amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

littleturtle · 08-07-2003, 08:30 AM

AJ is definitely ready for more responsibility around the house, but I'm not sure what's normal for a 4 year old in terms of chores? So, what do your 4 yo's do?

emilytoys · 08-07-2003, 09:12 AM

Max turned 5 in April, but this year he has been responsible for:

Keeping the roll of toilet paper full

Feeding his frogs

What we call Maxi-Service, which means fetching what I need while taking care of baby needs

Putting his folded-by-me laundry away

Clearing his place after a meal

Picking up toys before bed

Carol_momof3 · 08-07-2003, 09:16 AM

My almost 5yo is responsible for the following:

Daily:
making bed
straightening room
putting dirty clothes in hamper, putting clean clothes away
dustbusting the kitchen floor
setting the table for dinner, clearing his dishes after meals

as needed:
helps sorting laundry, switching loads
puts away clean silverware from the dishwasher
puts clean clothes away (in the dresser, not tall enough for the closet yet)
helping with the mopping (he loves to, lol!)
straightens up his toys in rooms other than his own
helps dust and water plants

Nathan loves to help

I say anything your DS would like to do, let him at least help!

tara · 08-07-2003, 09:19 AM

My close-to-four-year-old puts away his clean clothes (and in the right drawers now! hurrah!), puts his dirty clothing in his dirty clothes basket, helps me sort laundry, sets the table before dinner, puts his dirty dishes in the sink, puts away his toys, sometimes feeds the cats, sweeps the floor (but not very well) and waters the vegetable garden when needed. I am sure I am forgetting something. He will also wash anything you ask him to...he digs sponges!

Tara

nellebelle · 08-07-2003, 09:20 AM

Ds has to...

sort the silverware to put away (ya know, spoons, forks, table knives in their slots)

hang up his jacket and shoes go by the front door

take his empty food dishes out to the kitchen (we snack in the living room)

pick up toys

put his dirty clothes in the hamper

help put his clothes away (he usually just does underwear and socks in the top drawer... bottom drawers are a PITB to open)

he helps mama with 16 mos. old dd, like get dd's shoes for mama, etc...

That's all I can think of off the top of my head. I really like the silverware sorting one because it's good practice in sorting=) It's the elementary teacher in me, lol.

Nelle

benNpeanutsmom · 08-07-2003, 09:21 AM

In addition to doing most of what everyone else has posted, my five year old also earns some money by vacuuming the carpets (10 cents per room). He saves up to rent movies at Blockbuster.

08-07-2003, 10:01 AM

My almost-5yo-dd does the following:

- makes her bed (not very well, lol)
- clears her dishes from the table (have to remind her)
- helps me set the table (have to ask her)
- hangs up her coat (wintertime)
- picks up her brother's legos (her brother loves this)
- picks up the play area with some major encouragement
- washes the bathroom sinks (she loves this chore - a little Dr. Bs and a sponge and she's thrilled!)
- helps fold towels
- waters my plants
- will help me wash our wood floors with a wet rag
- will happily clean the toilet if I let her
- gets herself dressed, brushes her hair and her teeth every morning

Gee, now that I write it out, she does a lot more than I thought she did. Well, whaddayaknow. Good girl!