Google+
You are here: Home / Real Life Learning / Toddler Time: Helping Around the House

Toddler Time: Helping Around the House

March 5, 2013 By 2 Comments

Toddler Time: Helping Around the House

My little girl is going to be 2 next month and she is really starting to want to help me with some of the household chores. She especially loves unloading the dishwasher.

Many people have asked me over the years how I have time to do crafts, clean the house, etc. with little ones. My answer is simple. I keep my toddlers next to me while I work.

While my house is no showplace, it could be a lot worse if I only thought I could clean if the kids weren’t around.

Children have a natural desire to emulate the actions of the adults in their lives. While it is easier just to do the mundane household tasks myself, it is always much more fun to have a helper.

In turn, toddlers learn how to do household chores and they actually enjoy doing them. Oh, if only I could always think that doing dishes and laundry was as fun as my toddlers do. :)

Encouraging toddlers to help around the house is not only teaching them useful skills, but it also teaches them that they are a valuable part of the family.

While there are times when it isn’t safe to have my little ones right next to me helping, the majority of the time I enjoy having a pint-sized helper next to me.

Here are some ways I have encouraged my toddlers and preschoolers to help around the house.

How do you encourage your little ones to help around the house?

signature

Filed Under: Real Life Learning, Toddler Time
  • Joy

    We do much of the same (except we don’t own a dishwasher they like to help put the dried dishes away, especially silverware!). Just today my 17-month-old son helped me change out laundry (he threw the dryer clothes into a basket and then we worked together to put the wet clothes in the dryer since they’re heavier when wet) and the other night he helped me do the dishes. He stood at the sink scrubbing some non-breakables for probably 20 minutes or more. He loved it and screamed when it was time to be done and head upstairs for bedtime routine, LOL! He’s also in love with the broom. I found him a little mini broom, just his size, but he still wants MY broom. I have to follow him around so he doesn’t knock stuff off the walls.

    • http://www.blessingsoverflowing.com/ Jackie

      Thank you so much for sharing what you do with your little boy. I was cracking up about you having to make sure he doesn’t knock anything off the walls with your broom. I have done that before. :)

      I do always find it interesting how long little ones will play in the sink “washing” dishes. I guess it is the same concept of them playing in the bathtub. Thanks again for stopping by.