Ten Simple Chores for Toddlers
One of the things that Bart and I marvel at constantly about a child is how they have no interest in the things that we would DIE for (a daily two-hour nap? Sign me up) and are desperate to do things that, as an adult, have long since lost their charms.
Which means it is not very hard to add some easy chores for toddlers to your routine.
I want our children to see work as just a regular part of our lives, not something really tedious or horrifying. I also try not to give them tasks that are too difficult because I don’t want to overwhelm them.
I’ve been surprised, though, by how much even a two-year-old is capable of doing.
And it’s SO cute how proud of themselves they are!
These ten chores for toddlers are simple enough to do on a daily or weekly basis, and help them contribute to the family:
Ten Simple Chores for Toddlers
- Watering the plants – I have a lot of potted plants and so on Mondays, I fill up a container of water and send her to water the one in reach of a toddler.
- Putting the silverware away – I take out all the sharp knives and dangerous items, then put the silverware basket on the dishwasher door alongside our silverware holder from the drawer. My toddler sorts them into the proper slots and gives me anything that belongs elsewhere (like spatulas or measuring spoons).
- Helping with laundry – My girls have all loved putting clothing in the dryer (when I pull it out of the washer and hand it to her), clean out the lint, put in the dryer sheet, and finally slam the dryer door shut. It’s pretty obvious they likes the slamming most.
- Cleaning the bathroom mirrors – They spray and I wipe down the mirror. Or vica-versa.
- Putting clothing in the hamper – When they get dressed in the morning and then for bed, they are responsible for putting clothing in the dirty clothes hamper. We use all open-top baskets for laundry, so it’s easy for them to toss them in.
- Setting places at the table – Our dishes are high in our current house, but I get them all down, put them on the counter and then my toddler can help set the table. The napkins are also on a low shelf in the pantry, so they can get one for each family member before each meal (although they end up kind of crumpled, rather than folded, but we aren’t picky). Here’s a fun way to help your child learn and remember where every item goes on the table.
- Putting books away – We do a lot of reading in our family and mainly I like to read on the couch or the bed, so by the end of the day, there are usually several piles of books scattered around the house. They help collect the books and bring them back to the right shelves or baskets.
- Throwing diapers away – This one is pretty explanatory.
- Helping make my bed – I am an avid bed maker (I cannot remember more than a handful of days in the last twenty years that I have not made my bed), and my toddler loves to help gather up the pillows and heave them onto the bed while I do the sheets and comforter part of the bed-making.
- Putting shoes away – We have a shoe basket both in our entryway and in our laundry room, so everyone can reach them and whenever we come home, they are responsible for returning them to their little home. It’s great because I can also tell my toddler to go get shoes on and she’ll do it. I also like to ask her to put MY shoes away too.
Any chores for toddlers that have worked well in your home?
If you liked this post about chores for toddlers, you might like these posts too:
- 7 things for kids to do without TV
- My favorite audiobooks for toddlers
- 6 Things About Having a Red Head Baby
Photo by Christie Knight Photography
Wow. I am impressed. You have done a great job finding ways that Ella can help, and have made it a natural part of your everyday life. Kids love to be part of things and to do something useful. Keep up the good work! (And now I am going to be trying to think of ways that I can apply your ideas with my grandchildren.)
This is great. She doesn't even know she's working. It's probably all FUN to her at this stage, which is a great way to start life. Our oldest has never stopped working, and that's how he loves to spend his time. (Sometimes we do have to remind him to stop working and play for a little bit)
🙂
Great post, that is cool that you have her help with so many things. Now's the perfect time for her to learn about everyday chores because she is still at an age where it is fun. My two-year old loves to put soap in the dishwasher and start it and she also loves to help with simple cooking tasks like mixing.
What fantastic ideas!
Wow, congratulations for writing for Disney baby! And I love thIs list…we do many of these with Peanut too. Obviously we grew up in the same home where doing chores was just part of the deal.
That's so exciting that you are writing for Disney baby! I actually love reading this posts, so I will most definitely be reading your posts over there.
Also, child labor rules.
This is a great list. Your girl is doing things I wouldnt have thought to let her do.
And congrats on Disney Baby!!!
Oh my gosh, I love it! Jilly's pretty good at helping to clean up her toys and clothes, but helping put the dishes away- brilliant! Thanks for the great ideas.
I am having a total "duh!!" moment. Is it bad that I've never thought of pulling the utensil organizer out of the door so my kids can help with that task without being up on a stool?! My three-year-old always wants to help with that!
Most of my chores are the same as yours. My six- and three-year-old also like to dust. And water the garden. 🙂
How very cool about Disney Baby! I will be sure to check it out.
Love it – the silverware drawer is genious. I'm inspired to put Genghis to work more. He loves getting assignments to help around the house.
aw, she is absolutely adorable!!! mommy's little helper!
xo TJ
Fun Fact – while you were peeking the pic of me and my bear I was checking out your blog! jinx!
This makes me happy! It seems like parents never make their kids do anything these days and as a result, they don't ever learn how to work.
My almost-3-year-old also helps me sort laundry (whites/darks), matches clean socks while we're folding laundry, tears lettuce for salads and helps to spin off the water, dumps ingredients into mixing bowls, sweeps up dirt piles with a hand broom while I hold the dustpan, dusts the car interior while we're detailing, and loves to swish the toilet brush around in the bowl.
…just to add a few more ideas =)
Good for you! (And, Ella, of course.) It makes my blood boil when someone says, "Oh, we can't make him/her do that! She/he is only ___." Usually, the person speaking is talking about a ten year old who can't even make his own peanut butter sandwich. Or, even worse, is my friend who after doing all the laundry even folds and puts away her 16 year old twins clothes. GRRRR
After reading that, I am going to make my kids pull their (all be it minuscule) weight around here! That silverware idea is BRILLIANT. Thanks!
I started giving my daughter her "responsibilities" as we call them when she was 10 months. She'd been walking about a month and so she was capable to take her clothes to the hamper (with guidance of course) and throw her diapers away. I also taught her to say "thank you," when I changed her diaper/did anything for her as soon as she could say the words. It's totally paid off. As a three year old she is now in charge of many things around the house and she loves it. Although sometimes it's more work and time for me, in the long run it is great.
thanks for this!
Hmm… food for thought for my 9 and 5 year old boys that don't do very many chores anymore. They used to like to help with tasks like some of those. I guess I have gotten lazy in applying simple tasks to their lives, but I will correct that because it will make my life easier.
Thanks.
I own a very small daycare in my home and one thing I've noticed is how much kids LOVE to help me. From my 16 mo who puts her coat in her cubby, loves to dust and just discovered the broom and finds lint & strings thru out the house (drives me nuts!!!) To my 7 year old who after a major wind & rain storm 2 summers ago walked thru 3 yards picking up debris & sticks for neighbors who were at work. We put them in neat piles for them to pick up. It took myself & 2 neighbors to talk him into quitting so we could go get something to eat at Wendy's (we had no power) and a former daycare child who at 9 loved to help shovel my and a neighbors drives because her parents never let her help shovel! Kids love to help & we are doing a huge disservice not letting them do it & I can't imagine telling them no when they offer to help (specially since I'm not the greatest housekeeper)!