7 Chores EVERY Child Should Learn to Do {day 27}

I know what it is like to want to take control over a cleaning situation with a child, I've been there. When we take over the chore instead of allowing the child to learn, we do more damage when we stop them because it is not up to our standards or they work more slowly. Children need to learn to finish what they start and do their best in everything. By allowing them to continue working helps in the teaching process. Believe it or not, there are jobs that even toddlers can be taught to do that will help lighten our load a little. Yesterday I shared 6 Tips to Teaching Children to Clean and today I want to share 7 chores EVERY child should learn.

7 Chores EVERY child should learn

• Laundry {2 years+} Toddlers can learn about sorting and even help put clothes away. Older children can learn to fold and put clothes away on their own. They can also learn how to switch the laundry out from washer to dryer. By age 10, children should be mature enough to be doing their own laundry.

• Bed {2 years+} While making the bed is not as important to many as it used to be, it is still a chore that all children should learn to do. If your child goes away to summer camp or one day lives in a college dorm making the bed is going to be needed. Children being able to arrange little critters and lovies on their bed once made gives them a sense of accomplishment.

• Dishes {4 years+} Children as young as 2 and 3 can be taught to take their dishes to the sink. Four, five, and six-year-olds can be taught to scrape the dishes and rinse them if placing in a dishwasher. I remember standing in a chair and washing dishes at age five. Depending on the maturity of your child they can be taught how to hand wash dishes and/or place them in the washer as young as you feel safe. By age 10, children should be able to rinse and place dishes in a washer or even hand wash dishes. Of course, safety in washing needs to be taught at whatever level your child is at.

• Dusting {3 years+} Children as young as 3 can help with dusting. A damp cloth does wonders on table tops (without breakable items) and legs, chair arms and legs. While their dusting may not pass the white glove inspection, learning to dust will help keep it under control until you can spend more time doing the job thoroughly.

• Sweeping and Mopping {5 years+} Children as young as 5 can sweep the floor and mop depending on what type of mop you own (ex. Swiffer). Sponge/string mops and buckets of water will need supervision when in use.

• Vacuum {6 years+} Give a child a vacuum cleaner and you may hear racecar sounds coming from a room; at least, I heard them when my son would vacuum when he was little. Vacuuming is the least favorite job of mine and I was happy to find out my son was old big enough to push and pull the machine over the carpet. Keeping carpet and rugs clean is necessary to keep them looking nice.

While these are only seven chores EVERY child should learn how to do, don’t underestimate your children if there are more chores you feel they are ready to learn. Learning to clean at a young age will help your child to be a productive adult one day. Curious about age appropriate chores? Have a look at this list found at Focus on the Family.

Have you missed any days of the 31 Days of Homemaking Series? You can catch up HERE.