A child’s brain is like a sponge – guess you’ve heard that a million times already but yes it’s true. In fact, the first six years of a child’s brain is the period when it can soak in huge amount of information from his environment, effortlessly absorbing almost everything he sees and hears. This is a critically important period of brain development, as 85% of their core brain structure becomes the core foundation throughout life.
By the time a child reaches 4 or 5 years old, he should be exercising most of the lessons parents have taught him, like saying courtesy statements as “thank you”, “please” and “you’re welcome”. These may sound ordinary, but would greatly contribute in molding a child’s character at a young age which would build a positive and strong foundation to his adulthood.
Along with letters of the alphabet, numbers, colors, shapes and word spelling, are some little life hacks (age-appropriate) that you can teach your kiddos at home.
Make them aware of both Personal and Family Chores.
Age 2-4
At age 2-4, you may teach kids simple and light personal chores like make their beds and picking up their toys. For family chores, they can put their dirty laundry in the basket, fill a pet’s water and food bowls (should be well-supervised) and help clean up spills and dirt.
Age 3-5
Kids should be learning to do personal chores like getting dressed and make their bed but with minimal parental help, bring things from one place to another and washing hands. They can be little assistants in some family chores like setting or clearing the table, matching socks after drying, answering the phone, hanging up towels in the bathroom and cleaning their rooms with supervision.
Age 6-7
When they reach age 6-7, you may assign them daily tasks like being responsible for pet’s food, water, and exercise, folding laundry with supervision, putting laundry in drawers, putting dishes away in the dishwasher, helping prepare food with supervision, and emptying indoor trash cans.
Age 8-11
They should now be responsible for caring for personal hygiene, homework and keeping their personal belongings, and waking up using an alarm clock. However, for family chores, they can wash dishes, help wash the family car, prepare few simple meals on their own, rake leaves, learn to use the washer and dryer, take the trash out to the curb for pick up, test smoke alarms once a month with supervision, and screen phone calls using caller ID.
Age 12-13
In addition to the personal chores at age 8-11, you may let them set their alarm clocks, maintain personal items like battery chargers and gadgets, change bed sheets and pillowcases, keep their room tidy and do a scheduled full cleaning of their bedroom. They can also change light bulbs and vacuum bags, clean mirrors, mow the lawn with supervision, babysit and occasionally prepare the family meal as part of family chores.
Age 14-15
Aside from giving or imposing assigned housework, without prompting, like help with yard work as needed, making grocery list and shopping, washing windows (with supervision), you must create awareness in your kids about the house part and appliances that need replacement or repair. Action AC has 24-hour emergency HVAC repair and service.
Age 16-18
At age 16-18, kids must be able to earn and spend money and purchase personal stuff. While they can help with family chores mentioned in previous age brackets, they must now be able to do things voluntarily like care for a sick family member and do errands for household needs.