Household chores with a positive impact

When children take on small tasks in the household, it not only relieves the parents, it also creates an awareness that these tasks do not happen "by themselves" and gives the feeling of actively contributing to family life. It works best when a child has specific, fixed tasks in the household, for example watering the plants, unloading the dishwasher or vacuuming. After a while your child will perform these tasks routinely and perceive them as a normal part of everyday family life. Until then, you can take a playful approach: here you will find ideas for keeping things tidy with children in a playful way.

Which household chores are suitable for which age?

Toddlers are often very eager to help mum and dad with household tasks. They enjoy imitating vacuuming or passing things while tidying up. If children are involved in household work playfully from toddler age, they are very likely to consider it relatively normal later on when other tasks are assigned to them. Always make sure these tasks are age-appropriate and, for the time being, let go of perfectionism.

Under three years Children can help parents, for example by unloading pots from the dishwasher, carrying spoons to the table, or putting books and toys away together.

From three to about six years Children can help with cooking, set the table independently, or water the plants with a small watering can. In preschool age your child can also try wiping and sweeping surfaces.

From six to ten yearsChildren should tidy their room independently. They can take on regular duties such as feeding pets, taking out the rubbish, or putting washed laundry away into the wardrobes.

At ten years old Many children can already operate the washing machine and dishwasher independently, vacuum or clean the bathroom. Ask your child which tasks they would like to take on so they can choose the duties that suit them best.

… but safe! How do we make our home childproof?

Not long ago you didn't expect your baby to be able to roll onto its belly by itself. And now it crawls across the living room at astonishing speed, always eyeing the socket. The soil in the flowerpot is tempting to taste and the cables along the wall are just as interesting as cupboard doors and shelf compartments.

The risk of accidents exists even before the crawling stage. When babies slowly become mobile, parents must be constantly on the alert. Many seemingly harmless household items pose a high risk of accidents for babies and toddlers. In addition to cables and sockets, which should definitely be secured, it is above all sharp and wobbly pieces of furniture that can cause injuries. Read more here about what you should consider for a childproof home.

How do I make the apartment safe for my child?

• Secure wobbly furniture:

Children pull themselves up on everything when they're learning to walk - shelves, bistro tables or coat stands can fall on your child.

• Door stoppers or finger guards for doors:

Small children are fascinated by anything that moves. To prevent them from pinching their fingers while playing with room or cupboard doors, you can install finger guards.

• Corner protectors for sharp edges:

Children learning to walk frequently fall at first - there should be no sharp edge in the way. Fit corner protectors on all corners of coffee tables, sideboards or storage boxes with sharp edges to avoid injuries.

• Stair gates:

Even if you keep a close eye on your baby, there isn't always enough time to react. Therefore a stair gate is a must for any apartment with stairs. Still, you should practice climbing stairs with your child so they develop confidence on the stairs.

• Secure electrical outlets:

Occupied and unoccupied outlets should be fitted with socket covers. Power strips are best placed out of your child's reach.

Image credits

Dad vacuums the kitchen with his two children © Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com

Toddler hangs upside down in the laundry basket © Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com

Boy helps his father clean the kitchen unit © Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com

Baby climbs onto Tripp Trapp chair © Halfpoint - stock.adobe.com