Browsing CategoryFab Five Friday

Trying to get household chores done everyday can sometimes be a difficult task with toddlers and preschoolers. We all know there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done on our ‘To-Do’ lists. I enlist the help of my sons (ages 2 & 3) to help out with household chores sometimes. I try make it a game and add some learning activities in. It never gets old seeing the excitement of a 2 year old when you ask him if he wants to do laundry or vacuum. Kids love to help no matter what it is. Sometimes it takes longer to get things done, but the kids are happy! Here are some of their favorite ways to help.

1. Laundry
   1. Sort the laundry before (dark, whites, kids/baby clothes) and after (who it belongs to)
   2. Have them put the clothes in the washer and/or dryer. We create an assembly line since I have two little helpers. And while we do it they call out what article of clothing it is, the color, and/or who it belongs to.
   3. My sons fight over who gets to push the laundry basket. This is one of my 2yo’s favorite things to do. Lucky for them we normally have at least two a day for them to push around!
2. Dusting/Wiping
   1. I have three Swiffer dusters. I know, seems crazy. But I give one (new/clean) to my sons while I am doing various cleaning and they dust just about everything: fireplace, walls, bookshelves, etc. Sometimes they want to get the dusters out even when I am not cleaning!
   2. When I am wiping down the counters, tables, windows or glass, they like to take a baby wipe or paper towel and do the same. I let them wipe a window I haven’t cleaned yet or the chairs or the floor around where I am cleaning.
3. Sweeping
   1. I have to sweep at least twice a day. These kids can get messy! I picked up a small handheld broom/dustpan from the dollar spot at Target and it is great for my 3 year old. This is great for coordination skills.
   2. They also like to push the broom around so I let them take turns after I get done and it allows me a few minutes to put some dishes away or clean the counters.
   3. You can also buy a kids-size broom on Amazon.com.
4. Vacuuming
   1. My sons have always loved the vacuum. I don’t know why, but it gets them all hyper and they run in circles the whole time I am vacuuming.
   2. I let my sons hold the attachment and get around the edges and corners of rooms.
   3. You could get a handheld vacuum as well for older preschoolers to use.
   4. I have been thinking about get a working Dyson Toy Vacuum that actually has suction from Amazon.com.
5. Picking Up Toys
   1. Just telling my sons it is time to vacuum is enough motivation for them to pick up toys in that room.
   2. Sometimes we play ‘Find the…’ game. I name a toy (I.E. white Hot Wheel, blue ball) that needs to be put away and they find it to put it away. Or I describe a toy kind of like ‘I Spy‘ (I.E. color, texture, size) and have them find it and put it back where it goes.
   3. I have a crate we fill at least once a week with toys that need to go back upstairs or in a different room. I let them sort through the toys as we are picking up and choose which box it needs to be in. You can have a box for each child’s room. Sometimes we count similar toys as we pick them up (blocks, Hot Wheels, books).

A few other ways they like to help out: Watering the plants, handing me groceries to put away (I put breakables on the counter so they can’t reach those), refilling the diaper drawer, putting their cups away and throwing away the junk mail. I could only get lucky that they help out so much when they are teenagers ;)

Are there any other household chores your toddler or preschooler like to do?