Recently, I was sick and extremely busy (at the same time) for about three weeks straight and during that time a few things had gotten a little out of control, especially in our playroom. I pride myself on that being one of the most organized rooms in the house. Thanks to some hard work on from my sister and me a few months ago. Everything has a place in there and the boys know where things go. Ezra has also entered the age where he just goes into a bin and dumps everything out immediately walking away never to play with it again. So, today we tackled it ALL. Everything went back in their bins, on their shelves, and matched with their partners. Hallelujah! At one point Jonah said to me, "I know why you tell us we can only get one thing out at a time." It felt like fireworks went off. I wanted to scream at him "SEEEE!!!! You know I'm always right!!!" but of course, I didn't. I just said "yyeaaahhh, it's hard to pick up all this stuff at once, huh?" So, tonight before bed I made him (and Ezra) put up toys and I agreed to one train track and some toys to sleep with, but everything else went back in it's home for the night. I walked in the room and the floor was clean. Its been a while and it feels so good.
Besides his great realization today, there are some other things that my little four year old really gets and likes to do, that really do help me. For the past year or more, he's done tasks that help but they were more like training to be helpful in the future, but at 4 1/2, he's getting the hang of a few things that I don't have to totally redo once he's done. Now, even if I did have to go after him, I'd still let him do them because I am planning for our future.
I am came up with a list of 10 Chores Preschoolers can be introduced to and eventually master.
1. Pick up toys. This seems obvious but I don't just mean, pick them up and throw them in the closet. With a little time on our part, every toy in our playroom has a home and the toys are divided into groups, Paw Patrol toys have a bin, Super Heroes and Ninja Turtles have a bin, Ezra's tools, monster trucks, magnatiles and magformers share a basket, Legos, everything has a place and most have a bin or basket to go in. The kids can see what items are already in the basket and determine if the toy they are picking up also belongs in there or they just remember this basket belongs to those toys. This has been a lifesaver.
2. Put dirty laundry in the hamper. Jonah as well as Ezra (at 18 months) know where their laundry bin is in their closet and where the laundry room is in the house. They know that their dirty clothes (ezra sometimes needs help with dirty vs clean) go and will sometimes put them there without having to be reminded, but I don't mind reminding at this age.
3. Put away laundry. I do not ask my preschooler to put away whole stacks of clothing, rather, I ask him to do the things he feels confident doing. He adds socks to his sock bin in his closet and puts his underwear away because we just stack it, there's no folding involved. He occasionally can put 1-2 clothing items away depending on where they go. This is certainly something we will master before he turns 5, hopefully.
4. Gather dishes from around the house. Most dishes that travel around the house are plastic or non-breakable, so it's typically safe to ask my preschooler to "go to mommy's room and bring me any cups you see" while I'm loading the dish washer.
5. Throw away trash. This seems super simple, but I will tell you my 18 month old throws away his trash better than my 4 1/2 year old. He will put trash on the counter right across from the trash can.
6. Bus their own plates/bowls. This is another simple one, but one we need to work on!
7. Get the newspaper or mail. With supervision, your preschooler can help you bring in mail, packages, or newspapers left in the driveway. I have found that letting him help with these tasks encourages me on a busy day to remember to do them.
8. Water Plants. My kid's favorite task typically. He also likes to help me plant (by digging the holes of course) and who doesn't have a great time with a watering can or watering hose?
9. Take care of pets. Jonah often helps me by feeding the dog when we come in in the evenings. He can also let him out/in the door to the back yard.
10. Light vacuuming. Both of my children are obsessed with the vacuum cleaner, so I tend to let them help when I can. With 3 carpeted rooms and a huge rug in our living room, we need to vacuum often. These guys are all over that! Some vacuums can be too cumbersome or heavy for a four year old, but we tried the new BISSELL PowerForce Helix Bagless Upright Vacuum and it's so light weight even my four year old can use it!
Light weight and inexpensive is a great combo for us right now. The kids can use it and I don't feel like they are going to break it! BISSELL PowerForce Helix has some powerful suction with the Helix Dirt Separation System so that the machine's pick up performance will endure lots of use. There is typically no need to empty mid cleaning either with the large capacity Easy Empty™ Dirt Cup. I would definitely recommend this product to moms with wild-mess-making-chidren who might be interested in helping around the house and especially to college student or families that camp a lot in an RV. This vacuum feels like you could take it anywhere!
You could have your chance right now to get a BISSELL PowerForce Helix for FREE!
To Enter:
Visit the BISSELL site and comment to tell me what feature you are most looking forward to if you win?
7. Get the newspaper or mail. With supervision, your preschooler can help you bring in mail, packages, or newspapers left in the driveway. I have found that letting him help with these tasks encourages me on a busy day to remember to do them.
8. Water Plants. My kid's favorite task typically. He also likes to help me plant (by digging the holes of course) and who doesn't have a great time with a watering can or watering hose?
9. Take care of pets. Jonah often helps me by feeding the dog when we come in in the evenings. He can also let him out/in the door to the back yard.
10. Light vacuuming. Both of my children are obsessed with the vacuum cleaner, so I tend to let them help when I can. With 3 carpeted rooms and a huge rug in our living room, we need to vacuum often. These guys are all over that! Some vacuums can be too cumbersome or heavy for a four year old, but we tried the new BISSELL PowerForce Helix Bagless Upright Vacuum and it's so light weight even my four year old can use it!
