Summer Chores for Kids

Even as an adult I struggle to do all of the household tasks that I’m responsible for on a regular basis – so it makes perfect sense that children have a hard time cleaning up after themselves. Giving them age appropriate chores early on helps them understand that we all play a role in taking care of our environment. Summer is the perfect time to add a couple of chores to the daily routine.

When days are longer and schedules are a little more flexible, then it can be easier to implement new routines. Selecting the right chores for children helps set them up for success. Here are some things to consider;

• Age and skill appropriateness – will they be able to complete the task on their own or will they need help? Even the youngest children can manage chores like putting their shoes away and making sure water bottles get put in the sink. Older children can take on even more, like feeding pets and wiping down counter tops.
• Personal impact – When a child feels personally connected to a task they are more likely to do it without argument. Taking care of things that belong to them, such as their own clothes and toys, gives them ownership.
• Time required – The younger a child is, the shorter their attention span is. A three year old will struggle to clean an entire playroom by themselves because they can’t focus long enough to complete such a large task. They can, however put away one toy after they use it.

As children grow their chores can become more involved. Once they show that they can manage part of a task you can add more steps, or more challenging tasks.