[New post] Household chores for Your children and Involving them
allthingsgodlypretty posted: " I realise how much parents talk about how energetic their children are including myself. I mention my children and their energy a lot. Hardly do we turn that energy to be used for something productive they can do and learn some skills too! Content"
I realise how much parents talk about how energetic their children are including myself. I mention my children and their energy a lot. Hardly do we turn that energy to be used for something productive they can do and learn some skills too!
Content
Why household chores help direct children's energy productively, strengthen the bond of a family, teach your children skills, build self esteemand being organised early in life.
Allocate chores according to what each child can handle.
How to begin to involve them in household chores.
Why household chores help direct childen's energy productively
Children used to spend so much time outdoors, playing , being taught to do things with their parents and moving all day! The time evening came they are really tired and ready to eat and sleep.
Fast forward to today, children spend a lot of time indoors and mostly restricted because they can break things. They spend a lot of time in front of the television hardly using the energy they have.
Have you ever come home from work so tired only to find your child/ children so energetic ? you cannot understand why this little human is so energetic after such a long day!
I have had my fair share of that unproductive energy and it would exhaust me and get me so impatient with my children at times because i used to come home exhausted from work.
This is the right time to teach them household chores and they will love it. Especially when they are toddlers they love to learn and do chores with their parents. Children will learn even after they are toddlers but mind the ways to involve them too so this process does not become a chore but a joy!
This will teach your children
There is a time and season for everything. The time to plan,work, play,learn, watch tv, eat, drink, pray, sleep and wake up
Your children will learn to take care of themselves, their family, their home and others.This teaches your child to care about themselves and their surroundings.
Your children learn skills that they will take with them when they become adults. Children will learn to tidy up, stay organised, pick their outfits ( a great skill too) and learn to wash dishes. They will learn to budget, do groceries, plan, communicate, negotiate, folding laundry and even cooking!
As their characters develop they discover what they are good at, their preferences and likes. This helps build self esteem and confidence as they learn tasks, know their capabilities and accomplish their tasks.
Children love doing things with their parents. This makes them feel good and strengthens the bond of a family as they do things with their parents.
Please remember that all other things a child does like playing, experimenting, watching television are so important too but allocate time and direction as a parent.
Allocate chores according to what each child can handle
This will also depend on the ages of your children. I have a toddler, preschooler and school age child. Then my stepdaughter who is not around us most times who is an adult now. They can do different tasks really however sometimes they all want to do the same task though.
Examples of tasks for younger children
Tidying up their toys
Pick up their shoes
Help prepare meals
Pick groceries from the car depending how heavy they are
Picking vegetables from the garden
Examples of tasks for older children
Making their bed
Watering the garden
Picking their own plates after eating
Folding laundry
There may be more on the list than i mentioned.
Imagine doing this throughout the year, your children would have learnt so much. It is easy to assume that they will learn as they grow older yet we forget that next year around this time they would have grown so much.
Make use of the time you have daily so that you do not panic as they grow up because you know you involve them in your life daily and you do things with them.
Praise and thank your children from time to time as they accomplish tasks. They will learn to praise and thank other people too. They will also appreciate and notice that you trust them in doing anything they put themselves up for.
Reward, reward, reward
Children love different things, you know your children better. Our children love potato chips, our girls love eating grilled meat and vegetables. So for me i cook up a storm at times to reward our children.
There are so many things you can do like give them pocket money, take them out camping, have a camp fire on your backyard, take them hiking or take them to their favourite restaurant. Its not necessary to do this daily because it creates expectations. Show them a grateful heart and they really appreciate.
How to begin to Involve them in chores
Involve your children in the things you do. Children model you more than you actually notice.
If your child has been used to doing things alone they may not understand why you want to do things together now. You need to give your child time as he/she gets close to you again.
Did you know that pushing a child away with gadgets or television( spending most of their time on gadgets so you can be busy with your own things) affects your intimate relationship with your child.
These things may be genuine but take note if they distance you from your own family.
If that is the case you may want to start by involving yourself in what your child loves doing. They will notice and come around. They will start wanting to do things with you.
Prepare a tasty meal with your children
When they want to be around you now, this is your time to involve them in chores around the house. Sometimes it is easier to start with the chores they often ask you if they could do.
It is important to not miss this window period too, when they ask to wash dishes with you, pick their clothes and prepare meals with you. This communicates trust and willingness to involve them. Children notice the things we think they do not notice.
Why i love doing things with the children including exercising sometimes is i get to spend more time with them after work as a working mom.This works too for stay at home moms.
Another way is each child being allocated age appropriate tasks for them to do. Help them accomplish their tasks until they are used to doing chores by themselves.
Teach your children chores and responsibilities while they are young.
They learn skills and generally feel good about accomplishing tasks.
Involve them when you prepare meals, wash dishes and do things in the house. It gives you more time with your children.
Children have so much energy they do not use exhaust completely while playing, chores gives them a chance to use their energy productively as playing does too.
There is a time and season for everything, time to plan, work, play, watch tv, eat, drink , pray and sleep.
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, [a]And when he is old he will not depart from it.
I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment so we do not have one way of learning but other moms and myself would love to hear how motherhood has been for you. We help correct our mistakes, strengthen our successes and help other parents win through our journeys.
I pray that all may be well with you and your families.
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