I grew up in a large family, the youngest of seven kids, and we lived on a hobby farm. We tended to small animals and enormous gardens so you can bet there were a LOT of chores. Some of my earliest memories include picking up feathers on the ground of our peacock’s pen. I know when I was growing up, my parents got us involved helping with chores as early on as they could.
This is a mentality I don’t see a lot of anymore. Most kids I know are paid by their parents to do chores that one would think expected of them, like cleaning their room. I think maybe the reason it is difficult for parents to get their children to do chores is the same reason they can’t get their kids to bed or get their kids to eat healthy. It’s because they start too late. Take the extra time to teach your child how to help out as early as they’re able. Here’s five chores your baby (1-2 years old) can do.
1. Dishes
Washing dishes in the sink
My daughter has been helping wash the dishes or unload the dishwasher since she was 14 months old. I stood her next to the dishwasher the first couple times and had her hand me silverware from the bottom rack. Now that she is 2.5 years old, she is almost tall enough to help unload the top rack as well. I never unload the dishwasher without her help, because she knows it is her “job” and her responsibility. Now my son, who is 9 months old, also tries to help. He is not quite cognitive enough to hand me the silverware, but his willingness to learn is the key. This job is easy and happens often, perfect for one of baby’s first chores. It was also a huge help when I was 9 months pregnant and didn’t have to bend down because my daughter handed me clean dishes!
Unloading the dishwasher, even little guy (9 months) is helping!
2. Laundry
Switching over your laundry from the washer to the dryer is a tedious task. I put my daughter in charge of it and it is never forgotten. “Mommy, I heard the washing machine get done. Let’s go put the laundry in the dryer!” She has been helping me do this task for a year (since she was about 18 months old). I just showed her how to move the clothes from one machine to the next, and now I don’t have to do this menial task!
3. Dusting
Most of the furniture in our house is kid friendly, meaning accessible to little hands and heights. When it’s time to dust, I give my baby the swiffer and encourage her to take on the task. Just another easy chore I can now oversee instead of add to my never ending to-do list.
Lily dusting at 17 months
4. Picking Up Sticks
Last fall when my daughter was 21 months, Daddy showed her how to pick up sticks in our yard before we mow. At the time she said, “Pick up stick!” Now, at 2.5, she says, “Is it time to mow soon? Do you think we should pick up the sticks because our lawn is dirty.” It’s all about starting young.
5. Water plants
My daughter loves to help me with the chore of watering flowers! I usually go around watering with a hose and a few planters are hard for the hose to reach. I send my girl to water them with her toy watering can. I fill up a five gallon pail with water and then have her dip in her little watering can and give each planter one can full. She started helping me with this task this year, but I don’t see why you couldn’t encourage an even younger child to try.
It may be easier to do these tasks yourself, you only get so many hours in the day. But I would argue teaching your kids to do chores very early, even if it takes patience and time to teach, sets them up to be good helpers for a lifetime. It also teaches your kids early on about responsibility and “hard” work. What chores do your little ones do? Let me know your thoughts in a comment!
Published by Melissa Woods
My name is Melissa Woods, homemaker and parent. I am an amateur handy-woman and avid DIY-er. I am an adept painter and deft crafter. I am a finance enthusiast and frugal to the core. View all posts by Melissa Woods
