“Be careful, you’re going to cut yourself!” or “Here, let me do that, you’re too small.” Sometimes it’s easier to do the job yourself.
As a parent, you may have spoken these words yourself. With not enough hours in the day, we tend to rush through our tasks and brush our children off when they offer their help. Our adolescent parenting experience also warns us what will likely happen if we let the kids play with dad’s toolbox or ask them to fill a pot with soil for planting—a mess that will undoubtedly be left for us to clean up.
In today’s busy world, sometimes the only way we’re able to spend any family time together at all is by letting our children help with everyday tasks. Kids want to be productive members of the family and feel that their adolescent activities are helping out around the house no matter how small the chore. Finishing a task to the best of their ability does wonders for their confidence, and little by little they will gain the skills that will lay the groundwork for future accomplishments. After all, children learn by doing, and when there is little or no opportunity for them to test their skills by participating in family home activities they become complacent and feel worthless.
Family Home Activities Offer Many Opportunities for Teaching Character
Consider some of the following home goals to set for your children , and watch their pride grow:
- Picking up toys and putting them in a toy box is a simple task for toddlers. They love repetition. Watch their faces light up when they’re rewarded with a “good job” every time another toy has made it into the box.
- Food preparation provides many opportunities for children to help out at mealtime. Tearing lettuce into bite-sized pieces or squirting ketchup onto everyone’s plate are safe, simple tasks that require little supervision. As your child grows, ask him to help you with things that are a little above his skill level. This provides him with a challenge and a great feeling of accomplishment once he masters new tasks. It also teaches him that failure is a learning experience.
- A trip to the grocery store is a great opportunity for learning letters and numbers. Ask your children to read the price of their favorite cookies. Stop at the dairy section and see if they can identify items starting with the letter “M.” For younger children, ask them to guess what animal lays eggs or if chocolate milk comes from a brown cow.
- Expect your child to complete a small chore each day, such as making his or her bed (it doesn’t have to be perfect) or putting away laundry. It is common for children to forget their chores in the chaos of the morning rush or during their busy day. All they need is a gentle reminder. “How about you run upstairs and make your bed, then we’ll leave for the park” is more effective than “We’re not going to the park until you make your bed!” Sometimes the bed will be made minutes before bed time, but the message that it still needs to be done every day will soon sink in, and before long a reminder will no longer be necessary.
- Involve children in family decision-making through monthly meetings. Ask their opinions and seriously consider them. Discuss their suggestions and follow them if everyone agrees. Topics such as this year’s upcoming vacation destination or who is responsible for feeding the dog are better solved if everyone is able to have a say.
Encourage your child to be an active participant in the family. Promote a feeling of unity in yours by letting children of all ages assist in everyday tasks, no matter how small. Help them feel accepted and respected, and your children will always have a wonderful sense of belonging to a strong family unit.
Heidi Hoff is the editor of Preschool Planet.