Your Child Will Learn
How to help their family with chores
Here’s What to Do
- Encourage your child to help clean up by putting items away.
- Ask your child to help with simple tidying tasks. Examples:
- Putting dirty clothes in the hamper
- Placing toys in storage bins
- Dropping trash/recycling in the cans
- Putting shoes or jackets where they belong
- Celebrate your child when they put an item in the correct place. Tell your child they’re a great helper.
Put PEER Into Action
PAUSE
- Give your child a big hug.
ENGAGE
- “Can you be a big helper for Papa? Can you take your socks and put them in the hamper?”
- “Can you look for all the blocks on the floor and put them in this basket? That would help mama so much.”
ENCOURAGE
- Help your child learn how to clean up by showing them exactly what item they should pick up, and exactly where they should put it.
- It’s common for children this age to take something out of a bin as soon as they put it in. Gently correct them, like: “No silly, we’re putting things away, not taking them out. Can you please put that block back in the box?”
REFLECT
- Thank your child for being such a good helper and tell them how their efforts help the whole family.
Not Quite Ready
For babies who aren’t yet mobile, have them clean up from a sitting position. For example, they can take all the blocks they can reach around them and put them into a basket.
Ready for More
See if your child is able to sort items and put them away with less help from you.
As Your Child Masters This Skill
They will understand how to clean up
Time to Complete
10 minutes
Materials Needed
Household items that need to be put away