13 easy household chores that your toddlers can do

/ Parenting / Raise independent child / By

Are you confused? Wondering how can household chores be done by a toddler? Aren’t those for adults?

Well, don’t we all wish people around us were responsible and sensible. How beautiful the world would be? Imagine a household with family members equally involved in daily life chores. Another where only one person (irrespective of gender) takes care of daily needs. No guess on where peace resided.

We can always start early and raise the next responsible generation. Our almost 2 years old, Penguin is always helpful and has certain responsibilities in our household. As we clean, eat or play he keeps imitating us. Toddler always finds good satisfaction with his “Help deliverables”. We feel he has already mastered few verbal, cognitive, fine motor and gross motor skills to do household tasks.

Imagine 5 years old unable to wear own shoes and depending on others. Or a 10-year-old unable keep his room tidy. Or grown up working adult unable to fix his own breakfast.

Why encourage toddlers with chores?

The toddler would learn a few good skills in exchange for their chores responsibility. They do learn life-skill useful in their adult life. Once you learn how to peel an orange you just cannot forget it. Right? Kids would have a boost in their self-esteem. The twinkle in their eyes as they complete a task is hard to miss. Kids are smart enough to realize their changes with positive words. A sense of responsibility is achieved and it does work with them. Moreover, allowing toddlers to participate in daily household chores teaches them independence and organization. Not to forget, toddlers are developing their vocabulary and with chores, they do learn to communicate and interact effectively.

Meanwhile, the struggle to teach them something is real. The energetic bundles just won’t sit. But would perfectly copy your actions. Parents, do keep your coffee ready. Keep calm. Have the patience to teach. Kids would learn eventually. Another big entity is the expectation, don’t expect perfection. Kids would grow with time and practice.

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Penguin’s happiest chore- Pushing laundry basket

How to involve toddlers?

  • Play “Do as I do”

Toddlers observe a lot. They watch out every action of yours and try to replicate it. They walk the way you walk in heels. Try putting lipstick. Watch dads shaving and copy them. So, instead of saying them “Do as I say” or “Do like this” try showing them how to do. And they would gladly learn from you. Make a song of it if you like.

  • Encourage participation

When a toddler is coming in your way of work as you sweep the floor or fold laundry ask them to help you out. They feel a major boost if adults ask them for help. No kidding.

  • Task assignment

Generally, 2-year olds do understand 2-word commands. “Give me the bottle and bring your bowl”. They can run (rarely walk) with coordination. Their attention span is rising, at least for a few minutes. So, assign them small tasks and let them do it their way. At times, they would finish it and ask for more. On other days they would give you a royal ignore and return later to it.

  • Appreciate kid’s efforts

Like us adults, kids do seek for appreciation. Appreciate their efforts with words, claps, and hugs. Let them know how helpful they were. How much you value their contribution? It is a good chance to teach 3 golden words of Thank you-Please-Sorry. You say and they follow like always. A win-win situation.

  • Offer help only when the kid can’t proceed with a job or ask

If you have allotted a task to toddler, let them do it. They would fumble a lot in the beginning, keep patience. If we parent or caregivers jump in to help then, they can’t learn and it hurts their self-esteem too. Let the child use his cognitive skills, imagination and motor skill to complete a task.

  • Consistency is the key

No brainer in this. If one does not practice they cannot learn. Ask kids to do the same duty over time and again. They would understand the purpose and end-result.

Household chores for toddlers
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13 easy household chores that your toddlers can do

  • Help in making the bed

A clean bed kick starts our day. It is even included in our morning rituals. Penguin knows his first job in the morning. A big pat on my shoulder. So, our almost 2-year old helps me to pass pillows from the bed and carry it to another room or desired place. Next, he helps to pull off the sheets and (let me say) arrange back. Also, hold ends of blankets/sheets to fold.

  • Pull/ Push his booster chair to spot before and after meals

Our booster chair keeps moving in the house. It doesn’t have a fixed spot. Poor chap! So, it’s the job of our toddler to pull or push his booster chair next to the dining table and T.V. Yes, we do allow sane-screen. Ask your toddler if you need to move any lightweight item and enjoy one breathe.

  • Fill water bottles

In many Indian households, it is the practice to store water in bottles and jugs. We are no different. So, Penguin, our toddler, has to search for empty water bottles around the house and collect them in the kitchen. Later, I rely on him to unscrew bottle caps and pass to refill. At times, he insists to refill on his own and I allow under my supervision. No wasting of water is acceptable.

  • Puts toys and books back in shelf after play

After on eventful play at home, toys and books are sprayed across a couch, under the tables and few unthinkable places. Feel free to ask your toddler to help you in keeping them back in place. With Penguin I help him to locate where the toys/books are scattered. It’s his work to go around the house and collect all in desired bins or shelves. After, a day work searching for pieces of bloks is exhausting. Ask for help.

  • Clean their own toys

The idea is the one who plays with toys, should maintain them too. Moreover, water is always entertaining for kids. Under your supervision give them soapy water and rag cloth. They would enjoy it as a fun play. It can also be a sensory activity. Plan out a game and involve kids. This one can be twisted in the future with dishes. Smart move!

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Daily chores are done by our Penguin
  • Keep shoes in place after outdoors.

Many Asian homes keep their indoor and outdoor footwear separate. We keep our shoes inside a designated cabinet as a habit. This is one of the jobs that I never insisted on the second time. He watched us do and followed on. At times, if we forget or ignore footwear outside the cabinet, he ensures all the in.

