TEACHING KIDS RESPONSIBILITY

My eldest is quite the little cleaner. She always tidies her desk (even mine) and tends to collect all the snack bowls her 5-year-old sister has scattered across our home. So, with the younger one I had to get creative. I realised that at preschool, they’re already taught to pack away their toys and keep their workstations clean, so why not continue this at home?

Snacks and lunches take up most of our time. Any parent will tell you that cheese toasties will be all the rage one day, yet a ‘no-no’ the next. If you think of how your little chefs beam with pride when bringing your Mother’s Day breakfast of baked beans and runny pancakes, you’ll realise that our munchkins actually love helping out in the kitchen. Of course you have to be careful around hot stoves and fancy chef’s knives, but there are tons of lunch-making duties they can do with little supervision – like cracking eggs for pancakes, mixing batter, using cookie cutters for sandwiches, adding herbs to dinners, decorating their lunches to look like their favourite animals, and even chopping soft fruits like bananas with a butter knife to add to flapjacks or cereal. They’re more likely to gobble up beautiful creations if they made them.

Kids also love making their own decisions, so involve them in the process – take them along on shopping trips to pick out ingredients and ask questions like, ”What should we make today?” 
Woolies Easy to Bake kits make baking (and messy play) simple and exciting. Also, check out these effortless and tasty snacks kids can practically make themselves.

It’s also a good time to teach them about their responsibility to the planet – so share reasons to recycle, make art projects with empty bottles, chat about food waste and turn peels, shells and scraps into compost.

Keep chores age-appropriate. This is more about getting them to grasp the basics of responsibility, not be 100% perfect. Think of easy tasks so they’re more likely to succeed, and keep instructions clear. You don’t want them to get discouraged. Instead of “Tidy your room,” try, “Let’s pick up your puzzles; pack your books on the shelf, or help your brother or sister set the table.”

Make sure to tell them you’d like to get chores out of the way because you love having fun too. Say, "Yes, daddy is also excited to go to the aquarium! Why don’t we clear up the table quickly so we can have a day of fun?”

Believe it or not, our kids just want to spend time with us. And see tasks like washing the car together, doing the dishes, matching socks or getting tiny green fingers dirty in the garden as quality time.

Soapy water is great for sensory play. And a bubble bath is a wonderful time to teach them how to wash themselves. Turn it into a game to see which sibling can get done quicker, or add your own twist to old nursery rhymes e.g. “Wash your head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes.”

Be sure to give your young’uns tons of praise for a job well done! Print out a chore chart, and get a pack of gold stars or healthy treats – every time they complete a task, the star will help them feel a sense of accomplishment. For tiny ones, print a chart with pictures instead of words. Keep tasks simple: Help feed the goldfish, brush your teeth, put on PJs, water the plants, take your bowl to the sink, empty the tumble drier or pack your bath toys away. Don’t criticise or take over –  it will only dampen their confidence or minimise the effort they’re making.

Children do as we do. So, place your reusable bag on a hook, pick up laundry and place it in the basket and tell them what you’re doing. 

Conclusion

Be patient and realistic. Your little ones might still leave their shoes at the front door, or leave toys out to meet your unsuspecting feet, but slowly introducing responsibility will turn them into independent, happy little beings who feel a sense of accomplishment.