Light weight and inexpensive is a great combo for us right now. The kids can use it and I don't feel like they are going to break it! BISSELL PowerForce Helix has some powerful suction with the Helix Dirt Separation System so that the machine's pick up performance will endure lots of use. There is typically no need to empty mid cleaning either with the large capacity Easy Empty™ Dirt Cup. I would definitely recommend this product to moms with wild-mess-making-chidren who might be interested in helping around the house and especially to college student or families that camp a lot in an RV. This vacuum feels like you could take it anywhere!
***GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. WAITING ON BRAND FOR SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS. WINNER WILL BE CONTACTED INDIVIDUALLY.***
To Enter:
Visit the BISSELL site and comment to tell me what feature you are most looking forward to if you win?
Bonus Entries: Share this post anywhere on your social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Pin it on Pinterest, Instagram, or Google+, etc) and comment below with where you shared! One comment per share = one entry.
***Make sure when commenting that your comment is connected to an email or your leave an email address for when the winner is chosen! Contest ends May 16, 2016 at midnight CST. Winner will be contacted the following day. If your social accounts are private where you shared, we may ask for a screen shot. GOOD LUCK!!
I really like the washable filter. I will not have to replace filters as often. Thanks for the chance :)
ReplyDeletejslbrown2009 at aol dot com
Thanks for Entering Lisa! Good Luck!
DeleteI would love the vacuum being so lightweight, our current vacuum is pretty heavy and I hate carrying it upstairs! My 6-year old daughter has in the past made attempts at vacuuming her own room but it is hard for her to push, I'm sure she would really enjoy the easier to push vacuum too! Thanks for this giveaway!
ReplyDeletePowerful suction & rotating brush deep clean - removes embedded dirt and hair is the feature I am most excited about because I have long hair and it seems to fall off at times so this will come in handy for that and my husband is an outdoorsman and he is always brining in dirt and grass in our home.
ReplyDeleteI would love having the washable filter. It would be so nice not having to replace the filter very often.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a condo so anything small is good and I would also love that it's lightweight enough for a child to use!
ReplyDeleteI like the Helix Dirt Separation System feature.
ReplyDeletedlatany at gmail dot com
I love the Washable filter!! Makes so much more sense to save money that way!
ReplyDeletefreebiegoddess03@aol.com
Removes deep down dirt and hair!!
ReplyDeletemindy_delisi@hotmail.com
DeleteI like that it has dual edge cleaning. It looks easy to maneuver around rooms. I also like the large dirt cup so that we don't have to empty it out as much.
ReplyDeletemarleykristin@hotmail.com
I love that it has a powerful suction and gets deep into the floor, which is something I always want in a vacuum cleaner, especially with hard to reach dirt and hair. ☺♥
ReplyDeleteairmonkey120@yahoo.com
I love that it is lightweight. I am interested in how it has the dirt separation, too. That sounds useful! umdrower@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI'm planning on getting mine to help out when he starts asking for money! You have to work to earn son! #TheList
ReplyDeleteI like that it is lightweight. Great list of chores, my 1 year old is terrified of the vacuum, but at least he sometimes picks up toys and puts them in a basket.
ReplyDeletejuliecookies (at)gmail.com
I agree that it is important for kids to have age apropriate chores. It teaches them to do things for themselves, rather then forever using mummy as maid/cook. It's important life skills
ReplyDelete#thelist
Love the deep cleaning suction and the ability to wash the filter!
ReplyDeleteI love that it is lightweight because it will make it easier for me to use with a bad back! This vacuum looks so amazing!
ReplyDeletealso shared on twitter
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/zoeybear20/status/729437429321633792
crystalrsell at gmail dot com
I look forward to the washable filter feature, very convenient!
ReplyDeletekellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
tweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/731143729554313216
kellywcu8888ATgmailDOTcom
My favorite is the washable filter!
ReplyDeletegroogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
I tweeted- https://twitter.com/groogruxking40/status/731226616022491136
ReplyDeletegroogruxking40 @ gmail dot com
I like that this is bagless and has a washable filter. The worst part about some vacuums is that the bags and filters are so expensive.
ReplyDeleteI shared on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/david.lintz.12/posts/1221083617925204
ReplyDeleteI shared on Twitter at https://twitter.com/1brisket/status/731237052981841920
ReplyDeleteI shared on pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/pin/258394097349682756/
ReplyDeleteI love the Washable filter- Means not having to replace filters as often.
ReplyDeleteI love the Washable filter- Means not having to replace filters as often.
ReplyDeleteI shared on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI shared on twitter @TheHippieHut
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this! My wife and I desperately need a new vacuum cleaner because our dog sheds so bad. I like the washable filter feature a lot. I shared on Twitter - https://twitter.com/bigjimboextreme as well as on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bigjimboextreme My email address is bigjimboextreme@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteOh my favorite feature is the Powerful suction & rotating brush deep clean - removes embedded dirt and hair! With 3 dog rescues we adopted, this would be so wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI shared on Pinterest
ReplyDeletehttps://www.pinterest.com/pin/277464027021609809/
landfjacobson @ charter .net
I shared on Google+
ReplyDeletehttps://plus.google.com/106880099783011885659/posts/HRAVkETQzki
landfjacobson @ charter .net
Lightweight! What a bonus! Thanks!!
ReplyDeleteI also shared on Facebook :)
ReplyDelete