Chores for 5 year old?

[george83]

Do any of you ladies give your young children chores to do? And if so are there any that you recommend as good for teaching responsibilities? I'm not talking massive ones but simple things. The ones I keep reading include carrying their plate to the sink but I know my 5 year old will end up dropping his! His behaviour isn't great so I'm trying to create some good strong boundaries and responsibilities for him to follow. Thanks in advance

 

[broodymrs]

I get my nearly 3 year old to carry his plate in, he puts things in the bin, tidies toys away, sweeps (he has a little sweeping brush and loves it!). He was cleaning windows the other day! I'm making him sound very domesticated but he's not. It's all his own mess he tidies and even then I end up finishing the job.

 

[Vickie]

I have an 8 and a 4 year old. They both have a responsibility chart and the chores on there change weekly. Sometimes they have empty dishwasher, set table, clear table, feed the cats etc. They are always expected to straighten their beds in the morning and take their used dishes to the kitchen when they are done with them, pick up their toys, and only cleaning day they both have to clean their playroom so that it can be vacuumed.

 

[Natasha2605]

My two girls are 4 and 6 and on a daily basis they -

tidy up their room, pick up any mess they make, put their dirty laundry in the basket, take their dirty plates and cups to the kitchen, make their beds in the morning (well attempt to), puts things in the bin. TBH they are very helpful little girls and if there is anything I need a hand with they're usually happy to help.

I should add that it's not so much chores for us. I'm just not their slave. They're able to tidy up after themselves.

 

[suzib76]

None of that in our house. They have years of being adults to do chores.

Saying that half the stuff above like putting washing in a basket and bringing dishes to the kitchen I don't consider to be chores anyway. But hoovering, dusting and the like is my job not theirs.

I think it's possible to create boundaries for children without making them 'work'

 

[Elli21]

My 5 year old polishs but that's because she loves the fluffy glove .... She also feeds the dog each night, but again that's because she wants to. She wont have a set job like the other two until she is older.

My 11 year old does the dishwasher and is responsible for her bedroom.
My 9 year old takes the clean washing upstairs and pairs the socks, he is also responsible for his bedroom.

 

[george83]

Thanks for the ideas ladies and suzib don't worry I'm not looking to bring back child labour just something realistic for him to be responsible for

 

[suzib76]

Thanks for the ideas ladies and suzib don't worry I'm not looking to bring back child labour just something realistic for him to be responsible for

That wasn't at all what I meant

Nice touch to thank everyone but me though. Cheers for that.

 

[george83]

Thanks for the ideas ladies and suzib don't worry I'm not looking to bring back child labour just something realistic for him to be responsible for

That wasn't at all what I meant

Nice touch to thank everyone but me though. Cheers for that.

That was a genuine mistake as I concentrenting on replying to you. Please accept my apologies and note I have now thanked you.

I also only meant my reply as a light hearted joke, it's obviously hard to pick up a tone in a simple message

 

[caz_hills]

Every weekend we ask our five ear old to lay the table for lunch - it takes him an age but he knows it's his job and sometimes enjoys it!

He also knows that before the iPad goes on toys must be tidied. We do it together and it's his mess but we do it as a team.

He also often volunteers to help me hang out the washing. We make it fun - although j have to re hang most of what he does, it's lovely that he helps and is learning. Yesterday I asked him to help me make his bed and I did the majority but asked him to try and put his pillow into the pillow case. He did well and I made a big fuss with his dad about it and we both praised him - his little face was so proud!

So we ask him to help. He can do things so I think it's good that he knows that he can help and that as a family we share the jobs out.

Carrying his plate to the sink - I'd love to let him do but I'd expect breakages!!!! x

 

[lau86]

We just have plastic plates!

 

[liz1985]

Mine are 2.5 and 4.5 and both have to do 'chores'. We dont call them chores or make a particular deal out of them doing it ir anything. They both help set the table, and have to put their own plate in the sink afterwards. They feed our cat and fish have to put their own washing in the basket. Dd also helps me fill and empty the washing mashine and peg out washing but thats because she asks and enjoys it not because its expected. Thats all they will be expected to do for a long time, probably untill teenage years.

 

[Kate&Lucas]

We don't have specific chores as such, but he's expected to carry his own plate to the sink, put his own clothes in the wash basket, keep his room tidy, put his toys away and keep his sofa/the area around his sofa tidy (there's only the two of us so we each have a sofa in the living room).

He often asks for jobs to do though, particularly if he's trying to get on my good side. Whenever he asks I have him dust all the surfaces in the living room, wipe down the banister on the stairs and any door handles he can reach, dry dishes or help me make dinner. He's desperate to get his hands on the hoover but he can jog on - it's about twice the size of him

 

[OmarsMum]

we don't have "chores" but he helps around. He brings the Laundry basket to the kitchen and he sorts out the dirty clothes into darks & lights then he loads the washing machine, then he takes the empty basket back to the bathroom, he also helps in loading the tumble dryer. He carries the dirty clothes to the basket & he helps me in preparing the beds at bedtime & making the beds in the morning. He carries his empty plate to the kitchen & he's responsible of tidying the playroom before bedtime.

He asked to help in cooking few days back & I let him help in preparing the salad.

 

[mummy_ellie09]

Not chores per se, but Joshua takes his empty plates/bowls/cutlery/cups to the kitchen, he tidies his room, puts away any toys/dvds he's had. On occasion he'll help me to take away clean washing and takes dirty washing to the kitchen ready for the washer