what are some appropriate chores for my 5 year old daughter?

Question

MY DAUGHTER IS 5 AND STARTS KINDERGARTEN SOON. I AM A SINGLE MOM THAT WORKS 2 JOBS AND AM ABOUT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL SO WE ARE VERY BUSY. HER ROOM IS ALWAYS A MESS AND IT SEEMS I SPEND ALL OUR TIME CLEANING OR FIGHTING ABOUT CLEANING. I FEEL ITS TIME FOR HER TO LEARN SOME RESPONSIBILITY AND HELP OUT IN THIS FAMILY SINCE ITS JUST THE TWO OF US. HELP!

Answer 1

Five is not too young to clean her own room. Start there.
She will thank you for it when she gets older.

Answer 2

We have a system that works really well for us, and we started it when our son started school. We made a list of daily household chores, like taking the trash bags to the garbage can, clearing the table, feeding the dog, etc. We let our son choose 1 for every year old he is - so at 5, he chose 5 things. We add 1 new chore each year, after his birthday. He has some say in what his responsibilities are, but knows exactly what is expected of him. Picking up his toys & books were the one given chore - he can count it as one of his 5 (10 now), but it is always required.

We have also come up with a reward system, to go along with the chores. If our son has completed his chores every day (we don't count "sick days" or days when we are away overnight), he gets a $20 gift card to the store of his choice (usually Target, Wal Mart, etc). He can use his gift card to buy whatever he wants, but if he wants something that costs more than $20, he has to save up for it. It has taught him about budgeting, saving, etc. - he knows he isn't getting more "stuff" unless he buys it or gets it as a birthday gift. We solved two problems at once :) Good luck!

Answer 3

My son is about to turn 6.. and he's the same... I find if I give him jobs that he may think are actually fun.. Show them how to do it, then let em go...

Windows (vinegar & water instead of windex)
Washing walls (Spray bottle with Mr. Clean & water & a rag)
Setting the table for dinner
Clearing the table
Taking out the garbage
Sweep the floor (I always have to do it properly after, but at least he's trying)

Cleaning his room is always the challenge though.. I don't know why... I can ask him to clean the walls, and he jumps at it.. ask him to clean is room, he fights & whines... Weird.

Good luck (I try to keep it at 1 - 2 small chores a day, and get him to help me when I'm cleaning on the weekend)

Answer 4

You could get her to sort laundary, set out napkins and silverware, make her think cleaning her room is a game. Give her a treat like a piece of candy from the store or a small toy that costs a $1 if she does what shes supposed to. My mom used to make a chart and we put a sticker on each time we done a chore or something and at the end of the week if we had a certain amount of stickers we would get a piece of candy or a $1 toy. Good luck!! =)

Answer 5

I thinks kids should start helping at a young age. As soon they can toddle around, you should show them how to pick up after themselves.

I have three girls aged 4,7&8 so it is easier to get them to do teamwork. They each have a chore which is rotated weekly.

*Unloading and reloading the dishwasher
*Taking the trash to the curb on trash day
*Sorting dirty clothes
*Folding clean clothes

Right now they all share a room so it is up to them to keep it clean. The room must be clean before they can leave the house. We have a calendar so they know in advance what outings are scheduled and if chores are not complete, they miss out.

Same goes with the bathroom, each one is responsible for placing their dirty clothes in the hamper. I will come in and spray the tub,toilet and sink and they each decide who will do which one

It was very hard at first because I was doing everything. I was so stressed out that had to delegate chores in order to help our home run smoother. Once your daughter gets used to a routine of chores, it will get easier for you.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

First, have less toys for her. If she is overwhelmed by a toy mess, tell her that she can have 5 of her most favorite toys...including stuft animals. Sets are counted as one. A tea set would be one toy, a box of legos is one toy, teddy bear is one toy, each barbie is one toy, and box of barbie clothes is one toy. Switch out the toys on the weekends if she feels bored with these toys over the week. My younest is 4 and tidies up his toys on his own. He makes his bed- I have one throw blanket on the bed and one pillow- so he is able to do it. Don't expect perfection. He puts his clothes in his own drawers. Take a picture or use clip art printed out and tape to each drawer (with the word spelled next to it) of what goes in that drawer. Limit your daughter's wardrobe to 3 pants/ 2skirts/ 8 tops. A 5 year old should not take more than 1 load in the washer to do their entire season wardrobe. My youngest also puts away dishes. He likes sorting the forks, knives and spoons and he's always climbing on the counters anyway, he might as well be doing something constructive like putting away the dishes. He's actually been doing that since he was two; exception that he didn't climb on the counters, but rather handed me the dishes from the dishwasher. It was time spent with mommy and something that made me happy (him helping out). My youngest will also move dining room chairs so that I can vaccume (if it's my day) He also likes to water house plants when I give him an appropriate water amount. He likes to spirtz the delicate bonsai tree, and help with outdoor chores like weed pulling and watering.

My 12 year old does his own laundry and vaccums on tuesdays and cleans half the bathroom on Saturdays- and also keeps his room spit spot if he wants video game priviledges on the weekends.

My 9 year old vaccums the floors on Thrusdays and cleans the other half of the bathroom on Saturdays. His room is also spit spot if he wants video game priviledges on the weekends.

Both my older ones are not exempt from loading dishwasher when asked or taking out the trash, or any other household chore that my 4 year old can do.

I don't give them an allowance. I explained to them, "This is what you do to be part of this family. You charge people who you don't live with". This keeps them from feeling a sense of entitlement.

Answer 7

My daughter is 6 and she has chores like taking small garbages and dump[ing them setting table and helping clear it, helping put dishes away she can reach. We even rearranged the cupboards so she can reach things she uses easier. Try making a chart and giving her a small reward if she keeps room clean like a afternoon with you watching a movie and having popcorn together. Keep encouraging her and it will work. There rooms may not alwys be to our standards but keep in mind she is only 5 and if she really is doing her best praise her. Good Luck

Answer 8

I totally agree with you. She is at the age where she can help out around the house. Some things that she could do would be picking up her toys after she's done with them, sweeping, clearing and setting the table, etc. Those are just some of the things she could do. Find something easy for her to do. And if she won't do it, make cleaning into a game for her. I hope I helped!

Answer 9

Definately. She really needs to clean her own room or lose a priveledge (ie: t.v, favorite toy, swimming) also, what worked for my children and I.... have her help you with the laundry. She can easily take the clothes out of the dryer and into a basket for you. She can put the clothes that you hand her into the washer or dryer. Naturally you will have to do the settings and soaps and such but there is no reason she can't help you. She could hand you the dishes out of the dishwasher. There are lots of things she could be doing to help you. Maybe not all on her own, but with guidance she will learn to do them on her own in time.

Answer 10

These are suggestions from my 5 year old girl...
*pick her things up from the floor
*vaccum or sweep the floor
*dust
*set the table for dinner
*dress herself
If these things become routine, after awhile the arguing will stop because it becomes a part of her daily life. Tell her all the other 5 year olds are doing these things too. At that age all she wants is to be like a big girl and to be accepted in social circles.

Answer 11

Set the table, sort laundry, help fold laundry, dry dishes while you wash, dust, put away her toys, make her bed, all kinds of stuff - it just depends on her skills and your home, which you know better than any of us.

Now is a great time to start assigning chores. I also recommend some sort of incentive (chart, stickers, something) to encourage her to continue. Positive reinforcement is vital, to maintain her cooperation and prevent fighting over chores. Good luck!