Hellobee Boards Topic: Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 18:59:32 +0000 Cherrybee on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2756440 Sun, 09 Jul 2017 14:45:21 +0000 Cherrybee 2756440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Thanks for the ideas, everyone. I will definitely be putting some of these into practice. StrawberryShortie on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2756176 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 20:57:25 +0000 StrawberryShortie 2756176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Cherrybee: We just started more set chores for LO (she'll be four in Sept) Everyday after daycare she does her chores: feeds the cats, makes her bed, puts laundry in the basket. And she always helps clear the table I'm always close by to help keep her on track but I try to stand back a little and let her problem solve She's loving it (for now lol) danda on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2756106 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:44:10 +0000 danda 2756106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ My daughter just turned 4. She can dress/undress herself and select clothing. Her daily items are all in drawers she can easily access, and upper drawers contain the out of season clothes. She also puts dirty clothes in the hamper. She is starting to brush her own hair - I'm hoping that becomes a true self-care skill she can own. She also uses potty and washes hands without our help. She also selects snacks that we keep in accessible locations herself, but she usually will spill liquids so we handle drinks. Sometimes she helps with sweeping and she has her own way of "helping" fold laundry which is fine if we don't care how the item is folded. Dahlia on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2756063 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 13:54:55 +0000 Dahlia 2756063@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD's only 2, but her regular chores are to feed the cats, put her dirty clothes in the hamper, take her dirty dishes to the kitchen, and pick up her toys. If she's around when I clean, unload the dishwasher, or water plants, I let her help with that, too. Alba4 on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2756041 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 12:57:12 +0000 Alba4 2756041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Our almost 4 year old is expected to: -clear his plate from the table -put dirty clothing in the hamper - put away his toys - brush teeth -get dressed (this is still challenging for him) -water plants (he loves this) -he loves to vacuum and swifter/sweep too - load the laundry and dryer caterw on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2756038 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 12:50:32 +0000 caterw 2756038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DD is almost four and her chores are- windex and dust things she can reach, put dirty clothes in hamper and shoes away, pick out undies and pjs (I would let her pick clothes but she tends to go for things that are not appropriate for the weather/ activity so I tell her what to get out), partially dress and undress herself, set the table with silverware and her own plastic dishes, clear dishes and put on the counter, put away own toys and books. She also helps out with her sister by amusing her while I cook, grabbing things she has dropped, and washing her feet in the bath hahaha. 808love on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2755953 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 09:46:13 +0000 808love 2755953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ At 4 LO was putting away silverware, sort laundry, dust, moving her things to her appropriate drawer and putting away books and stuffed animals by herself. To be successful, try to give a lot of time to support transition. Don't expect them to do it every time. When the novelty wears off they will need extra encouragement to do it. Mrs. Lion on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2755934 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 09:15:49 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2755934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I really like this chart. Wearetotally inconsistent about expecting our kids to do any of these thins, but I totally agree that kids these ages are very capable of doing them with training and support. [attach=3751/17/osq4yd.386x500.17787369356_a23d84dfe6.jpg] peaches1038 on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2755930 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 09:05:14 +0000 peaches1038 2755930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ So far at 20 months, DS picks which cloth diaper and shirt he wants, puts the cat food in their bowls, puts laundry in the dryer, helps me sort his cloth diaper laundry and puts his dirty clothes in the hamper. He obviously still needs guidance/supervision, but he loves his "chores" looch on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2755866 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 06:52:29 +0000 looch 2755866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ In addition to what has been mentioned above, we have a small vacuum cleaner and one of my son's chores is to make sure that he cleans up the floors. He used to love to use the Swiffer (sorry, that's a local name for it) when we had ceramic tile floors. He's also responsible for taking the clothes out of the washing machine and putting them in the dryer. I am currently teaching him to fold. When we go grocery shopping, he packs the groceries. I've let him take over the scanning now and he does quite well. During the school year, we adhere to a dress code, so I have a hanging organizer with 6 slots in it that contain pre-sorted outfits (shorts/shirt, pants/shirt) and he is free to pick one from the cubby. Revel on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2755865 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 06:52:10 +0000 Revel 2755865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Pumuckl: lots of good ideas! Most of what we do with our 4 year old are joint activities, but I figure it sets the ground work for contributing. So she helps do the laundry, fold clean clothes, load the dishwasher. She likes to set the table herself, can throw things away and put dishes in the sink herself. She'll help sweep. We are working on dressing/undressing herself - a work in progress! Pumuckl on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2755864 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 06:43:31 +0000 Pumuckl 2755864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We start giving access to clothes to our LOs at around age 2. We do give them access to everything but special occassion clothes (so fancy dresses, blouses etc). They are responsible for putting their dirty clothes into the hamper. And our 4 year old will sometimes put his own clothes away after they are washed and folded. My kids brush their own teeth and once they are done we do another run through. Similarly they shower themselves and dry themselves off. They help out in the kitchen by i.e. cutting bananas or putting on butter, jam or honey onto their toasts or washing fruit. They are allowed to fill their plates themselves at dinner. Their plates and cutlery is accessible to them so they can set the table. Our 4 year old is allowed to access glasses so he can help himself to something to drink. We do let them help us with clearing out the dishwasher. They especially enjoy putting away the cutlery. Cherrybee on "Responsibilities (chores) for a four year old?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/responsibilities-chores-for-a-four-year-old#post-2755854 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 06:20:02 +0000 Cherrybee 2755854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We have been away on holiday for a week, staying in a cottage by the sea. E's room had a grown up sized bed - which she loved - and only a small set of drawers for her clothing. This meant that she had unlimited access to her own clothing - and she LOVED choosing her clothes and getting herself dressed in the morning. It got me to thinking that she might be ready for more responsibility at home. What age appropriate responsibilities does your LO have and how do you facilitate these? (For example, we will need to put E's clothes within reach (and maybe reduce them to a capsule wardrobe) if we want her to take responsibility for her clothing.....) What other responsibilities could she take on?