fiddledeedee32We parents all know that it can be difficult to teach our kids responsibility. (Or as the Rugrats kids would say, “sponsitility”)
It’s not easy, but it can be easier. I am going to share some things that I have done with my kids through the years and hopefully it will be effective for you as well!
I believe when a child is walking good, they can start learning to be responsible. Just teaching them to pick toys up, one by one, and putting them where they go is a great starting point. I’ve always had a basket for toys in the family room. When my little one started to walk, I decided I would start working with her little by little, and over time, add little things here and there. So, every time she was done with a toy, I would have her pick it up and put it in the basket. It did take quite a bit for her understand cause she thought it was a game. But after maybe a month, she knew where to put her little toys when she was done. I still had to remind her sometimes but she was doing it. She was learning responsibility!
I am so glad that I started her on that when I did. The next thing I wanted to incorporate was putting her clothes in the hamper. This was a little bit harder to teach because she liked to just throw clothes in the hamper. Anything she saw that was cloth, it was going in the hamper! You can imagine how well that went. It took a long time for her to get the hang of that one. Now with her being three years old she finally gets the concept. Ha!
I have now gotten to where I will have her help me make her bed! The blankets aren’t straight but she gets it done in her way. Remember it doesn’t have to be perfect, you just want her to get the basics and establish that routine. You’re teaching responsibility, not perfectionism.
Something I would highly recommend is getting your child play cleaning supplies! They can learn the basics and it will get them excited about cleaning! I’m sure you’ve seen the toy vacuum that actually works? There ya go!
Now, I wanna touch up on pets. I feel like pets are a wonderful way to teach that responsibility! I know some of you are set on a pet-free home. But hear me out!
When a child has a pet that they love and care for, I’m telling you that is the biggest boost in responsibility! They feed them, clean them, bathe them and spend time with them. Give them a set time during the A.M. and again in the P.M. to feed the pet, spot clean the cage with each feeding and have them bathe them once a week.
Now if you wanna start small, which is a good idea for under five, start with a fish! A simple little fish that just needs to be fed once a day. Then Mom, you can help clean the fish bowl once a week. Or at least take the fish out of the water and into a safe place while it’s home is being cleaned.
When a child has a pet, that pet is there baby. I’m sure we have all, or most of us, has had pets growing up or at some point in your life. I’m willing to bet it taught you some responsibility. A bonus, your child will be happy! I think it’s worth it!
My kids have always had pets, fish, hamsters, birds, cats, dogs, guinea pigs and lizards too. And they have always been responsible for them. Well, with a little training.
Here is a list of chores/jobs that I have for my three year old!
Make bed
Put dirty clothes in the hamper
Feed dog
Throw trash away
Things she helps me with:
Cooking
Vacuuming/sweeping
Mopping
She does these jobs every day. When she does her jobs, we put a sticker on each one that she completed and at the end of the week, IF she has a sticker on each day, she gets $3.00 to go to Dollar Tree! At the end of the month, if ALL stars are there, she gets a $5.00 bonus!
Having a chore chart helps them see what they need to do and sooner or later they will learn to do things on their own without being told. And you can also use a picture chart for the little ones!
The last thing I want to talk about, is letting your child help in the kitchen. I try to have my little one help me with dinner at least twice a week. I will have her help me prepare meals by sprinkling cheese on a plate, stirring a mix and pouring things that I’ve measured out. She loves helping out in the kitchen.
**Check out this post for ideas on having your children involved in the kitchen!
This Little Piggy Had None – Thriftysnowflakemom
I will also have her help me set the table. It may look a little (or a lot) like the Mad Hatter’s tea party but she’s enjoys it! 🙂 Like I said with making the bed, it’s not perfect but she is learning!
The main component here is consistency. Make sure that they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. If you see something they need to work on or need help with, just jump in there and help them. But, be careful not to criticize their work. If they feel like they are bad at something they will lose interest. Just say “How about we try this?” or something along those lines. Keep them on task and when they get the hang of something, add something else. My daughter has gotten to where she is doing things on her own without being told. That is why consistency is so important! They learn these things and then it’s just like second nature!
Let me know, are there any tips that you have? What’s worked for you? I would love to hear from you! Also, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below or email me, I will respond!
See you soon!
All my love,
Angela xoxo
