When is the best time to teach children household chores?

Small children generally like and want to help with chores and that is the best time to start teaching them. You do have to remember, however, that they're not going to do it perfectly or exactly as you would do it yourself, but that is not the important part of the lesson.

I have two boys: the oldest is 3,5 and the youngest 2. They started with putting their toys away around age 1,5. At two they started helping with making the 'big bed' (that's the bed of me and DH) every day. They 'do' the pillows when I do the rest. The oldest helps with his bed too, but for the youngest it's two difficult to help. When they mess with their drinks, and they do it on purpose, they have to clean it up by their selves. If it's not on purpose, it depends on my mood, but most of the time they ask for something so they can do it by themself. When I'm doing the dishes, the oldes one sometimes helps with everything that's plastic. And he enjoys it. I can remember the story my mom loved to tell when I was younger. When I was two years old I wanted to help doing the dishes and my father gave me a plate of a new china my mother got. And after it was used for the first time, it was missing a plate (hmm, guess I'm smarter after that story, my son only gets plastic stuff to dry ;-) ) I think that they're never too young to learn. You can start at a young age when they help you while playing. They see it as a game and while they're at it, they are learning important basic scills. Nothing wrong with that.

Start early- as soon as a child is able to perform the tasks. My son is 20 months old and for months has been helping set the table, pick up his toys, but laundry in the hamper and into the dryer from the washer. Waiting until later makes it harder to learn and does not instill a sense of responsibility. Plus, it is nice to be able to do chores with my son instead of having to wait until he is sleeping to do laundry.

as soon as kids learn to walk and talk i think it is ok to start terasching them how to do some things in the house it does not have to be tedious,you can have them stay with you in the kitchen whlie cooking,ask them to help you with spoon,or the salt etc,just something to make them feel they are part of what they are doing,they enjioy helping no matter how little.and when they learn to enoty doing this at a early age it becomes easy to move up to higher chores in the house

Hi, I think the best time is since little time. Especially when they initiate to help in doing chores. Besides, by teaching them do chores assure that you trust them and willing to guide them if they done wrong. So, indirectly both the parents and kids will have a closer bond with one another. Besides, the kids will learn to be more independent and confident in what they are doing.

As soon as they are able to do a task. I started teaching my kids as young as age 1 to help put away toys. If they learn it from the beginning, instead of waiting until they are older, they don't think twice about it and just assume it's a part of daily living. My kids had tons of chores and had a chore list. They were able to finish them easily. Make bed, take turns with taking care of certain things, help with dishes, etc. Now that our granddaughter, 11 months, lives with us and we babysit her when mom is at work, she is learning things already, like put away the toys. If they think they can wait until they are teenagers... well, let's just put it this way, GOOD LUCK!! We all know how well teenagers like to be made to do things, anyway. Imagine ONLY teaching them then? OY VAY!!

I don't think there is a "right" time. It depends on the parent and the child. I do think that children should be encouraged to help as soon as they take an interest and/or are able to help. Yes, it may be more time consuming to begin with but one year of spending that extra bit of time teaching them is surely worth the lifetime of them appreciating your hard work and helping with it. Both of my children help with housework. My 8 year old does quite a lot by himself such as keeping his bedroom tidy, making sure his own clothes are ready to go in the wash and the occassional errand to the shop. My toddler helps me wherever he can. He can load the washing machine and help to make drinks and things like that. I am lucky that I have two lovely boys who are so willing to help wherever they can. I am not going to tell them they can't unless I think they could hurt themselves or do something else bad.

When a child can walk and pick things up its time to teach them. My daughter is 17 months old and she helps me clean up. She can't do much and can't do any thing herself yet but she sure does try. She helps with cleaning up her toys, she throws stuff in the garbage, helps put the clothes in the dryer, helps take them out. I want her to learn now that way it is easier to keep the pattern.

I started with my children right after they started to walk. They had to help pick up toys and put them away every night. It was somewhat like a game with them but they soon learned to do this without even being told or without my help. And now 4 of the six are still doing this. Everything must be put back in its place before they can go to bed. I guess it became a habit for them. They have done the same with their children and so far their children have been a big help for them because they have to work. This gives them some free quality time to spend with each other.

I started teaching my son a few chores early. He couldn't even walk yet when he started picking up most of his toys on his own. He's 2 years old now. He helps with a lot of stuff! He locks the doors when we come into the house (we check and make sure), he will carry in a bag of light stuff when we go to the store, he clears the table, he throws stuff away, he helps feed the dogs, he still picks up his toys, and in fact does a lot of his own room cleaning, with the exception of things like vacuuming, that he is still just too little for. Pretty much anything that is physically possible for him to do, he will do, and doesn't mind. IN fact he LOVES being Mommy's helper. I know that as kids get older, they tend to quit wanting to help so much, but I still think it's important that he learns how to do stuff at an early age. It will just make it that much easier for him when he gets older!

