Most kids of pre school age are keen to help their parents around the home, and often mimic their actions as they follow them around when they’re dusting and vacuuming, for example. Wouldn’t it be great to encourage that mimicking behavior and have them actually do something constructive around the home? Don’t think that’s possible? Well, why not read on to learn all the things your preschooler is more than capable of doing to assist in the home; they might not be major tasks, but they all matter, and at the same time, you get to instill some strong values in your child, such as cleanliness, the importance of being tidy and taking responsibility for their home and belongings.

Just remember that the best way to teach a very young child to help with certain tasks around the home, is to show them; that way they don’t just learn how to do it, but also how to do it properly and in line with your expectations. It may also take a few attempts to get them up to a standard that actually helps, instead of adding to your workload, but patience is indeed a virtue – another great value to instill in your child!

While every child will have varying levels of capability, there’s every chance that your little one will be able to help you with at least some of the chores listed below:

General household chores for your preschooler

Try these with your preschooler, and se which ones they’re able to complete with minimum assistance or intervention:

• Making their bed every morning, or at least tidying the comforter and pillows
• Wiping baseboards and cupboards with baby wipes
• Folding laundry – if folding is too complex, they can match socks or hand you any items to be folded
• Sorting laundry before washing, such as whites and colors etc.
• Putting clean clothes away
• Cleaning windows with a damp cloth
• Picking up toys and books and putting them away
• Watering houseplants
• Wiping bathroom counters with a damp cloth
• Dusting surfaces within their reach
• Wiping door knobs/handles

Young children can also be reasonably useful when it comes to mealtimes, and below are a few simple house cleaningchores they should be able to master without too much difficulty:

• Setting the table with plates, napkins and cutlery
• Bringing dirty dishes to the sink after meals – just be careful that they carry them one at a time!
• Wiping the table after meals and clearing crumbs with a handheld vacuum

These tasks should make your preschooler feel useful and with plenty of reward and motivation, there’s no reason why your little one shouldn’t continue helping you around the home as they grow older. For little ones who aren’t so helpful around the home, simply hire a cleaning service to help you keep the home clean and tidy, instead.