What are some good chores for a 4 year old?
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Asked by mercale {152} http://www.helium.com/users/551590 3/11/2010 5:15:16 PM I am reassigning household chores soon, and I am struggling to come up with some good options for my 4 year old daughter. Up until now her chore has been straigtening up the front and back hallways where winterwear tends to collect. This chore is sort of irreleveant in the summer though, and I feel like it's time for a change anyway.
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 |  Answered by Breatheeasy {48} http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/733144/jay_whidbee.html 3/11/2010 8:51:37 PM | [1 Votes] Vote this up Vote this down Flag as inappropriate |
 | Even at 4 years old, children want challenges. In fact, at these most precious ages is where they crave and thirst for knowledge the most, as they try to establish identity. With my boys at work, ages ranging from 5 yrs old to 13 yrs old. The chores are rotated every month. Some of the chores of course are challenging for the five year old, but with a little hurdle-helping, his esteem is amplified, for the fact that he feels like he's equally a part of the group and not receiving special treatment. Sure there are things that he or she will absolutely not be able to do based on age, but for those things that we can give them supervision and guidance with, and also something that is implementing independent living skills, it is definitely worth it. |
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Giving kids things that they can do all by themselves to help out really does help build self esteem. And it also helps with getting them away from the baby attitude. They want to be considered big kids so that they can help, so they usually start acting better. - Mom4one 3/13/2010 12:17:51 AM | Flagmy daughter loves to help dust she is 4 as well. she loves to help in the kitchen and she even attempts to make my bed and then she comes and tells me that she gave me a surprise. have her do the things she enjoys. and with summer right around the corner you can have her help plant flowers or water them - Regina 3/22/2010 5:42:39 PM | FlagA good chore that will give your child a sense of responsibility is for the care of animals in the house hold. Children love pets and form close bonds with their four legged play mates. Allowing your child to feed and water his pet will teach him to care for others as well, providing a good base for future social engagements such as school. Another good chore would be washing windows, a solution of vinegar and water is safe and will not harm your child if they accidentally spill it on themselves or ingest it, and will clean your windows beautifully without streaking, and the children love it! - walkinturtle 4/12/2010 12:48:28 AM | FlagMaking the bed was a big one for my son when he was four. He took a lot of pride in it. - smcharlton 4/13/2010 12:18:32 PM | Flag |
|  Answered by mamasin56 {312} 3/11/2010 6:10:06 PM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
Setting the table is a great all year round one, picking up toys, help with dinner which is a great treat for both. Make it simple, but something they can be a part of like - coating chicken, tearing lettuce for a salad. |
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•Oh yes, setting the table is a great chore for little ones. My children always had to help cook and set the table. As they got older I let them cook diner by themselves. This made our family closer and made the kids feel a bit of pride for a job well done. - lizzypo 3/12/2010 11:07:03 AM | FlagI totally agree. My six year old loves to help, when he is not asked to! He loves to know when dinner is served that he helped make it and his Dad always says something which puts a great smile on his face. - cidae 4/10/2010 8:31:34 PM | Flagis a good answer. thank you - soribel3000 4/11/2010 6:09:28 PM | Flag |
|  Answered by shellybelle {152} 3/12/2010 11:12:57 AM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
My four year old daughter enjoys setting the table for dinner. She puts out the napkins and says that she is the napkin captain. She is also in charge of putting the shoes in the front closet at the end of the day. The other chore that she has is separating the dirty clothes in the basement. We have four bins. One for the kids clothes, one for my clothes, my husbands and towels and sheets. She likes doing this the best. I also let her help me unpack the groceries when I get home from food shopping. |
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These are some great chores. The laundry allows them to practice their colors and the groceries can teach them aout different foods. At that any anything that teaches them something is a good idea because this is the time things sink in with them. Something as simple as saying count out four spoons to set the table! - anj810 3/23/2010 5:55:51 AM | FlagThat is interesting! I had never thought about using laundry as a way to learn colors. My baby is only 13 months, but I will implement this with her when she's a little older. - mrsmurch 3/31/2010 6:23:59 PM | Flagis a good way the exercise the brain and a good idea for me. - soribel3000 4/11/2010 6:12:23 PM | Flag |
|  Answered by eve7 {107} 3/12/2010 4:35:36 PM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
One other great chore is sorting laundry. Have them set apart the lights from the darks and separate out the whites. There is no danger of messing things up, and you don't need to watch them continually. Also this is a year round chore. If you are looking for things you can have them do outside the house, watering plants is a great option. You would of course need to supervise that. Your child feels important, that he is helping things grow, and an impromptu game of sprinklers is even more fun. |
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Sorting laundry is good for a lot of skill building, too! This is a really good idea! - Otter 4/2/2010 8:08:31 PM | FlagA game of sprinklers would definately reward your child for not complaining about chores. It's always good to give them a positive attitude towards work. - SeptemberGray 4/17/2010 9:59:22 PM | Flag |
