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Little kids love to help out around the home and do the jobs that they see their parents do. But sometimes life gets so busy that it can be difficult to find the time – or even remember to let them try.
So when one TikTok mum posted a video of her toddler carrying out her favourite chores, it was so impressive it went viral.
We hear the mother narrating the video saying, “Hey guys, do you know that toddlers actually really enjoy doing chores, and if your not sure what chores your toddler can do, this is what I do with my 20 month-old.”
The first job is bringing in the shopping and we see the busy baby helping to carry bags from the front door into the kitchen. You would have to make sure that the bags are light of course, but there are plenty of products that are suitable for a little one to carry – just think toilet paper, paper towel and loaves of bread, to name but a few.
Next we see the toddler with a cup of dog biscuits. “She loves her chore of feeding he dog,” says the mum. “If anyone else tries to feed the dog she will cry because it’s her job.” The little girl pours the biscuits into the dog’s bowl and even puts away the container. “After she feeds the dog, she will run it all the way back to the little bin and shut it,” says her mum.
This is a fantastic way to not only encourage your child to carry out household chores but also develop a sense of responsibility for her pet. I think I’m the only one in our household who remembers to feed our dog! However, the mum has included in the caption ‘non-aggressive dogs only’, which is an important tip to remember.
Next it’s time for the washing: “She also loves helping her mumma do laundry, she helps me put clothes in the dryer.” This is an excellent job for toddlers as it’s simply about taking stuff from one place and putting it another, an action that most little ones find a great deal of fun.
@thatbamfam What chores does your toddler do?! ##toddlers ##toddleractivities ##toddlertips ##chores ##thatbamfam
♬ Hit The Road Jack – Ray Charles
The final task is fetching objects that the mum needs such as nappies. “When it comes to changing time, she brings me diapers and wipes,” she says. The little girl proudly brings in the nappies and wipes for her mum – not only does she feel grown up, but it saves mum from having to fetch them herself, so definitely a win-win!
The post has been shared over 11 thousand times, attracting 1.1 million likes. Many viewers say how they enjoyed doing chores when they were young, leaving comments such as, “I used to love washing dishes when I was young” and “My mom told me that when I was younger I used to sweep, she bought me a tiny broom and I just swept to my heart’s desire!” Others described how much their own toddlers like doing jobs. One parent said, “My 18 month old loves sweeping and mopping and he loves throwing things away and putting his toys away.” Another said, “My toddler loves unpacking the groceries and feeding the dog too! He also loves unloading the dishwasher.”
Even though these are all easy jobs for a toddler to do, the challenge can be letting them do it as it can be so time consuming for a busy parent. My daughter used to love mopping the floors, but it always took twice as long and I only ever had a small window to clean the house. But it was worth it as it made her feel grown up – plus she actually did a really great job.
It’s important to allow kids to have a go, as hard as that can be sometimes when you’re madly trying to cross a million tasks off your list. And if they enjoy doing the task, why not make the most of it! One viewer made the comment, “It’s very important for kids and toddlers to have tasks so they become independent and feel included in the daily routine.”
I couldn’t agree more.
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