Have you considered giving your toddler chores?
Well, I recently started giving Kitana chores because I feel she’s old enough to help with little things at home. Toddlers mess so toddlers can clean too!
At first, I felt like an evil mother making my child pick up toys and shoes but then I realised that I’m teaching her to be responsible and I could see she would think twice before dropping a box of blocks on the floor. She started to realise that if she messes, she will have to clean and not mommy.
I try to make some chores fun by asking her colours and letting her count while she picks up the toys or shoes. I’m sure when she gets bigger she wouldn’t enjoy chores but for now its working!
I found a website that has loads of awesome printables but this one stood out for me. You can download it here.
Starting a routine from an early age is important. You actually making them do chores without realising it. Kitana cannot set her own bed yet but she can dress herself, brush her teeth and hair. I think we on a good start, these flash cards really do help!
The key to chores for toddlers is to keep it simple.
1. Get Dressed/Undressed
My daughter loves taking out her clothes to get ready for bath time. We let her put the dirty clothes in the laundry basket and throw the dirty nappy in the bin. She’s learnt to put on her own pants, jacket and shoes. We working on the top…
2. Watering plants
My daughter loves water and she would make any excuse possible to get her tiny fingers in a glass.
3. Feeding the pets
My daughter helps me feed the fish. She feels super important and gets so excited.
4. Help keep laundry away
Toddlers are actually good listeners, you just have to repeat yourself like 5 times… but they end up doing it. Let them help you keep the socks and shirts away.
5. Clean their room
At first I used to pick up toys every afternoon but after a while it got to me! I decided to get Kitana involved and now we both clean the room together after play time.
6. Stirring and Pouring
Most toddlers love spending time in the kitchen with pots and pans. Kitana loves cooking so I call her to assist me when I’m baking.
7. Sweep the floor
I think this is the most exciting chore for my daughter! She has a tiny broom to sweep her mess.
8. Dust/Wiping
My daughter loves wet wipes and immediately wipes her mess if she drops food/liquid.
9. Assist with small items
They can assist with small items like keeping the TV remotes in place or taking their plastic plate and cup to the kitchen.
10. Carrying small bags or items after shopping
Carrying a loaf of bread or your small handbag into the house after shopping.
Everything I mentioned above is what I started doing with Kitana. I’d love to hear about the type of chores you let your child do and how it works in your home.
The best way to teach toddlers is to show them first, encourage and assist them. You have to be patience and remember to always shower them with praise.
23 comments
Me and hubby taught our boys at an early age to do small chores .like keep dustpan and other 1 sweep in their room, help daddy clean the car, pack up toys , clean ur table & chairs ,polish school shoes ,throw ur dirty clothes in the laundry basket, ect they njoy doing chores and love doin it as a team togethr.they even have a name for chore time its Buzztime .Then they act like cartoon caracters 🙂 thank for sharing the keys of chores.love it !
Omg this is so great! I honestly wouldn’t have known (when we have kids) when we should start making them do stuff around the house. But this is a great little list.
I think it’s a fantastic idea to have your toddler help. I love the printable cards! They would be so helpful.
This is perfect for when our 3 year old nephew comes over! I am going to put him to work! JK. Great tips to help little ones start gaining some responsibilities around the house.
These are great ideas and will surely help develop good habits. I should have done this with my kids when they were younger.
These are very good chore ideas for the age group.
Mine usually love feeding the pets.
These are great chores for that age group. Its so much fun to see them start to take pride in their work at that age. Love those printables!
I have a 4 year old and she LOVES to sweep and mop. I give her the Swiffer and let her have a ball any time she wants to. As a mom of teenagers, I know it won’t be long before I will have to fight with her to help out!
Thank you for sharing this great tips, I really need this to my little sister, she might need to learn all of these.
Eating the pets and watering plants are great chores for toddlers. I remember when I was four I was given the responsibly of feeding the fish in our house <3
It’s definitely a good idea to get kids used to helping around the house. I pinned this for later. My toddler loves to help with laundry!
This is so cute and brings me back to when my kids were little. They wanted to help with chores but not so much now. lol I love the idea of the printable cards. It is totally an amazing ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing these great tips. I will try the printable cards too. It can be an awesome reminder for them!
What an adorable picture! My 2 year old daughter loves to help out around the house. 🙂
My son is only just 2 but he already shows an interest in helping out. He sweeps the floor and likes to put things in the washing machine 🙂
Ah you reminded my of my kiddos’ pot stirring days. You’re right that was something they all four loved to do at one point. 🙂
I do not yet have kids but these are awesome ideas, my nephew loves messing up his play room but he knows at end of day before bath time he needs to pack aways his little books and toys and he loves it big time
So cute chore ideas for toddlers. I never thought of them doing chores but give them something small its never too early to teach responsibility!
My little one loves helping me around the house. Love the chore ideas 🙂
I taught my 15month old to help pack away toys in the evening, I sit by the box and gather what’s nearest and he brings me the ones that are further away and claps each time he puts one in, one-at-a-time. Never two, even if its two small things near each other. He also likes wiping up. I think its good to teach them to help out. I just don’t force him.
That’s great! It’s good to teach them from young. Thanks for reading. 🙂
Well my daughter she is 5 and she started doing the dishes lately it started with every night after dinner now she complains and says she needs a break we eat too much can you believe it
I’m a single mom and I make sure that they help me with small chores at home. Though sometimes, I have to repeat saying it to them just to budge them to do it. Lol.