It can be bittersweet teaching our children to become more independent of us when it comes to parenting, but we know it is one of our core responsibilities. Teaching children independence and the ability to do simple everyday tasks is helpful in the household; it helps build their confidence, which is something we all want our little ones to have. When it comes to getting kids involved, there are countless ways to do this, from starting early Montessori style to chore charts. Every family is unique, so what works for one may not work for another. But, there are some tried and true ways that work for almost all children. Let's look at ways you can quickly get your kids involved in helping out with tasks and chores throughout the house.
Get On Their Level
The same way it works when disciplining and explaining to children to get down to their level of eye contact, making things in the house at their level is another easy way to get them involved. While budgetary restrictions may prevent you from installing child-sized toilets in every bathroom, you can do more minor, more affordable things that work. For example, use command hooks in your hall closet or entryway so your little ones can hang up their coats and backpacks. Designate a lower kitchen drawer to contain their utensils, cups, plates, and bowls, and they can easily set their section of the table. The same can be said with all dishes and cups if you'd like to encourage them to put the entire table.
However, if you're already planning a remodel and plan on growing your family, it is worth it to invest in kid-friendly options. Say you're renovating your patio and garden area. Consider making the cabinets for outdoor kitchens low enough that children can access them and get involved in the cooking process with you. Of course, you need to consider safety, but any experienced contractor or architect can help with this.
Give Them Control
We all know we can't get our children total control over everything, but it helps if you can get your kids involved in decision-making at an age-appropriate level. Clearly, this doesn't have anything to do with bill paying and what type of car to purchase - but allowing your kids to help you grocery shop is a great place to start. Grocery choosing also turns into a learning opportunity about healthy food versus overly processed junk food. You can empower your children to make healthy food choices. Another area for food is allowing them the control to choose snacks, and you choose their healthy basic meals like breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
This can also be applied to areas of your house when you're cleaning or decluttering. We all know the misery of drowning in toys. Going through with your child and asking them what they'd like to keep or donate to other children in need is a great way to take some stress and clutter out of your life and let them feel in control and confident in the process. The same concept of choice works with playtime. They can choose what they play (or opt for screen time), and you select the amount of time they get to spend on said activity or electronic device.
Take Away The Excess
While going full-on minimalist may not work for every family, the truth is the fewer toys in a home, the more play that happens. So, if you've got a playroom full of toys your children don't play with, donate those toys and leave only the toys that inspire thought and creative play in your little ones. When you take away the excess, it makes cleaning up their rooms or play areas a cinch. Trust me, when your child doesn't feel overwhelmed with the amount of cleaning they have to do, they're happy to do, and the sense of accomplishment when they're finished will have them beaming with pride! We all love to see that on our children's faces.
Being a parent, nay, and adult is hard enough with all the curve balls that get thrown our way between professional and personal life—getting your children in a position to be involved in the day-to-day running of the household benefits everyone, but most importantly them. Hopefully, this list inspires you to take some tasks off your plate and pass them down to your little ones!