The best time to start teaching a child is when they are ready to learn, when they actually ask you to share things or to do things by themselves. Often we don't allow children to learn new things because we are very controlling and always want it done our way. Yet by depriving children of the opportunity to show what they can do, we rob them of the confidence, self belief and experience necessary for their development. By the time the child reaches teenage years, it would be too late to teach them about jobs. They should start from about 7 years old, with simple things relating to looking after themselves, then graduate by 12/13 to giving a hand in the house with dishes etc. By mid-teens they would then have a healthy appreciation of their role in the family and feel a sense of value and appreciation in doing it. My daughter had long thick hair and I remember the first time she asked me if she could comb her own hair to go to school. She was just over 6 years old. I took a huge gulp because I could see the results already. I could also see the neighbours taking one look at her and saying how neglected she was! However, I decided that since she wanted to learn, that was the best way to teach her, and it would encourage me to gradually trust her to do things so I made a bargain with her. I told her that she could comb her hair twice each week and I would do it all other times until she got used to it. I will never forget the first morning she combed it. I wanted to die, seeing the state of it, but I let it go and praised her for her efforts. One month on, as she slowly got used to doing it herself, the results were improving. A few months later and she was combing it herself most days and feeling very proud of it. By the time she was 8 she didn't want me to do it any more. That's how she gradually learnt everything in the home, which turned her into one of the most confident teenagers - and achiever - I ever saw: fearless, determined and very self-assured. I am very happy with that. It taught me as the parent that there are always different routes to the same end and not just our own.

Hi Bebs. When my son was old enough to understand basic instructions, I first taught him how to pick up his toys and bring them back to their original place. I think he was barely 2 years old at that time. Now, at almost the age of 5, not only does he pick up his toys and put them to their right places, but he usually picks up after himself. For example, he accidentally bumps into something and it falls to the floor, he will automatically pick it up and put it right back. These days, I let him assist me in setting up the table. Just teach him the basics. When he's a year or a couple more years older, I'll teach him some more chores. I think it's best teach kids how to do simple household chores when they can fully understand why it's being taught to them. Incorporating a little fun will make the teaching process more enjoyable for them and prevents it from convincing them that it's a boring task.

From the day they can toddle to that toy box and throw the toys everywhere then they are old enough to toddle back over there and put them away!

Children should be taught from the very beginning. It should be started with showing them the simple things first so that when they grow up they become independent easily and quickly. In the beginning they should be taught that after playing they have to pick up all their toys etc this will make them become disciplined in a way. With time when they grow up they should be able to make their breakfast, i mean simpler things as if one day the parents are not at home they would know how they can prepare simple things and thus they would not stay hungry. And I think whenever they are taught something the reason behind showing them these things should be told to them, I think this would help them in understanding it better and they would not misunderstand their parents as well.

Well, I think that they should learn at a early age to start cleaning just by helping out some not alot but some like a little dusting taking clothes out of the dryer to put in a basket and picking up their own stuff and putting it where it goes. Then when they get old enough usually 8 then they can start dusting and vaccuming maybe and cleaning their rooms and helping with laundry by learning to separate clothes for the different loads and learning to cook easy small meals. Then by age 12 they should know how to do it all mostly and be doing dishes at this time and laundry. I knew how to do it all by the time I was eight my stepdad was strict. I could cook,clean,sew,do garden work and alot of everything else at eight. So I know how it is to have to to it all and so that is why I said start them out slowly maybe once a week with just small things then as they get older maybe a few times a week bye age sixteen they should pretty much be able to help out daily if so wished. I don't think it is ever to young to teach responsilbility of helping keep things clean.

The earlier the better. I have two kids 7.5 years old...and 17 month old....both are boys. And both of them have little chores to do.....yes, even the 17 month old who puts his plate in the sink after he's done eating and puts his dirty nappy and clothes in the laundry basket. He also likes to help me with 'cleaning'. I refused to do chores before I was married....I would do the dishes and a little cleaning...and the bathrooms sometimes....I found out how hard it was to do everything alone when I was married. I also realized that I was lazy because my mother waited till I was into my teenage years to start giving me chores....so, I decided to start early with my kids and it works.

I think, like many other things, it all depends on the individual child. When they start showing an interest in helping I think you should let them, but that's just my opinion. My granddaughter is 11 and she's been helping my daughter clean and even some cooking for years and she does it well but my grandson, who is 13, isn't nearly as willing to do it and doesn't do it that well, I think on purpose so he isn't asked to do it...lol! They can't learn to "do it right" if they're not allowed to try, now are they? Annie

I think you can start teaching children as young as being a toddler. Start by teaching them to pick up their toys. Then when they get a little older they can start helping to dust, or even rinse the dishes, etc.

All three of mine once they were toddlers wanted to help mummy and they all including my son had their own miniture kitchens so if I was washing up they could too as they got slightly older I allowed them to do their plates and bowls in the sink and to help with the dustpan and brush help tidy their rooms etc. As they got slightly older 7/8 I would pay pocket money to them for doing certain chores. I had a list that they could choose from and each one on the list they done they got 50p ($1), this encouraged them to do more but I would never make them. I believe the earlier the better as both my older children who have now left home can cook and clean without problems. Ellie :D

I think that children can start to help around the house when they are very young. They enjoy 'helping', even if they aren't very good at it, and of course they are learning whilst they are doing so. My youngest really enjoys emptying the washing machine, and he passes me the items one by one as I peg them out. It's really cute to watch!