"KISS for Kids" are part of the team.

In our house we believe that everyone has to play their part in helping our team. That means they clean up for themselves but also do things for others. If they say they don't want to help, I tell them that the next time they ask for help from me, I will say no. This is fairly harsh but works well.

I was tested the other day though when miss 6 said she would not be part of our team. I explained that she would not get any help the next day and actually she would not be able to eat breakfast or put on clothes or use anything in the house because they all belonged to our team. She said ok, she would help a bit so that she could wear some clothes but she would get money out of her own money box and walk the 2 km to our local Coles to buy her own groceries. I ended up walking with her and she made it to the end of our road (about 500m) before she decided that being part of the team was actually not that bad.

So what should kids be asked to do? Here is the list I have come up with, do you agree???

Ages 2-3

Put toys in toy box

Stack books on shelf

Place dirty clothes in laundry basket

Put rubbish in the bin

Fold washcloths

Set the table

Fetch nappies and wipes

Wipe up spills

Use dustpan and broom

Ages 4-5

Feed pets

Put away toys

Make the bed

Clean up bedroom

Water plants

Put plates in dishwasher

Put dishwasher items away

Prepare simple snacks/ breakfast

Use hand-held vacuum

Clear kitchen table

Match clean socks

Put clothes away in drawers

Replace toilet paper roll

Bring in mail

Ages 6-7

Fold towels

Sweep floors

Weed garden

Peel potatoes or carrots

Make salad

Load dishwasher

Put a load of washing on

Dust

Put groceries away

Ages 8-9

Hang out clean washing

Fold clean washing

Scramble eggs

Bake cookies

Walk dog

 

Ages 10-11

Clean bathroom

Vacuum

Clean countertops

Prepare simple meals

Mow lawn

Do simple mending (Button)

Wash/ vacuum car

Wash windows

Ages 12 and up

Mop floors

Trim hedges

Paint walls

Shop for groceries with list

Cook complete dinner

Bake bread or cake

Do simple home repairs

Iron clothes

Watch younger siblings

I have to say I expect my kids to do a lot. When my girls were 4 and 5 they were expected to do 6 jobs every morning.

These were;

            Get themselves breakfast – cereal

            Get dressed

            Brush their teeth

            Brush their hair

            Clean their rooms; beds made, nothing on the floor, everything away. (I would help them with hanging up clothes because they couldn’t reach).

            Sign in; Write their names on a piece of paper for practise.

After me showing them a few times they were very capable. It always amazes me what my little people are capable of. xx