Sweep-Picking.org

Hi There,
First of all, I don’t think your 2 year old is doing too much, as long as he is volunteering, liking it, he probably loves spending time with mama. I think most kids go through a stage where they really want to help (but can’t really) and as I always say then when they are capable they "don’t wanna".
I’d say let the little one help until his heart is content, just don’t "force" him to help out, which I’m sure your not.
As for your 4 year old, whole other ball game, they want to play and dream and run and jump etc. they "know" mama is there and will be there when they get back from play. They don’t have a need or desire to be by your side constantly…actually thats a healthy thing, a healthy state of mind, confidence! But at the same time there is no reason why he can’t have a couple chores around the house to do on a regular basis. They can even be learning tools like:
collecting and separating recycling into the correct bins
collecting cans for taking to the recycling depot for money
taking out garbage (could put in a wagon and pull to curb)
help load dishwasher
folding and sorting laundry
picking up toys and trash around the yard.
feeding the dog or other pet at dinner time, water too
even if you have to be with its his responsiblity to walk to dog.
"cleaning" the bathtub (while in it…heeeheee thats fun)
helping in the garden
setting the table for dinner
wiping the dust from computer,TV screens
help you bake for the week
make himself his own snack if he goes to preschool or daycare
**All kinds of stuff….
the one I would avoid like the plague is "watching" his brother, I’ve seen this with disasterous results!!
And, as I did, and I think it was a great way of doing things
I NEVER paid my son to do his chores….it was "because he was part of the family and we as a family work together to make our home run smoothly" as a result my son at 15 works two p/t jobs for "money" and still does an amazing amount around the home…he jokes sometimes saying "what will I (as in me) do without him when he moves out". Quite frankly when it comes to electrics and technology and lifting stuff I sometimes wonder!! HAhaha. But yeah, he never got money and therefore now, when so many others are, he does NOT expect it. He wants something big…he earns the money for it. Occassionally when he did something way above and beyond THEN I’d pass him 5 bucks or so, or said hey why don’t you go get a treat at the store, you did a great job! But it was never Regular! so like I said he didn’t expect it.
** Which reminds me PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE for a good job done, 4 year olds thrive on praise. Just make sure its genuine!!
I’m sure you’ll have to walk him thru the steps of his chores the first number of times. Oh and Above ALL! Never criticize, so many moms fall into that "ah gees, may as well do it myself" kind of attitude. Nothing more will defeat the little guy, to know that mom thinks he’s no good at doing something. If he truly isn’t good at it (as we can’t be good at everything right) maybe try something else next week, just also be weary of the "older" child who "plays" you with "I’m no good at this..just to get out of it".

Anyway enough of my babbling, I’m sure you and your little ones will succeed in this dept. as long as you give it time and know it will all work out fine!!!

oMHO

two year olds love to mimic. My two year old does the same things that yours does and more. She loves it!

As for your four your old, is he jealous of not having individual time? If so, make individual time for him or make up a reward system for helping such as stickers, going to the park, etc. Don’t offer candy though. Candy is not a good way to reward a child.

Chore Charts with stickers and rewards (like a small toy or a trip to the ice cream store). chores can include: cleaning up their own toys, putting the napkins out at dinner (too young to do the silverware or dishes), putting their clothes in the proper places: clean ones in the drawer, dirty ones in the hamper, sorting a pile of socks from the laundry.

Well, be gentle with the 2-year old, and make it a game. Don’t pile on anything he doesn’t want to do. He’s already way ahead of the game, and you are lucky.

As for the 4-year old, he’s got to at the very least pick up the mess he makes. He’s not yet at a chores age persay, but should be responsible for his own things. If he doesn’t pick things up, there should be consequences. If you are going to pick a specific chore, make it one, and one only — hopefully something fun.

