Most kids hate chores, and they probably won’t actually thank you later for making them do them, but you can still pat yourself on the back for teaching children a world of valuable lessons. A sense of responsibility is the major takeaway of doing chores, but children will also develop a work ethic and learn how to help someone (you) out.
[find-an-apartment]As a bonus, if you give them an allowance, you’ll also teach them the value of money and how to start a savings account, but most kids love rewards of any kind, so just a chore chart with stickers for completed tasks should be enough for 4- to 6-year-olds.
First, set an example by picking up after yourself and putting your child’s things away. Then, as soon as they can walk, teach them to put their own toys away in a place they can easily reach, such as a toy box or open bin under their crib, and to put dirty clothes in a clothes hamper in their room.
Start out small and gradually increase their responsibilities. Kids learn new ideas quickly, and they soak up information like sponges. Refer to this list to figure out what children can do when:
More on kids and apartment living:
Questions Your Kids May Ask About Moving
How to Create a Kid's Playroom
Make Room for Baby: Prepare Your Small Space for a Little One
Decorating a Child's Bedroom
How to Baby Proof Your Apartment
To teach children the importance of saving money, begin an allowance system when they’re around 6 or 7 years old. Teach them to put part or all of their allowance into savings, either a piggy bank or jar with a lid, and watch it grow. Encourage them to have a monetary goal for their savings, such as $100, instead of encouraging them to spend it on something in the future. Then, when they reach that goal, ask them what they’d like their next goal to be, and celebrate their achieving it with a small reward, such as taking them out for ice cream or to the park for a day. As they grow, motivate them to buy items on sale and make a budget. As they reach short- and long-term goals, you’re building their self-esteem, and you’ll have a clean house and happy helper along the way.
Photo credit: Shutterstock / Duard van der Westhuizen