Featured Article:
Responsibility
Responsibility builds self-esteem and teaches self-sufficiency. Young children begin to learn about responsibility earlier than most people think. Toddlers and pre-school children can be included in helping with chores when they are able to understand simple instructions and can imitate actions. Children build self-esteem with simple chores.
As children's vocabulary and understanding of words and actions increases, teachers can use simple words that a young toddler can understand and show the child how to do a task. Simple chores for toddlers can be something fun to do together and can become part of what is done routinely.
Making simple tasks easy for young children:
Children feel a sense of accomplishment when they are successful at something like hanging up a coat or sweater or putting toys back into a toy box. This builds self-esteem, and provides the opportunity for the child to do something all by themselves. At times it seems easier and quicker to do things for young children. But with guidance by teachers, children learn that cleaning up at the end of play can be just as much fun as taking the toys out of the box and dumping them on the floor at the beginning of play. Children will accept a clean-up routine as part of what they know how to do.
Helpful Hints:
Tips for Age Appropriate Chores
Teachers are an important influence on young children. Children learn by the example set for them. If children see you being responsible, they will want to act responsibly, too. For young children, being responsible means:
How early can or should a child be taught responsibility?
Infants and responsibility
Help infants in your care gain the tools they will need in a few years to be responsible preschoolers. Once infants start on table food, give them the opportunity to feed themselves. They will learn the satisfaction of "keeping on trying" by picking up every piece of banana in their bowls. They can also learn to use a spoon at an early age (9-12 months) if you provide a plastic baby spoon with a big easy grip. Quick responses to the child's calls and cries will teach him that he is important and that it is important to help friends and family.
Toddlers and responsibility
Toddlers like being responsible. They enjoy completing small tasks you set up for them. For instance, picking up the toys, finding their shoes, choosing between two stories to read for circle time. Activities such as these help toddlers feel confident and capable of completing tasks. Getting dressed is another way to help children feel capable. You can start by giving toddlers opportunities to choose clothes and dress up in the home center. If young children learn that their opinions are important, then when they become preschoolers they will want to help others. They will also learn the feeling of accomplishment from completing tasks. Also, before nap, allowing the children to take off their own shoes (because it's easier than putting the shoes on) will help them learn that they can keep on trying to complete tasks.
Preschoolers and responsibility
There are many ways you can help preschool children learn to be responsible. Preschool children enjoy having jobs at which they can succeed. Helping at school makes children feel important and know they are contributing to the classroom. Simple chores children can do at school include:
Making a simple chart for your classroom may be an easy way to keep track of your class jobs. Your children will enjoy keeping track of changing turns on the job chart.
The above information is from LSUAgCenter.com.
Creative Corner:
"The Dust Bunny"
Little kids love to play at cleaning. They love to sweep and vacuum. They'll wash pretend dishes for hours at a time. A toy mop is a dream come true. Here is an activity that will help make cleaning fun!
The “Dust Bunny” is made from an old sock.
Have the children bring in an old sock from home.
Provide some sharpie markers so each child can decorate their own “Dust Bunny”.
Some may want to make a “Dust Dog” or “Dust Cat Catcher”. How about a
“Dust Mouse” for cleaning house?
Little known “Dust Bunny Facts”
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