Are you dreaming of the days your children will finally be able to pitch in and lend a hand with the household chores? Those days may be sooner than you think.
Studies have shown that chores not only teach children a good work ethic and cleaning habits, but they also promote higher self-esteem as well as better academic performance and social skills.
Age Appropriate Chores
You may be surprised to learn how many chores your child is actually capable of completing. Just remember to be patient, and don't expect perfection.
Ages 2 and 3-Pick up toys, wipe up spills, dust furniture and feed pets
Ages 4 and 5-Make his or her bed, water plants, use hand-held vacuums to clean couches, take out trash, unload unbreakable items from the dishwasher, and wash plastic dishes in the sink
Ages 6 and 7-Help make his or her lunch, keep his or her bedroom clean, sweep floors, sort laundry, weed and rake leaves
Ages 8 and 9-Vacuum, help make dinner, mop floors, walk pets, put away laundry, make breakfast and snacks
Ages 10 and older-Load and unload dishwasher, iron clothes, cook simple meals, babysit siblings, mow the lawn, clean the kitchen and bathrooms, wash cars, change bed sheets
| Time to Talk Allowance
Giving your child an allowance can be a great way to teach him or her about the value of money, how to manage finances, and the importance of building a savings account. Deciding how they earn it, how much to give, and when to start giving is a decision each family must make independently.
Experts recommend giving children 50 cents to a dollar per week for every year of their age-for instance a 10-year-old would receive anywhere from $5 to $10. Talk to your children about responsibly spending money, but ultimately let them decide how they spend their money. You can also encourage your child to save money by purchasing a unique piggy bank. If you want to encourage your children to be charitable, help them find a charity that's meaningful to them, such as a pediatric cancer charity, and explain to them how their money will help others.
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This article, provided by My Health Publisher, can be viewed here.