We have a chart, with stickers, rewarding positive behavior. One of the columns is for cleaning up. Make it as fun as you can. if he doesn’t respond, then you must not reward that "choice."

geez. what ? neve rmind

I don’t think the 2 year old is doing too much. If he’s doing it willingly, then it’s all right. Plus he’s just helping, not doing it all himself.
As for the 4 year old… I think things such as help picking up toys, maybe pouring cat food in a bowl if you have cats, making the bed, wiping clean a bathroom sink isn’t too much of a difficult chore, maybe helping sort cans if you recycle… gathering larger sticks for fire fodder if you have a natural fireplace may be decent, too, as long as he has some assistance or only needs to gather a small amount. Not neccessarily all those chores, but I was just naming some random examples. I was four only ten years ago, and I’m just trying to think of what wouldn’t challenge me to my limits but would allow me to help out.

Four year olds really like to use "things" at this age, like a cool dust mop with a handle, or a little broom. We had our 4 year old sweep our staircase everyday with a little broom and dustpan. I also have my 4 year old go around the rooms with a baby wipe and wipe off the baseboards (this is a great help especially in the bathroom) Anything down low, or with cleaning "tools" is a great place to start.

No let your two year old do as much as he wants too. Just be sure you let him stop when he gets ready. Your four year old can pick up his own toys (with help). dust off coffee tables, fold washclothes and match socks when you do laundry, etc. I actually bought little bissell vaccuums that were real vacs for kids that had barbie and scooby doo on them and my kids loved vaccuuming their own rooms! of course i had to go behind them but it’s not about how they do the job at this age it’s that they get used to doing it. Instill those habits in them now and it will be second nature as they grow!! p.s the vacs are called go vacs but they don’t make the cartoon charcater ones but you could buy a plain one and jazz it up with stickers!!

I would say a 2 year old could help you make their bed in the morning, and help you tidy their toys at night. I think a 4 year old could do the same, except tidy up the toys on their own, and maybe one additional thing, like help with the dusting when you are cleaning or something.

My 19 month old does a lot of the things your 2 year old does, if hes enjoying it and does it of his own free will I don’t think its to much, hes learning

2 Yrs. old that is probably to much , but if he likes it why not . He will burn out though mine did. They can put away their own clothes after you fold them , have them mate up socks mine still like to do that ,they get excited when they find a MATCH . Give them the cloth and let them dust for you and a cloth to wipe mirrors and windows , tv , appliances ect . OH OH even take out trash mine like to fightover this job . But they do’nt like to pick up toys and clean there rooms . All though doing better this week I did’nt let them go to there ball game until they did , and no swimming lessons . That really worked .

Your 2 year old is doing allot of helping I wish my younger one was helping more then my older child. I know that with older children they help out with baby but then get burned out with it over time and maybe that is what happened to your child. Both should be helping with clean up of the bath tub toys and the toys littered around the house. The 4 year old can start helping with the dirty clothes about now. I have been having my daughter help me sort the clothes into color groups and then loading the washer and the dyer I help with putting in a basket for her and she puts them in. That is what I have been doing with her. My son well he has been burnt out with helping at home so he has been helping out our neighbors. I have a elderly neighbor that gets trash littered in her yard and my son gets a dollar a week for picking it up for her. So with your older child may just be a little burned out by helping when baby was little but seems that he helped enough. I haven’t pushed my son on it to much other then his toys. My daughter well she is a busy bee with cleaning and making my bed (she loves making my bed).

i would just let them clean up after themselves, like pick up the toys and make there bed in the morning,it doent have to be crisp and clean, but atleast they did a good job on it. i like to reward them by giving them a piece of candy at the end of the day or go out to a park or get a toy or anything that comes to mind (and budget) usually the younger likes to help out ALOT, so helping around the dinner table to set it up is fine. sometimes they wanna help in the backyard or even help organize. they can do the easy task like passing you the book while you put them on the shelf. they cant do so much on there own but they can help alot

you can the child to personally check all his school materials before going to school. therfore you can slowly teach the child to be responsible w./ his things.