From the article: Toddler Chores
Getting your toddler to help around the house by performing small tasks and chores is a great way to build self-esteem, instill confidence and teach self-help skills. What are some of the chores your toddler is capable of doing?
My Kids Love to Vacuum and Clean
- My now 5-year-old loves to vacuum so I let him help in the living room and as long as everything is picked up in his room he gets to vacuum his bedroom. It's also an easy way to get him to clean his own room without him realizing he did it. It's usually just clothes on the floor because he doesn't play in there. He mostly plays in his brother's room. My 2-year-old loves to wash and dust tables and picks up the rugs when the vacuuming is being done and puts them back afterward. He is beginning to want to vacuum, too. My kids love doing housework.
- —Guest tearspry@gmail.com
Twin Helpers
- My 2-year-old twin boys scoop and pour cat food into the kitty's bowl, wipe up spills that happen all the time, and will put dirty clothes they find on the floor into the basket by the basement door! They will argue with each other if one gets to do the chore!
- —Guest missymommyof4
Laundry Help
- My 1 1/2 year old sister helps me by handing me clothes and towels one by one so I don't have to bend down. Then, when changing clothes from the washer to the dryer, she pushes the clothes in and closes the dryer! Little help but REALLY adds up! (:
- —Guest Victoria
Trash
- My son usually takes out the full trash bag, but while he is outside my now 4-year-old will get the empty bag and put it in the can. She even makes sure that the bag is securely place around the edges of the can before putting the lid on. That is more than my 14-year-old does!!! LOL.
- —Guest ehawth28
my toddler helps by...
- pushing the laundry hamper down the hall to the washing machine. He also cleans up his own toy mess and any spills he has. And if I give him a wet rag (water only) he will go around wiping anything he can: chairs, tables, doors, cabinets. It only helps a little but a little adds up around here.
- —Guest jnswhitmire
Toddler chores
- My 2-and-a-half-year-old puts his clothes in the hamper, helps wipe the TV screen and screen door with wipes, helps pick up toys with the Barney song with his older siblings, will wipe a spill with help and shake his pillow out of it’s case when I am changing sheets.
- —Guest Tena
Arranges Shoes
- She helps arrange shoes at the entrance. Usually her own sandals and happily says "I help mommy."
- —Guest Guest Jeri
cleans her highchair
- My daughter cleans up her highchair with the dishcloth after she's done eating. She also gets a rag out of the bottom drawer to help clean up if she has an accident using the potty. Just the other day she started helping me get clothes out of the basket and handing them to me when when hang out the laundry, which has proven to be a real back-saver. Then when they are dry, I take them of the line and hand them to her and she puts them in the basket. I think it really helps to put the tools she needs to clean up where she can reach them.
- —Guest Natalie
Dishwasher start and unload
- My daughter loves to imitate others. She retrieves the dishwasher tablet and puts it in the holder then attempts to close the little door. She knows the button to start it but we press it together. After its done I remove the sharp items from the lower level and she puts the utensils away. This has been great for matching items so she knows the difference between big and small and knowing each by name. She also has been able to get the utensils to set the table. It's all supervised and she is very proud each time knowing she is being treated like a grown up.
- —mazz44
No more bending over to do the laundry
- My 14-month-old loves to help with laundry. When I take her clothes off at night, she walks them over to her closet and puts them in the laundry basket. The best part is when she helps take the wet clothes out of the washing machine and hands them up to me to put in the dryer (we have stacked units). It may take a little longer piece by piece, but I don't have to bend over each time and she loves helping!
- —Guest Brook
Pick up Toys
- My daughter is learning to pick up her toys when she is done playing with them. Also when she takes off her clothes she puts them in the dirty clothes.
- —chevrolet_girl_8886
My toddlers help...
- My toddler twins help by putting their plates & bowls in the dishwasher. They also love to help dust with a Swiffer duster.
- —Guest Trish
Sweep
- She dumped the crumbs on the floor -- and that's ok -- but she should learn how to pick it up. I have a small hand brush and pan. She doesn't get much in the pan (more of a distraction so I can do the actual cleaning up) and then we ge the dustbuster which she LOVES. I push it all over to her and she zaps it up!
- —Guest Carrie