Growing our Children: Chores

"Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth."

Proverbs 10:4

When my then 22-month-old daughter sweetly asked if she could help me wash the dishes, I held my tongue. My mental response was: "No, thank you, honey. I'm in a hurry." But that day I thought, "This could be a good time to introduce her to chores. She's young, yes, but it can't hurt."

I expected the worst to happen:

• My kitchen floors would be covered in water. (They were.)
• The dishes would still be dirty but wet and covered in soap. (Yep!)
• My bottle of dish soap would be half used. (Just a quarter.)
• My water bill would skyrocket (Not really.)
• My child would be soaked. (Uh, yeah. That was a no-brainer.)

But she was as happy as a lark because she was helping Mama. And while my blood pressure reached stroke-level, I silently prayed for patience, for calm, for peace, and I didn't lose my temper. (Praise God!)

Fast forward 10 months, and my now 32-month-old is still washing dishes. Now, though, with more clean dishes than dirty and less water on the floor. She still soaks her t-shirts and my dish soap is on E. But, hey, she's 2! And the wonderful thing is that I don't have to wash all the dishes anymore.


Here are some things I've learned that have helped me and I hope will help you as you (consider) start(ing) chores with your young child:

Prepare for Messes & Mistakes. I mean mentally and physically. You can only expect that someone learning a new skill--especially a toddler who lacks fine motor skills and dexterity--will mess up a time or two (hundred). So, be prepared and try not to stress. Physically prepare for the task. If your child will be washing dishes, lay down towels, hide the dish soap, and give her an apron to feel special (and keep her somewhat clean).

Model & Instruct. Give clear directions on how to (fill-in-the-blank) [wash dishes, match socks, empty trash cans, make the bed, etc.] Again, you've been doing it for years, but your child is brand new at it. Tell him exactly what to do and then show him step-by-step how to do it.

Encourage, Encourage, Encourage. Even as you anticipate a big mess, praise your child when she does something right. An "ataboy" never hurt anyone. Plus, you want her to want to keep washing dishes in the future, right? When all you hear is criticism, then you are much less likely to want to continue doing it.

Make chores fun. Find ways to incorporate play into chores. Then, your child will want to do them. For example, allow him to play in the soapy water while washing dishes. Turn on some upbeat music and sing and dance while folding laundry or cleaning up a room. You can also set up a rewards chart that your child can put stickers on each time she finishes a chore. Once she has so many stickers, she will get a special treat.

Teaching your young child to do chores can be a challenge, but in the long run, it will be worth it! Your child will be self-sufficient, responsible, and industrious. Start now, while they're young. You will be glad you did.

At what age did you start chores with your child? What advice would you give moms of young children?

This post is linked to Homemaking Link up Wednesdays.