Keeping your house clean should be a family affair; everyone should pitch in somewhere. Kids should start household chores at an early age, based on their skills and abilities, so by the time your child is preschooler, the chores for 4 year olds help you around the house.
Kids might be pros at making messes, but it take the time to teach your kids the habit of cleanliness, they will be great at cleaning them up as well.
The reality is, unless you worked with your preschooler before, a 4 year old cannot be expected to work independently. However, once they understand the tasks set for them, you can expect your child to start truly participating around the house.
The first step is to pick age-appropriate chores for 4 year olds; let’s take a look at some ideas!
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Home Preschool
What are Chores for 4 Year Olds Beneficial?
Some parents may think that their kids don’t need to have chores, but evidence shows the opposite. Responsibilities make kids feel like they are part of the family and special; they have a special role!
It has several benefits, such as:
- Chores teach kids responsibility.
- It helps them develop a feeling of independence.
- Chores teach preschoolers how to work well with others and develops social skills needed for kindergarten.
- This helps prepare your child for working and playing with others.
Parents are responsibility for teaching kids at a young age about responsibility; this is needed as they grow older. They learn there is work that needs to be done for their family to function smoothly. It also helps your child learn that their family is a team, and they are part of that team.
7 Tips for Setting Chores for Your 4 Year Old
Preschool-aged kids love feeling important, and setting chores for 4 year olds helps them feel independent. You want to make sure the tasks aren’t too difficult since it could cause your child to feel frustrated. At the same time, the tasks should be valuable to your family.
Always build on what your child already knows how to do. If he can pour a drink, then he can pour water for the dog.
Here are some other tips to help you set chores for your preschooler.
1. Make Sure Your Child Knows What to Expect
Vague instructions are as good as no instructions. Telling your child, especially a young 4 year old, to simply clean your room is vague. Adults may know what that means, but young kids need their expectations clearly spelled out for them.
Be as clear as possible.
Try saying “put all of your dirty clothes in the hamper and put the books on the bookshelf. Make sure all of the dishes are in the sink.”
2. Don’t Expect Perfection
No one is perfect, and that includes your 4 year old. If you expect your preschooler to complete chores perfectly (or up to your standards), you will be disappointed.
The reality is chores may not be done perfectly, but if they are completed to the best of their abilities, that is the best thing you can expect. If you expect anything more, chances are you will both end up disappointed, and you may be tempted to jump in and do it yourself.
Don’t!
Let them do the chores to their ability.
3. Praise More Than You Criticize
Praise goes a lot further than criticisms; kids remember the feeling of praises more than how they feel when you criticized their work.
Start praising your child while the chores are in progress; it helps build momentum, especially for younger kids.
4. Add New Chores Slowly
When you decide to give chores for your 4 year olds, you want to add new chores slowly. Give your child time used to doing one chore and understand how to do it well before adding a new chore.
Watch how your child handles the chore you set before moving to the next thing. You don’t want to overwhelm him!
5. Be Consistent
Consistency matters. If your kids know that you will follow through, they won’t put off their chores, and they will know you mean it when you want it completed.
Consistent effects help your kids know what to expect. If your kids get toys out, expect them to clean up before moving to the next task. If they spill their drink, they have to wipe it up.
6. Use a Timer
I love timers for kid chores. If your preschooler is like mine, they quickly become dramatic and say they’ll be doing chores “forever.” A timer shows them that they really won’t be doing it forever.
You also can set tasks like clean up as much as you can until the timer goes off.
7. Use Chore Charts or Chore Cards
In some cases, chore charts or chore cards are great incentives for your preschooler to complete their tasks. Hang the chart somewhere your preschooler can see and know what needs to be completed.
Chore charts help your child keep track of their progress, and if you want, you can offer a reward or incentives for completing their tasks each week. Some adults find chore charts for themselves; it maps out what is needed to be done!
8. Give Your Child Appropriately Sized Tools
Giving your child tools that are too large for them and awkward makes it harder to complete the tasks you give them. If you give them better sized tools, it becomes easier.
Instead of using safe metal knives, use kid-safe silicone knives. Grab a mini broom with a dustpan rather than giving them a big broom that might be too hard for your preschooler to use. You can even get a mini mop for kids.
36 Chores for 4 Year Olds
Here are some chores your preschooler will be able to successful manage after learning how to complete them. Model how to complete the tasks for your child!
- Put toys away
- Pick up trash or things around a room
- Mop with a small mop or stiffer
- Use a hand-held vacuum
- Fill pet’s food dish
- Put dirty clothes in the hamper
- Wipe up spills
- Make their bed
- Move laundry from washer to the dryer
- Fold washcloths, hand towels, and other small items
- Put away clean clothes (your child will need help to avoid unfolding the clothes)
- Sort & fold socks
- Empty trash bins
- Bring in the mail
- Help put groceries away
- Set the table for dinner
- Clear the table after a meal
- Unload utensils from the dishwasher
- Wash plastic dishes in the sink
- Wipe down counters in the kitchen
- Pull weeds
- Water flowers
- Water indoor plants
- Sweeping the patio or deck
- Clean their space in the car
- Clean baseboards
- Dust surfaces
- Wipe door handles and light switches
- Wiping counters in the bathroom
- Pick clothes for the next day
- Brush teeth independently
- Brush their hair
- Wash hands after using the bathroom
- Make a sandwich
- Wash fruits and vegetables
- Chop vegetables and fruit – use kid safe knives.
Get your kids involved around the house, and these chores for 4 year olds help feel like they are part of the family. It gives them a sense of responsibility, which all kids need.
The post 36 Chores for 4 Year Olds: Set Them Up for Success appeared first on Just Simply Mom.
