Thursday, July 17, 2008

Chores for 5-year olds?

I need ideas for chores for 5-year-olds. Right now, Josh feeds the dog, helps unload the dishwasher and helps fold the laundry.

He has become fascinated with legos and would like to get some more sets so we told him he could earn the money by doing extra chores. Of course, he is thrilled but I can't think of enough appropriate things... Today he washed the insides and outsides of the downstairs windows. Other ideas, Moms?

6 comments:

Lisa said...

I've found that my boys (4 and 2.5) can do a whole lot more than I think and/or more than I typically "want" to let them do (b/c they move at a slower pace). They don't have a list of chores, per se, as they've just always participated in these activities as I've done them during the course of the day, and it's evolved to them now being able to do them themselves. Obviously, the 2.5 year old can't quite do everything completely by himself, but is well on his way. That said, things they can do, that I'd think Josh could do too, would be making their own beds, sorting laundry (with instruction), loading the washer (ours is a front loader, so it's easy for them), matching/folding socks, putting their own clothes away and also putting away anything else that is within their own reach, such as towels, etc. in the kitchen. They also love washing dishes, so they can wash their own (which aren't glass and thus can't be broken too easily) -- they typically do this after lunch -- can set the table and clear it after dinner. We also tend to accumulate shoes at our front door, so they're good at putting them all away in their respective homes, and generally, are great about putting things away. Oh ya, they also can sweep up crumbs off the floor (with the small hand-held sweeper, or with their own small broom) and will vacuum as much as I'll let them. Corbyn has taken over responsibility for watering the citrus trees at the bottom of our property as they are not on the irrigation system. He does that every day without ever being asked. Hmmm....that's all I can think of for now.

KD said...

What about emptying trash cans? You probably have a few bathroom trash cans, bedroom trash cans... easier perhaps for kidlets if there is a bag (grocery store plastic comes to mind) in there that they can pick up and toss in the main garbage for pickup. What about sorting recycling?

The Emersons said...

This is not so much a chore as a haha story. Mason has watched me and assisted me so often in setting the table for meals and a couple of days ago he woke up before I did and instead of crawling in to cuddle like he usually does, he disappeared into the kitchen. I fell back into sleep and was awakened a few minutes later with a very excited little boy who had set the table for breakfast all by himself. He said he did not want me to have to do any work so he wanted to set the table! When I walked out, there were 5 tupperware containers laid out in the families respective places and put from largest to smallest by the age of the family members. The ones for Marcus and I were the huge tupperware containers used for such things as several cupcakes or cookies or something. He had also set out drinkable yogurts with straws at each place and napkins. He had put all 3 boxes of cereal in the center and the gallon of milk. It was soooooo cute and he was so proud of his accomplishment. Marcus does not normally eat breakfast but decided to stay home a little later in the morning before work to enjoy a bowl of cereal in this HUGE tupperware container! They really are anxious to work and help and I really appreciated the other ideas shared in the comments here!

Jennie Nelson said...

thanks, friends- this is super helpful! :)

ladyclay said...

When my oldest was about 4 and a half, i taught her to clean the bathroom. we lived in seminary housing. she thought that was pretty cool. so cool, in fact, that she wanted do it for our neighbors and charge a couple of dollars. ;)

Guest said...

Hey Jennie, We bought 3 foam poster boards, one for each boy. Then I put their name at the top and each day of the week. I bought velcro stickies and searched google images for pictures of chores. I glued the pictures on construction paper and took them to Office Max to be laminated. Since many pictures fit on one page, it only cost about $3 for all the pictures. (The pictures are necessary for non-readers.) Each week I velcro a different picture (or a few pictures) under each day of the week. Then I glued an envelope at the bottom of the board that says "Finished." When they finish, they peel off the picture and put it in the envelope. They don't get any prize or any money. They love looking to see what the next chores are going to be. They LOVE ripping off the pictures and putting them in the envelope. The chores we have so far are vacuuming (7 yr old only - and I set it up), getting the mail, sweeping the kitchen floor, spraying the sinks with white vinegar in a spray bottle and wiping with paper towels, dusting the bedroom furniture, dusting the living room furniture, (I gathered a bag of old socks and they put socks on their hands to dust), folding towels, making the beds, watering plants, emptying small trash cans, and taking dirty sheets off of the beds. I love chores!