How soon can i involve my baby/toddler in doing the housework?

Question

Ovbiously I'm not talking about ironing or loading the dishwasher.

Answer 1

Oh, if he can toddle and if he can pick up a toy and hold onto it, he can help.
My girls always helped me at the end of the day put all their toys back into the toy boxes before they went upstairs for a bath. When they came back down in their pajamas for a while, they understood to only get out one thing to play with because we had already cleaned up the house. I am sure they understood this from the very beginning.
They also, from the time they were 2 or 3, enjoyed helping me put groceries away. I would set the bags on the floors, and they would open the lazy susan and take cans out of the bags and put into the cupboard.
You decide early on if it's more important to have things done perfectly or to have help doing them. Because those who only accept having it done perfectly are destined to to it all alone until their kids are at least pre-teen ... even then they will hate you for being a perfectionist.

Answer 2

Forget those that say he's too young - no he's not! My best helper is my 2 year old son! He loves getting the duster and going over things (obviously he doesn't get to use aerosols etc), he loves putting the washing in the machine or dryer and taking it out again, he loves the hoover (cylinder type so handle nice and light), he enjoys tidying up to the extent we can't even leave toddlers till he's put away what he's been playing with, he has his own wee plastic brush and shovel which he thinks he does a great job with, he passes me clothes out the basket when I'm hanging it up on the washing line, he loves putting the cutlery away in the drawer and he can set the plates and cups on the table..................I could go on! There are so many things that a toddler can be involved with without putting them in any danger and it's things he's wanted to do on his own - not forced labour! I love his company and it makes me feel less guilty about doing housework and not 'playing'with him - it's all play as far as he's concerned!

Answer 3

Wow...you got some really mean answers. I'm sure you're just wanting to teach your toddler some responsibility (not looking for a housekeeper). Anyway, start with having them put their toys away. Then they can "help mommy" do some of the things around the house...like putting clothes in the washer or "dusting" some of the furniture or trying to make their bed. Try to resist the urge to go behind them and straighten what they've done.

Answer 4

A toddler is from ages 1-3.
You must model picking up toys for a toddler and make it a consistent habit for them to do so.

You can begin as soon as you want. You will be doing most of the housework but to incorporate the toddler and make housework play as soon as possible builds bonds between the two of you and establishes habits early.

Answer 5

My 4 year old has been helping me around the house for atleast 2 years. Her fave thing to do is wash dishes with me and to mop the floors. I don't make her do it on her own but if she wants to help me do chores I let her. We actually just bought her a "house cleaning kit" for toddlers. She loves having her own little things to help mommy with.

I also make her pick up her toys so I can sweep the floors. Gives her some responsibility . She has volunteered herself to make all the beds in the house each day.

I wouldn't FORCE chores on her until she was atleast 6-7 years old. Even then I will probably keep them simple things. Good luck!

Answer 6

Don't listen to some of these people who've said not to involve kids at all. If you don't start instilling values of cooperation and helping out in your young child, how are you supposed to start when they're older and more likely to groan and moan about having to do "chores"?!

Young kids are great in that they want to mimick you and help out. Not only is it a learning experience for them, but they also see it as a game. Like some of these people have said, start when they're about 2. Only with picking up their toys, and you should be there doing most of it.

I have a 3 year old, and she loves helping me out (even though it usually slows me down). She loves setting the table, making lemonade with me, and helping me make the bed. She even asks if she could help me cook! Of course, I say no if it's hot, but I say she can help me make the salad. She likes sweeping the floor with me (the swiffer thing is great because it doesn't lift the dust), and doing some "dusting" (I give her a sheet of those moist baby wipes, and she usually goes over items that I've already dusted). I've noticed she's been more keep to help me out since she turned 3... maybe that's a better age to get them really into helping out. But remember to make it fun! Don't MAKE her do things. Just LET her help YOU.

Answer 7

We started really young with the tidy up game, gave him a duster and then one of those duster on a stick things. Kids love washing up, fill the sink with soapy bubbles and let him wash some plastic plates and cups.

Also, we make him do little jobs for pocket money and save up for little treats! Extended family members love this too and get their shoes cleaned and weeds pulled up and plants watered for a couple of quid! (my son is 3 and a half!!_) He is still a stroppy little horror at times and we are not always that strict, but hopefully some of it will sink in and he will have learned a life lesson! (or we will get reported to social services for child cruelty)

Answer 8

My child showed a tremendous interest in helping me at the age of 2, but I'm a stay-at-home, so he sees me doing the household chores just about everyday. Now he's 3 and he helps me unload the dishwasher, the dryer, he takes a wash rag and wipes the kitchen table chairs for me and wipes the lower cabinets in the kitchen for me. He also has the responsibility of setting the napkins at the table for dinner(which helps him sit still at the dinner table because he has a part in setting it). I never force him to do these things, he just wants to do them. We also have a very small hard floor vaccum cleaner and he likes to go around the house vaccumming, he pretends he's driving a car..LOL!

Answer 9

Depending on age:
First, start with having him/her put their own toys away.
They often like to run the vacuum sweeper. You'll have to follow up, of course, but it sets the stage for later and will at least get them to do something.
They can learn how to slip socks together when you're doing the laundry. They can learn how to put their own clothes away.
They can empty the dryer into a laundry basket.
If they're old enough to reach the silverware drawer, you can get them to put the spoons away - the forks and knives LATER.
They can also put pots and pans away in a lower kitchen cabinet.
Always PRAISE them, even if they're not doing a perfect job at first.

Answer 10

You could let them stand on a seat at the kitchen sink, at about 3, or 4, it'll make them feel grown up. But it will be just a game to them, and you can expect there to be a mess rather then a help. The same with the house work, sweeping with a little bissell, or small broom.