Throughout the day, I hear the phrase “Mommy I want to help you!” Some of the time, in fact a lot of the time, I am in a hurry trying to get dinner made, the groceries put away, or the laundry done. Secretly I’ve often hoped that she doesn’t notice what I’m doing because I know as soon as she does, I am going to hear her little feet running over asking if she can help. If I am in the kitchen, she always runs up holding her stool, which she then ALWAYS sets down on my toes!
But when I start to get frustrated or when I become anxious because I know that whatever I am doing is now going to take twice as long, I hear a little voice inside my head. An older mother, whose children are now grown, once told me to “please let her help, find her something for her to do so that she can be a part of it.”
That got me to thinking about why it’s so important that I try to include her in my daily chores. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how many crucial values and abilities are developed during those moments:
- Life Skills: By participating in daily routines and chores, your kids learn what it means to take of themselves and others.
- Responsibility: Being a part of taking care of the family helps your little one learn responsibility.
- Team Work: Help them learn how to work together and be a part of a team.
- Independence: Being a part of daily chores helps your child learn independence and self-care skills.
- Self-Confidence: Watch your child’s self-confidence grow as they learn how they can play a bigger role in the family.
So next time your child wants to help, let them! It may make the task take longer but it’s so worth it in the long run!
