Toddlers love to be involved in pretty much anything that their parents do. They even seem to enjoy things that older children do not seem to like very much. Things like doing dishes, laundry, yard work, and any number of other chores that you do in and around your home are surprisingly appealing to toddlers. Now is a good time to get your little one involved in lending a helping hand around the house.
Giving your toddler opportunities to “do” household chores alongside you in an age appropriate way teaches responsibility and helpfulness. Many toddlers are naturally helpful by nature and do not need much convincing to give housework a try. If children grow accustomed to chores as a regular part of daily life, they are less likely to resist having household responsibilities assigned to them when they are old enough to do them on their own.
Some things that toddlers can help you with include dishes, laundry, cooking, and yard work. If you have a sink with two sections, place “safe” items in one side for your toddler to soap and rinse to his or her heart’s content while you wash the other dishes in the other bowl of the sink. A sturdy chair or step stool can help your toddler reach the sink, and a large towel placed on the floor can help to contain the inevitable drips and splashes. Toddlers can help you to sort and fold laundry as well as unload the dryer into the laundry basket. If you air dry your clothes, hand your toddler a bag of clothes pins and he or she can help you by handing you the clothes pins as you need them. Keep safety first when cooking with your toddler, and involve them in steps that do not involve heat or sharp utensils such as measuring, stirring, tearing lettuce for salad and so on. Toddler sized rakes, shovels, and gardening tools make yard work fun for little ones.
Photo by sideshowmom on morguefile.com.