Household jobs just for the kids
They’re never too young to learn to pull their weight around the house. But it can be fun as well. Natalia Didovich reports.
The school holidays are here, but that doesn’t mean the house has to resemble a state of chaos for the next few weeks. Many hands make light work and it won’t do your kids any harm to learn how to help around the house during their break from school. Here are some household chores that would suit children of different ages:
Safety first
Before you unleash your children on the house with a paintbrush or hammer, it’s important to educate them on safety first.
Co-founder of Builderscrack.co.nz, Jeremy Wyn-Harris, said involving them in household chores would not only ease the burden for mum and dad but would also get them thinking about the risks in their environment and teach them safety skills.
‘‘If they’re doing chores outside, make sure they know it’s important to wear sunscreen and be sun smart,’’ Wyn-Harris said.
‘‘Make sure they know to wear gloves if they’re working in the garden and wear earmuffs and eyewear if they’re mowing the lawn.’’
Five- to 7-year-olds
They might not be able to mow the lawn or sand a fence, but they can still do a lot of things around the house. If you have pets, put your child in charge of cleaning out its cage or sleeping area and ensuring your furry friend has fresh water in their bowl.
Wyn-Harris said this was also the perfect age to get your child helping out in the garden. Raking leaves, watering plants, hosing bird poo off the trampoline, pulling weeds and scrapping moss off pathways are obvious and extremely helpful choices. ‘‘They can also help in the garden,’’ he said. ‘‘They can help you build a planter box or plant new vegetables. You can use this time to talk to educate them about growing food.’’
10-year-olds
Now is a great time to give your outdoor furniture a good clean. A 10-year-old with a cloth and a bucket of warm soapy water can deal to any winter grime. ‘‘Sometimes screws can get loose as wood expands and contracts over the change in seasons, this is a great opportunity to teach your child how to use an allen key to tighten them up,’’ WynHarris said.
Another simple but helpful chore was cleaning scuff marks (that they probably made) off the walls.
‘‘Just combine bicarbonate soda with warm water and use a cloth to wipe it off,’’ he said.
While they’re still in the cleaning frame of mind, why not also get them to help clean the windows? Make it a fun family activity by putting on some music and getting the whole gang involved.
12- to 14-year-olds
At this age your child can do things around the house that require a bit more grit and staying power, Wyn-Harris said. This is the perfect opportunity to get your kids away from Fortnite and out in the fresh air for a few hours. Wyn-Harris suggested getting to them to clean the barbecue or help out with sanding or staining the deck or fence.
He also said this lawn mowing could be considered in this age group. ‘‘The age you get them started with mowing really depends on the type of lawnmower and how hard the lawn is,’’ Wyn-Harris said.
Electric mowers have more safety features and are a lot easier for a younger child to push around. However, if you’ve only got a big ride-on mower or a petrol lawnmower, Wyn-Harris recommended waiting until your child was older.
All ages
No matter what the age, you can get your child involved with decluttering the house by getting them to set aside things they don’t use any more to give away to charity, clearing out the garage and helping with trips to the tip.
All children can lend a hand with sorting, folding and putting away the washing. You can also get them to do any kind of sorting you haven’t
A simple tree house platform doesn’t have to be complicated.