|  Answered by momof4mn {107} 3/13/2010 12:20:37 AM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
My daughter sets the table and picks up her toys. If I am washing the floor, she loves to help mop. Anything that gets her involved that she can do herself will be great. The important thing is to keep the task to her level so she/he will not get frustrated. |
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One idea for helping lessen frustration is to break a task down. For my 3 and 5 year old, I made a little chart for clearing the table-put all dishes on the counter next to the sink (if they put them in the sink, things break or a spoon goes into the disposal!). Next they put food on top of the stove so I can put it away. Lastly, they sponge off the table. With 3 little pictures, they are able to do a pretty decent job! - MissMouthy 4/10/2010 10:38:55 PM | Flag |
|  Answered by momhas2js {200} 3/13/2010 9:42:26 AM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
All of the suggestions already listed were my thoughts as well from setting the table to sorting laundry. Maybe also small sweeping jobs like a porch or garage, arranging shoes in the closets neatly, helping empty the grocery bags onto the kitchen counter and then taking care of the empty bags. Bringing the empty trash cans from the curb back to the garage on trash day. We also refill water bottles in my house and my little ones used to enjoy that task. I also had them help with cleaning down low on glass doors. I am in charge of spraying the glass cleaner ( so that the dog does not get sprayed again ) then they clean down low while you do up high. Even though you sometimes have to do over their job w little when they are not looking it gives them a sense of accomplishment. |
|  Answered by blueeyes73801 {122} 3/14/2010 7:01:25 AM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
My three year old is responsible for her room to the best of her ability of course. She also has to pick up her own plate and scape it off after dinner. Last but not least she picks up the hall way witch for some reason always gets toys and dirty laundry spread about it. I have found that she enjoys having responsibility. Pulse it makes her feel like a big girl. |
|  Answered by Ramage13 {103} http://www.00cupcake.blogger.com 3/14/2010 5:21:05 PM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
My son is two and he loves to do chores! He cleans up his room, picks up the living room, and he loves to put the dishes in the dishwasher. We don't let him play with the soap but he also likes to help put the clothes in the dryer when we do laundry. I think it's a huge self esteem builder and he is quite good at the things that he does. If we are mopping, he loves to help do that too. |
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|  Answered by danielle128 {106} 3/20/2010 9:06:16 AM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
My son has to clean up his playroom (as well as a 4 year old can). I keep him on task by making a list of some of the items that I see are out of place. He is not yet reading, so I draw little figures on a paper, and tell him what it is, I then give him a time limit. The list helps the work not appear overwhelming, and the time limit keeps him on task. Kind of sounds harsh explaining it, but he really enjoys it. He brings me his list with the figures checked off and is so proud of himself. |
|  Answered by buzymom13 {103} 3/21/2010 1:21:36 PM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
My son loved to help with the laundry when he was 4 and 5 yrs. He was just the right height to reach those socks that fell to the bottom of the dryer. He was also very dutiful to cleaning the lint trap out. Another chore he loved to do was putting all the pens and pencils back that got left on counters and tables in the house. It became a treasure hunt game for him. He has matured to feeding the dog and watering the plants in the summer now but still finds time to help with the laundry sometimes even now. |
|  Answered by momtastic3 {116} 3/23/2010 12:23:11 AM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
At four years old it is important to start adding chores that can be done independently. The chores might need to be touched up later when your daughter is not around, but that will improve with time. The satisfaction she will get from completing her own chores is priceless. Cleaning doorknobs and lightswitches is a good job to start with. You can start with just a damp washcloth and then move to a cleaning wipe, depending on the maturity and of your daughter. This is an important job because it cleans the germs from the areas and helps keep the whole family healthy, so she will know that what is doing is a real chore and not just something for a little kid to do. All the other suggestions are fantastic and I look forward to implementing those as well. |
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I love the idea of the doorknob and light switch cleaning.If You could call the job title Germinator My little one would hop on board. - Marielavoe 3/24/2010 2:44:11 PM | Flag |
|  Answered by Gracellen {160} 3/31/2010 1:56:16 AM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
When I was 4 years old, my Mom had designed a miniature clothes line in our back yard where I would hang all of the wash cloths, and socks. |
|  Answered by oklahomapoet {158} http://myhouseholdjunk.com 4/11/2010 1:11:21 AM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
My son is 4, almost 5. He has to take his dishes to the sink after meals, pick up his toys, help put away his laundry, and help me dust his room. |
|  Answered by dmacsully {157} 4/12/2010 2:32:14 PM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
My son is only 3 but I already have him pick up his toys, put away his laundry and help feed the pets. He has a hampster he is in charge of ensuring has fresh food and water. |
|  Answered by monique {167} 4/20/2010 4:42:35 PM | [0 Votes] Vote this up Flag as inappropriate |
I think picking up toys and helping with dinner is a great chore. I know i use to love helping with the little stuff in the kitchen like getting the plates out or tossing the salad. Its a great bonding moment for you and the kids. |
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