When thinking about which chores would be an appropriate fit for your preschooler, it’s important to consider:
- What motivates them.
- Finding things that are easily enforceable and that you can follow through with.
- Setting aside a time of day to have them complete their list of chores so that it becomes a more natural part of your daily routine, and there is less pushback because they know what is expected of them.
- Make it fun! Even though they are responsibilities, you can still help out in facilitating a way to make their chores fun! You can turn anything into a game, a race or an opportunity to connect with your kids. Use this time to connect with your kids so that they innately look forward to this time of day.
- It’s OK to help them! As long as your child is still participating in the chore along with you, it’s perfectly OK for you to help them out if they ask.
Chores to Give Preschoolers During the Fall
Wiping things down
Literally. It doesn’t even have to be a good clean or a sufficient polish. Just give them a paper towel or a microfiber cloth and a spray bottle of water and let them go at it. You will see how much fun your child will have by simply just spraying our wooden cabinets with water and wiping it off.
Sorting/folding laundry
Give them the easy stuff. Matching socks, putting underwear away in the drawer. Maybe show them how to fold their shirts or pants.
Loading and unloading washer/dryer
Have your child move all of the wet clothes from the washer over to the dryer, shuts the door and then gets to delight in the blinking, beeping buttons that start the cycle.
Getting the mail
For children, this is the equivalent of going on a quest for buried treasure. Getting the keys, finding the right one that unlocks our box and fighting over who gets to carry the letters and packages back home. Such a simple task that elicits such joy. I envy so much kids’ ability to turn the most mundane tasks into an adventure.
Sweeping the floor
Is the floor actually getting clean? Nope. Are all of the crumbs from breakfast still scattered through the kitchen? Yep. But that Melissa and Doug broom and mop are getting their money’s worth and the kids are learning responsibility! A win, win!