Little ones and chores

When someone mentions the word chores we think of some dreaded task or routine: something that has to be done whether we feel like it or not, although that is not always so. For instance, walking the dog or gathering the clothes off the clothesline on a sunny, breezy, summer day. They smell so nice and fresh! This has nothing to do with little ones and chores, you might ask, but I just happened to be thinking way back when my little ones were always eager to "help" with all sorts of chores and that was just one.

Each little one liked to be in on most every chore that I can think of. The washclothes or tea towels or socks might be somewhat off center, but I always told them that they were a big help and thanked them. When they were little they liked to help set the table, dry dishes, sweep the floor (with their own little broom), dust the furniture, etc. Even John liked to do some of those things when he was very little, but he very soon liked to "help" his dad work on the machinery. One day, when he came in the house with his hands all covered with axel grease black as tar and a big smile, he exclaimed "Look Mom! I've got grease ALL over my hands!" I'm sure his dad bragged on what a good job he had done helping grease the wagon axel or whatever it was he had "helped” do.

Most little ones like to imitate their mom and dad. They are inspired by how we talk to them when they have done something to the best of their ability. A little praise goes a long way. At this age I think “thank you” and telling them what a good helper they had been is better than giving them money. A reward is not expected unless we put the idea in their thinking. That will come much later when they have learned how to use money wisely. I do think it is OK for them to have their piggy bank, but that’s another subject. There are many things that little ones can learn to do by tagging alongside their mom and dad or older siblings. So little by little the little ones, in their innocence, are learning what it means to “Do The Chores”.

To name some of the chores that they eased into gradually were: setting the table, washing and drying the dishes, washing windows, feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, helping plant the garden, hoeing, husking roasting ears, feeding the pigs, going after the cows from the pasture to the barn to be milked, and the list goes on and on. Kids didn't get bored back then for lack of something to do. Print this post