Description

When your child leaves home, will they be able to do laundry, cook a meal, clean a bathroom and all of the other responsibilities it takes to run a household? Summer's a great time to teach them the life skills they will need.
• When planning your summer routine, be sure to designate a time for a daily or weekly chore.
• Daily chores take 10-15 minutes and can be a different chore each day such as, emptying the dishwasher, sorting laundry, dusting, washing windows, etc.
• Weekly chores are larger chores that may take 30 minutes such as cleaning baseboards, cleaning a bathroom, washing clothes, etc.
• Select chores according to your child's age and ability. Small children probably won't be able to complete weekly chores but can help you daily.
• Just like anything else, your child needs to be taught how to do a chore. Be patient with them and work alongside of them until they feel comfortable with what they are doing. You may need to reteach the skill several times before they are fairly independent with the chore.
• Make chores fun. Turn on some loud music and dance while working. Put a sock on each of your child's hands and they can be used for dusting. What child doesn't love to spray whatever comes in a bottle?
• Another chore we like is "Cooking Night". When a child turns five, he plans and cooks a complete meal one night during the summer. With mom or dad's help, the child decides what they want to cook, go grocery shopping, cook and serve the meal. The meal should include something from all of the food groups and mom or dad helps until the child is old enough to cook on their own.