Toddlers of the Kipsigi people in southwestern Kenya are routinely given real household chores from two years old, so that by six they are playing a full role in providing and caring for the family. In villages across India, four-year olds are learning the rudiments of agriculture and girls have domestic chores, having been introduced to the tasks as toddlers with weeding and taking care of siblings.
So what kinds of tasks are good starter activities for this age group? Research suggests these should be achievable: getting undressed and into pajamas, brushing teeth, and tidying toys or putting away crayons.
Toddlers especially like chores involving “grown-up” items: piling laundry into a basket, getting a clean diaper when you’re changing the baby, collecting fallen leaves with a mini rake, and finding the family shoes and lining them up. Are there jobs that he can be in charge of? Expect to supervise every activity at first, and to keep up the reminders, tips, and praise.
Your child will get distracted, and there may be more mess after the chore than before, but there are practical ways to encourage him to help and make the process less work for you—put up a row of hooks at child height for his coat, keep a drawer in the kitchen for his cutlery, and position boxes at an accessible height for tidying up DVDs, blocks, and toys. Research suggests offering to pay pocket money or other rewards doesn’t pay off in the long term.
The best predictor of young adults’ success in their mid-20s was that they participated in household tasks when they were three or four.
Studies suggest that a household routine that includes regular chores strengthens family relationships, makes children feel secure, and leads to increased well-being, which lasts into young adulthood. Chores weave your child into the routines of the household, providing a predictable structure that seems to support early development and a happy family life.