  • Push laundry bin to dry area. Pass clothes. Store them.

Since Penguin started walking I used to have him hold the bucket filled with washed clothes and push till dry area. Undeniably, I used to pull it and he used to practice walking. With time, he grew stronger and started pushing with minimal help. These days, I don’t have to help or ask. Once washing is done, he helps me unloading laundry and push it till dry area. Further, pass me clean clothes to hang-dry and pegs too. Later, he insists on collecting clean now dried clothes to bed. We fold laundry there. Continuing the earlier process, he passes me dried clothes one-by-one to fold and segregate. I ask him to pass folded dresses as we keep them in cupboards. Encourage toddler’s involvement in laundry chores.

  • Putting soiled outfits in the bin

Every time we are back from outdoors, from play or walk or shopping. After putting shoes in place, he undresses with little help and puts soiled ones in the bin. Throughout the day, we ask him to put a soiled kitchen towel or socks in the bin and delightedly he takes charge.

  • Peel boiled eggs, oranges, boiled potatoes

Kitchen utensils are favorites of kids. Infants love banging spoons and plates. Penguin love my kitchen more than me, like literally. He keeps raiding my kitchen utensils for his play. Even as I cook or chop veggies, he offers to help. So, I take in him in few easy kitchen jobs like peeling. Though he is not a pro yet he likes to participate. Recently he started whisking eggs and batter. And I believe now that the kitchen is underestimated, children learn a lot in the kitchen.

  • Wipe up spills

Toddlers love to copy you, allow them to take care of water spills and food pieces dropped. I give Penguin a cloth kitchen towel if he spills any milk, water, juices or soup. Though it is not done perfectly like us, he does a fair job. He would learn more with time. He is quite a cleanliness freak and remembers to collect fallen food bits from booster chairs and ground and put it in bin/sink.

  • Dusting

We do weekly dusting and monthly deep cleaning. So, whenever I have a rag or brush to dust Penguin demands one. Most things are cleaned twice as he re-does my work.

  • Receive the mail

Whenever the doorbell rings, I just open the lock. Toddler prefers to answer the door and meet the caller. Every mail is received by him. No further say on who unboxes or opens the mails, except documents. But yes, one ought to follow some safety precautions before the child opens the door.

  • Place veggies and fruits in place after veggies shopping

My husband, Mr. Fabulous is a shopaholic when it comes to the Sunday vegetable market. He loads our fridge every single time. We also do online grocery shopping based on time and need. So, to do segregation and keeping veggies in place need our ever-helpful toddler, Penguin. It becomes a learn and play for him as he does sorting, count and passes veggies from door dropped bags to the kitchen.

Keeping toddlers engaged in chores help me sharing household work. If not by the mountain at least by a mole. Also, he is learning that household chores are not sectioned by gender. Both of us do every work together and he observes that. Another step to co-parenting and gender-neutral parenting.

Do share your views and thoughts about involving young toddlers in daily household chores as responsibilities.

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83 thoughts on “13 easy household chores that your toddlers can do”

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  18. Tamanna Shah

    Well Said. Even we involve our two years old in most of these chores, they help him in being responsible and being accountable for certain things at home.

    Reply

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  26. Dr. Surbhi Prapanna

    Great post and very useful tips. you had shared all info in really great way. will help a lot to other parents. #Surbhireads #myfriendalexa

    Reply
  27. blogitwithsurabhi

    Totally agree with letting kids help in daily chores. It gives them the sense of ownership and responisiblity and eventually form a good habit of doing these tasks on their own as they grow up.
    Great post!

    Reply
  29. Geethica

    I undertsand this responsibility status in toddlers. I have always encouraged my children to do their work themselves as early as possible. It makes them independent from an early age.

    Reply
  31. sujatatawde

    After reading the title , I was a bit sceptic , whether a 2 year old toddler would be able to do any chore, but after reading your detail post with Penguin’s pics I am surprised. I am sure , this post will guide many parents about what chores can be accomplished with toddlers.

    Reply
  32. Varad

    Reminds me of the time when my first kid was 2. He used to put away his toys singing a song which we made up for that. This is a lovely post. Sharing it.

    Reply
  34. Iram

    I ‘use’ my 4 year old and 1.5 year old for almost all taks you mentioned here and I thought I am being selfish and lazy bum. Thanks for getting me away with GUILt….lol 🙂

    Reply
  35. MommyingBabyT (@Nayantweett)

    I do believe in this too. I have a post on this topic too. And as you said consistency is the key. Doing things daily becomes a habit for them. Sadly as T is approaching 3 he is becoming moody about doing chores – but I still ask and encourage him, Maybe its a phase and will pass soon. 🙂

    Reply
  36. Anks

    First of all, Penguin is ADORABLE! I love the idea of early engagement and including chores in play. They would be habituated by the time they grow up…

    Reply
  39. Neha

    I agree kids learn a lot of things by helping out in the house. One of the most important things are belonging. They realize it is their house! I haven’t tried peeling as a chore, your post gave me ideas 🙂

    Reply
  42. DiaryOfAnInsaneWriter

    Fantastic post! I really wish more parents and grandparents follow these tips. When my kids were younger and I gave them chores, people around me called me crazy…hahaha…I am glad you wrote this post. Keep writing. Looking forward to reading more posts from you. #MyFriendAlexa #MayuraReads

    Reply
  45. Medha Nagur

    This is like a ‘101 post on toddler’s chores responsibility’ and you have wondefully written it. There’s so much practicality to every tip that you have given. I so agree with the advanatges.

    Reply

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