Getting Kids to Help Around the Home: Preschool and Kindergarten

There is increasing evidence to suggest that rich stimulation early in life affects children’s intellectual development. Children need as much encouragement as possible to try new tasks. They also need to learn by doing. Only then can they get to know their environment and how it will affect them personally.

In fact, it’s never too early to start working on your child’s self-image and self-confidence. Young babies feel feelings of safety and security when they are only a few weeks old. At 18 months, the child has a strong sense of self and her place in the family. By the time he is three years old, his natural curiosity and confidence, combined with mature social and physical skills, make him a willing and enthusiastic helper in the family.

Here are some specific ideas for adding interest and fun to homework:

pick by color -Say a color and only items of that color can be saved until the next color is called. This is a great way to teach colors as toys are put away.

old game-Have everyone save as many items as old. (My kids especially love this technique because I’ve been lying about my age for so long that I’m never sure how many items to pick up.)

Missing?-Have a child collect ten items and have the parent try to guess what is missing.

budding actress-Let young children use a hand puppet (or a sock over the hand; they can make up and name their own character) while they pick up the toys. Ask them to tell the puppet what to do – a nice change from everyone else always telling you them to do.

Order a taxi -Pretend to call a “taxi”, which is actually your son. Send the cab on an errand and let it drive away. Pay the ticket in hugs and kisses.

R2D2)-Pretend that the child is a robot. Wind him up on his back, then enter instructions by pressing the fancy buttons on his chest. Program the robot to set the table or carry something downstairs. Three and four year olds love this type of interaction.

army exercises-Play army by assigning ranks and marching to a cadence called by the “General”. Getting the kids marching and working out while putting away their clothes and toys makes getting ready for bed so much faster.

funny faces-Draw faces using the navel as a mouth; Or draw little animals on the arms so that when the muscles move, the “tattoo” appears to move. When a task is done, the head is drawn. Legs and arms are added as more tasks are completed. Of all the techniques that I have used, this is the one that my children liked the most and they remember it with laughter.

variety show -Ask for help in different ways. Sing your request or use pantomime or talk to an imaginary servant.

Mulberry -Change the words “Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush” to “This is the way we make our bed” (or other household chore).

star power -Keep a box of sticky stars in your pocket for quick application when the job is done right. Little ones love it when a star is immediately glued to the middle of their foreheads to proudly display to the world.

toy patrol-Add a Toy Patroller who is responsible for picking up toys that are left behind after the children have finished playing with them. To redeem the toys, a service must be provided instead of a fine. (The little ones are very fond of wearing a special hat that officially designates them as the Toy Patrolman.)

Would you like to find characteristics and expectations of tasks for children in preschool and kindergarten? By visiting my Artichoke Press website, you can read about one of my books called Kids, Chores & More. It will give you a roadmap for teaching responsibility and problem solving.