When should you start instructing children with housework?

This is an automatically translated article.

Instructing children to do housework is a way to teach children about the responsibility of contributing to family and society, providing a sense of accomplishment and pride, and learning practical skills. Letting kids do chores on their own also makes them feel important, but implicitly affirms that they are not “the center of the universe.”

1. Let children do their own chores that are appropriate for their age

In the early years of kindergarten, the value of teaching children to do chores is not how much work you get done, but in making it a habit to help. Children 2 - 4 years old love to ask for help, so parents should exploit this natural feature by teaching children simple, easy housework. As your baby gets older, she can take on more complex tasks and start doing some independent work.
2-year-olds can:
Put dirty clothes in their own basket Put dirty diapers in the bin Collect toys after play Lay out tissues on the dining table Sort light and dark clothes to put in the washing machine. 3-year-olds can:
Sort socks/socks after washing by color or into pairs Water plants Feed pets Clean up vomit or stains from your child Prepare simple snacks of their own I clean up my dishes after eating. Help my parents wash the car.

4-year-olds can:
Put dishes and napkins on the dining table Take clothes out of the washing machine Fold the towel Wipe the dust Help the mother make the child's bed (fold the blanket neatly, straighten the sheets) Change the bathroom carpet getting wet Pouring milk into a glass Help mom prepare food Sweep the house with a small broom. If it's too difficult for your child to do chores around the house, your child will get frustrated and not want to do it. Parents are also not assigned dangerous jobs such as washing sharp knives, arranging fragile items.

2. Notes when teaching children to do housework

Don't underestimate your child Parents often think that their children are young and can't do many things. As this child gets older, parents with such views still automatically help with things the child is perfectly capable of doing on his own, like making breakfast sandwiches or cleaning the room.
Start with basic personal responsibilities Brushing teeth, using the potty, washing hands and dressing themselves are the first "jobs" that most babies can do. However, most parents don't think to give these personal tasks to their baby first.
Don't set expectations too high Letting your kids do the chores on their own can make your housework take longer. Remember that you are just laying the foundation for teaching your child to do housework, not really being helped by your child. All chores need practice until they are mastered, while preschoolers can only focus their attention for a short time. Don't expect your child to take the initiative to work each day without prompting, or to perform well from the start.
Gender neutral You should feel free to give boys some of the kitchen chores, girls some of the outdoor chores.
Be specific Room cleaning requests are too large and overwhelming for preschoolers. Tell your child exactly what to do, like putting dirty clothes in the basket. Show your baby how to do it for the first few times.
Don't give too many tasks Notice 3 - 4 tasks to do at once can confuse your child. Your child may forget the entire list or confuse all the tasks. Let's do it one by one.

Keep the atmosphere happy The problem with housework is that it tends to be repetitive. Once the novelty wears off, weariness begins. You can make chores fun for your preschooler by switching roles from time to time.
Even though your child can't read yet, you can also make a to-do chart with the illustrations. Children's songs like Baby Sweeping the House (a golden straw), are very powerful for preschoolers. Or mother and child can make their own silly tunes when putting toys in the box or when doing the laundry.
Don't correct your child's work If your child's towels are not neatly folded or the bed sheets are not completely straight, try to ignore them. Show your child how to do one thing and then let them do it on their own. Revising a task your child has just completed will reduce his pride and make him less likely to want to help again, even thinking: Why are you asking me when I can do it better?
Praise after a job well done Preschoolers thrive with positive support. Be encouraging and not critical when your child works. Then let them know that their efforts are important and that you appreciate it. Tell your child specifically: When you help me clear the table, I will cook and the whole family can eat earlier.
Don't pay for errands Most preschoolers are too young to understand the value of money. Money in exchange for work doesn't mean much to the kids. Many financial professionals still wonder about paying kids to do housework themselves. You can still give your kids money from time to time to teach them how to save and make sensible spending decisions. However, the value of teaching children to do housework is to develop pride in completing a job well and feeling their contribution and role in the family.

Young children are very imaginative, love to be cared for and asked for by others. Therefore, based on the age and awareness of the child, the mother can teach the child to do appropriate housework, promote the development of thinking, perception as well as the formation of a diligent character in the child.
For children to be healthy and develop well, it is necessary to have a nutritious diet in terms of quantity and quality balance. If children are not provided with adequate and balanced nutrients, it will lead to diseases of excess or lack of nutrients, which adversely affect the comprehensive development of children in terms of physical, mental and motor skills.
Children who do not eat properly are at risk of micro-mineral deficiency causing anorexia, growth retardation, malabsorption,... If they notice the above signs, parents should supplement their children with products. The supplement contains lysine, essential micro-minerals and vitamins such as zinc, chromium, selenium, and B vitamins to help fully meet the nutritional needs of children. At the same time, these essential vitamins also support digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, help improve anorexia, and help children eat well.
Parents can learn more:
Signs of zinc deficiency in children
Micronutrient deficiency and failure to gain weight in children
Please regularly visit Vinmec.com website and update useful information to take care of your child. Take care of the baby and the whole family.

Reference source: babycenter.com