Chores, when to start? (Spin-off from thread in au pair forum)

[Anonymous]

What age did your kids start doing chores? When they start wanting to help? When did they stop wanting to help? Had they developed the habit of contributing already?

[Anonymous]

Growing up we had simple chores from the time we were 6. Clear the dinner dishes, sort the socks, etc. By 12 we were expected to do our own laundry. It was no big deal and actually fun for a kid to operate that washing machine.

I did the same with my own kids.

[Anonymous]

Starting at around 2 they have to clean up their toys. By 5, I expect them to set and clear the table, make their bed, and put their clothes away. At 6, they are responsible for getting up for school on their own, getting ready, and packing their lunch bags, keeping their room clean. At 9, they learn to cook simple items (scrambled eggs, and toast, dumplings, spaghetti bolognese), wash dishes, take the trash out, run the washer/dryer etc. By 11, they are responsible, and fairly independent. When they're little, they're always eager to help and learn. Start young, and it becomes the normal routine, and never a struggle IME.

[Anonymous]

You can start with small stuff at a very young age. My 2 year old "helps" with laundry, dishes, and trash. She knows it's stuff that needs to be done and loves being part of the process.

[Anonymous]

18 months

[Anonymous]

18-20mths, she liked to take recycling out to the bin in the garage. It’s still one of her chores 9 years later.

[Anonymous]

I think we’ve always tried to have her help. around 18 months, she showed the desire to help independently, so we fostered that as much as we could. Now, at not quite 3, she knows her tasks are feeding the cat in the morning, helping unload the silverware from the dishwasher, and taking out most of the recycling. Is she spills on her clothes, she knows to put the dirty clothes in the laundry. She also helps match socks and put laundry away, helps dust with her own swiffer, helps cook dinner (when she shows interest in doing so), and helps with other tasks.

I don’t think it’s ever too early. Little people love to help, so it’s just a matter of making it fun and giving praise and rewards. “her” tasks are second nature to her now.

[Anonymous]

Dd is a new 4 and we have her help with many things but no set chores that are just hers yet. I think that's coming soon.
She knows to take off her clothes in Her bathroom and put in hamper. Also helps carry her hamper for laundry and I lift her so she can put laundry soap in washer.
Helps set the table taking dishes and silverware to it. We use ceramic and glass so I wanted a while to have her help with those.
Helps clear the table bringing dirty dishes to me or dh who is washing them.
Takes recycling out with dh
Takes compost out with dh
Helps clean spills with cloth or paper towel.
And of course cleaning up her toys and books and singing a cleanup song.

[Anonymous]

Pretty much by the time he was walking and eating off a plate so around 14-15 months for us. His job was to clean up any spills he made and put his dishes in the sink.

He is now 20 months and he helps Load the laundry, put his clothes away (mostly his pajamas), he can “help” with dinner and he helps sweep.

[Anonymous]

I started seriously focusing on chores just before 7, which was late. Kids start picking up after themselves in preschool - so they can certainly start at 2. (For reasons, I didn't have the bandwith to start at 2, because my DS has motor delays and HFA. But if I had to do it all over again I would start much earlier.)

[Anonymous]

Well before age 2. Start with helping empty the dishwasher, throwing things away, putting toys away. I also hung low hooks and put out a bin so DS could hang his own coat and put away his hat. Closer to age 3 now and he can scrape his plate in the trash and carry his dishes and glass to the sink, wipe up spills, pick up rooms if I’m vacuuming, feed the dog with supervision. If he is in the mood he can help fold socks and hang clothes. (Again, I added a low closet bar so he can reach his own shirts and clothing hangers.)

[Anonymous]

My 19 month old helps with cleaning up his toys and also with unloading the dishwasher.

[Anonymous]

I am really bad at anything that requires monitoring, so we don't have a chore chart or anything. Kids are 7, 5 and 2. They just do everyday stuff that is part of being a family, adn they also do extra stuff that we ask them to do. Regular chores - clear plates, set table, feed dog, pick up toys, pick up room, help me strip the sheets, clean the toilet, take out trash/recyling, sweep leaves off of porch. Extra stuff gets done when necessary - yard work, hanging Xmas lights, help prepare dinner. I give them age-approrpiate tasks to 'own'. For example, 7 year old is in charge of monitoring the Xmas tree stand this year and keeping it filled. He is flushed with pride at this task and the importance of it.

[Anonymous]

Ok, just looking to make sure I’m not crazy. Thread started bc a parent said that an 8yo was too young to do their own laundry. I understand not having a 5yo do laundry unsupervised (although my family did, and I knew most of my friends did too, if both parents worked), but 8yo seems way too late to start (and the mom was advocating for outside help instead).