From Superhero to Helper: How Chores Empower and Transform Our Little Ones

Apr 8, 2020
2 min read

Updated: Jan 26, 2024

Sometimes our lives are so busy that we think it’s simpler to just do everything ourselves. Cook dinner, serve dinner, clean up, wash the dishes, walk the dog, solve world hunger. It is simpler and maybe faster. But now that we have all the time in the world, we can teach our children some of these skills. It may slow down the actual errand, but what they’ll learn is invaluable. And it’ll give you a few more minutes to work on that cure for cancer.

Here are some chores you can introduce:

Help carry the plates from the kitchen to the dining room (of course it depends on the age of your child, but maybe using plastic plates and glasses for lunch or snacks is helpful and less anxiety-inducing)
Help set the plates, napkins or cutlery - it might not be “correct” at the beginning, but in time they’ll get the hang of it
After the meal, help bring the dishes to the sink
After you wash them, she can help dry
Make her bed, straighten out the blanket or comforter
Sort the laundry and have her separate her clothes
Pick up toys at the end of the day to indicate playing is done and initiate bedtime
And more

6 Benefits of giving your child chores:

Trust - You are giving them an opportunity to complete an important task that contributes to the family - setting the table so everyone can eat, picking up toys so no one steps on them and gets hurt
Empowerment - They are big enough, strong enough, smart enough to follow instructions and help
Independence - They can handle a task all on their own
Teamwork - They are an important part of the family and have responsibilities
Life skills - Doing something that needs to be done teaches them the importance of initiative and reliability
Vocabulary - Narrating their actions as they do the chores introduces them to new words. Try “Good job balancing the plates” or naming the clothes coming out of the basket.