasing the cat with it more) 5 he was sorting laundry (colors, whites, denim) he would remove laundry from dryer into basket, he would fold kitchen towels and wash clothes (because they are small enough), he would get silverware out for meals. I put his cups and cereal bowls at his level so he could get them out himself. he would help unload dishwasher and put away silverware (no knives of course - I would remove all sharp objects first). Of course he would have to clean up his toys and his room himself (with my help and supervision).



many of these chores could probably be done before the age of 5, but I stuck to just OWN toys and room until age 5. I didn't make my kids do ALL chores on a daily, I would switch it up and do 2 chores one day pick another 2 the next day ect....

My boys started taking out trash at age 7 or 8 because the bags are heavy and too big.



I didn't start punishments for "ignoring" chores until around 7 or 8. Until then, it was just something to keep them busy and help me out just a little. You can't have too high expectations of children at too young an age because to them, DIRTY is great fun, not something to Dislike. lol.

In the end. It's up to you and what you think your kids are capable of doing. Just keep in mind. Your kids will be "capable" of doing more than you think. and they want to help, especially if you start at a young age. It's not till they hit puberty that they Rebel and refuse to help . lol



Good luck