Growing Responsible Kids

Just looking at these pictures makes me want to bake some more! Mmmm chocolate chip cookies.

When my grandparents were here a couple months ago, my Gran told me it's a good time to start teaching him to do chores. A child's play is adult work. Micah has been helping with a number of every day chores around the house. He loves helping empty the dishwasher. He hands me silverware or plates and after each one he says "dank you". He helps load and unload the washer and dryer and then take the clothes from the laundry room to the bedrooms to fold and put away. He is usually really good about cleaning up his toys at the end of the day and putting them away. He really likes to sweep and helps when I need to throw away the stuff in the dust pan by opening the door to where we keep the garbage can. He loves helping with anything in the kitchen and now that I've taught him to stand on a chair by the counter, he will move it over and stand there every time I do anything in the kitchen. He likes to help weed, too, and will pull some himself (as long as they're weeds and not plants!) and he'll take the pile that I've collected over to the garbage for me. It's fun teaching him chores. I'm sure it will be even more fun seeing him do them on his own! :)

A friend of mine had a schedule for her 3 young boys during the summer. They had every couple hours blocked out for certain times - playing outside, playing quietly inside, chores, lunch, nap time, etc. Each child had a couple different chores that he had to do and it was just something small, but they all did them. They each had one chore they did completely on their own and one that they did with mommy. The youngest boy was 2 and he would vacuum the small living room carpet and help mommy unload the dishwasher. What a brilliant plan to teach kids responsibility! Do you have any ideas or plans for teaching your children? What worked for you?