When I was young, my mom would joke that the reason she had kids was to get help with chores around the house. At least I think she was joking. I can’t remember an age when I didn’t have some task assigned to me, but I’m fairly certain I wasn’t mowing the lawn or scrubbing showers at two or three. I’m sure that if she could’ve figured out appropriate chores for toddlers, my mom would’ve doled them out!
The reason parents give big kids chores varies from house to house, but chores for toddlers have their merits, too. Chores help them grow in independence, develop dexterity, and build confidence in their ability to accomplish a task. I’ve practiced a few chores with my daughter, and while they take consistency and follow-up from me, I’ve noticed progress, so I consider it a win! Give these 7 chores for toddlers a try with your little one. You could even use our toddler chore chart to help track accomplishments and celebrate!
1. Shoes
Originally, I wanted my daughter’s shoes neatly in the closet—but that didn’t work so well. So I got a big bucket with a resting lid (not snapping). She plunks her shoes in there, replaces her lid, and we are good to go! It allows her to be creative and independent when choosing which shoes to wear each day to “match” her outfit!
2. Clean Clothes
Most of her clothing is incredibly wrinkle-resistant, which means it can go in drawers. We have a dresser for my toddler with six drawers. I labeled the drawers with one big letter each (or you could use shapes, superheroes, or colors): “S” for shirts; “P” for pants; “B” for bedtime clothes; “D” for dresses; and “U” for underwear and socks. I showed her how to do it—repeating what goes in each drawer a few times. Now I can give her articles of clothing and tell her to put them “where they belong” and off she goes—most of the time!
3. Dirty Clothes
This is one of the easiest chores for toddlers. Putting dirty clothes in the hamper is easy, and it can be fun. We have a short standing hamper in my daughter’s room. I point to the piles of dirty clothing in her room and tell her where to put them. She does an excited underhand toss into the basket and celebrates when she sinks one.
4. Pet Food
My girl loves animals, and since she has been old enough to say the dog’s name and “food,” she has been reminding me when the dog’s bowl is empty. So we now have the dog food in another huge bucket with a lid (we live in Florida—have you seen our bugs?) with a big cup in it. When we tell her to, she puts two cups of food in the dog’s bowl and replaces the lid. She is delighted she helped the dog. If you have a pet in your house, try our printable pet responsibility chart to help bigger kids keep track of whose job it is to feed, water, or walk it.
5. Drying Dishes
This is a new one in our house. One night, when I was washing dishes, I sat my daughter at the table and gave her a towel and the plastic dishes. Granted, they were not as dry as I typically get them, but she had fun and enjoyed helping.
6. Setting the Table
Your toddler can help set the dinner table. Mine knows we typically have four people at the table and places the napkins in front of the chairs. Sometimes she leaves extras, which is helpful in the case of spills! She loves participating in the family dinner routine. She can also place the forks and spoons when we give her the correct amount.
7. Grocery Time
In our house, regardless of who went to purchase the groceries, everyone removes them from the car and helps put them away. My toddler can’t lift the same amount as my big kid, but she is still given toilet paper, boxes of crackers, and other light items to carry in. She has her own shelf in the pantry which she helps to stock. That shelf, along with a drawer in the fridge, allows her some independence if she is hungry and wants to get food herself.
Mom’s Mindset:
Remember, simplicity is key with toddlers. And you’ll need a healthy dose of patience. When I remind myself I am helping her become responsible and independent (not perfect), I breathe much easier. Instead of noticing that I have a purple toddler fork at my spot at the table, I notice she remembered that I love the color purple!
What’s the key to teaching toddlers to help around the house?
