For children, a job can be one of the prime keys to the magical world of adults, one that lets them take on grown-up tasks and responsibilities while learning grown-up skills.
Raising Children Network.
I have a 5 year old (or at least will next week) and a 3 year old. I want to start teaching them important life skills, through jobs around home. I want to make them feel valued members of the family, through their contribution to the family. Plus the fact that they are still young enough to be excited about being given 'jobs' to do, especially when pitched the right way.
We have started a little mantra at our house 'a family who works together, plays together'. I started this before we had any set jobs. I wanted my kids to understand the importance of pulling together as a family before they felt the 'responsibility' of the jobs.
A few months ago I introduced laundry, and will do a post about that another time...
Last week I introduced cleaning toilets. There are three toilets in our house. So we have now designated toilets to clean, we all do it at the same time because.... 'a family who works together, plays together'.
I have also bought my kids the safest looking vegetable peelers I could find, so that they can peel the carrots and potatoes for me while keeping fingers in tact!
Now I must admit I did stop and have second thoughts.... surely my kids are too young for me to be teaching them these jobs???
However, tonight Christie from Childhood 101 put a link up on her facebook page. I am now convinced that my kids are not too young. It is important, no it is my parental duty to teach them these life skills. The age of starting is debatable, however I think as long as the expectation of the job is kept age appropriate there is no harm in teaching them now.
How old are your kids? Do they already have responsibilities in your home to complete jobs / chores?
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