October 10, 2006 11:09 AM
Larger families - More on chores for young children
Moving this comment from Charity Grace up here so y'all can see the answer:
Love this. I had a question specifically about having the youngest child capable do a given task. I'm honestly having a hard time understanding what this looks like. Do you have a list of chores most children ___ age are typically able to do. I mean, when I read that your kids under 6 empty the dishwasher I thought, wow. I can't imagine...So any further ideas on this would be awesome.
Hi Charity Grace - I do have a list of chores at my website BarbaraCurtis.com here.
Turning responsibility over to young children requires a complete rethinking of the mother/child relationship. I don't want to sound like I'm pushing my books, but after all, I wrote them because I had good ideas I wanted to pass on to other mommies.
The Mommy Manual has all the Montessori philosophy about how children are equipped to learn best before the age of 6.
To have them empty the dishwasher, you just need to reorganize your kitchen cabinets so that plates and bowls are on the lower shelves where they can reach - that way it's easy for them to get them out to set the table when they are a little older. I still keep my glasses in the upper shelves, but my kids use a stool to reach.
Here's what it looks like. This is Justin at age four (and he has Down syndrome so he is a little less mature) putting away dishes:
Here he is peeling a potato:
Children can be taught to do many things if you carefully analyze and break down the activity into sequential steps and present it slowly and carefully. You can use hand-over-hand if you need to until their hands get used to the motions.
Children can be taught to handle things with care. Just model exaggeratedly careful movement: "Listen. Do you hear anything when I put this plate on the stack?"
Look at it this way: if you just give your kids paper and plastic they have no reason to learn how to be careful, do they? It's really best to teach them early to respect - and be good stewards of - the things in our environment. We rarely have anything break in our house, and when it does - oh, well - it's just part of the learning process. And it's just as likely to be me as anyone else :)
For more, use the Google in my right sidebar and check Chores and Montessori. But do think about investing in a copy of The Mommy Manual. That and a good stepstool in your kitchen will revolutionize your motherhood.
Posted in Big families, Mothering, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink
Comments
Thank you!
Posted by: Charity Grace | October 10, 2006 2:29 PM
The thing I like best about this post is that I get to peek into your cabinets. I have wanted to put the dishes on the lower level but didn't know which ones to use. Feel like being transparent and posting all your inside cabinets? I jsut can't imagine my pots and pans in the above cabinets and I'm pretty sure yours are, right?
You know I like what you say too :)
Posted by: janet | October 10, 2006 8:31 PM
