The essence of independence is to be able to do something for oneself. Such experience is not just play. It’s work children must do in order to grow up.

– Maria Montessori

My biggest nightmare as a parent is that my child will grow up to be an adult with no skills other than playing on his PS. I’ve always had my son help around the house, and now since he’s older, even run small errands outside.

Chores help a preschooler understand the different functions that are necessary to keep a home running smoothly. She understands that beds have to be made, and tables have to be set – they don’t just get that way! If you’re falling into the “she’ll have lots of time to do it when she’s older” trap, know that it might be twice as hard getting her to do things like keeping her room passably clean as a teenager than it is now. Doing chores adds to a preschooler’s self esteem and confidence. Praise her when she performs a task for you – it adds to her self belief.

The point here is not to turn your child into your slave – don’t overwork her, and never give her things to do that she absolutely hates doing. Move on to another chore. Better still, give her a list of chores and ask her to pick out five that she’d be happy doing.

Here’s a list to give you some ideas, some are ideal for a 3 year old, while for others, your child might have to be older.

1. Put away her toys
2. Fill the pet’s feeder
3. Set table with plastic dishes. (Draw outlines of the spoon, fork, plate etc, on the place mat so she knows where each items is supposed to go).
4. Clear table
5. Sweep crumbs off the table
6. Wash plastic glasses and cups
7. Water plants
8. Make her bed
9. Chose her own clothes
10. Dress herself
11. Keep dirty clothes in the basket
12. Help in the kitchen – handing you ingredients, tearing up lettuce and other preschool cooking activities.
13. Bring in the newspaper
14. Sort unwashed laundry into coloreds and whites
15. Help hang out the washing
16. Sort washed laundry according members of the family
17. Make herself a snack that doesn’t require cooking or using the stove – cheese on crackers
18. Mop spills
19. Dust lightly
20. Help you wash the car
21. Fold small clothes
22. Use a small dust vacuum
23. Help you put away groceries
24. Help with small DIY projects around the house or garden- with adult supervision, of course
25. Help unload the dishwasher

Dos and Don’ts for Chores with PreSchoolers

Do praise her efforts. Do it often and in company. I always let my sisters-in-law know what a great help my son’s been – within his ear shot, of course!

Do set realistic expectations. The bed she made won’t be crease free and perfect. That isn’t the point, anyway.

Don’t criticize her efforts.

Don’t be anal, and go rushing to set right what she’s done the moment she’s done with her task.

Do teach her what’s’ expected of her. When she sets the table, teach her where everything goes first, and then, give her the responsibility of doing it herself.

Do have a chore chart with stickers that she can stick herself every tine she finishes a chore for that day.

Do have a reward system in place. Not all mothers will agree with this, but rewards are fine, if you keep them within limits. An extra half hour of TV perhaps…?

Do allow her time to complete her chores.

Doing simple chores around the house helps your preschooler learn about team work, and the importance of doing her share to keep the house going – always good practice for when she has to fend for herself one day.

What chores do you allow your kids to do around the house?