How Young Is Too Young to Create a Chore Chart?

As a preschool with award-winning early learning programs, we understand the importance of early childhood development. Chores, in particular, are a great way to encourage learning at home, in addition to everything they learn in our Pre-K program. 

So, how young is too young to create a chore chart for your little one? It’s younger than you may think, and for a good reason — chores teach your little ones about taking care of themselves and others. The key is to create an age-appropriate chore chart early on! 

At What Age Should You Start A Chore Chart?

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), you should start teaching your children about chores as young as three years old. The organization recommends starting this young because, “Children who do chores may exhibit higher self-esteem, be more responsible, and be better equipped to deal with frustration, adversity, and delayed gratification.”

Many parents start as young as the age of two when little ones are just learning how to put toys away and clean up after themselves. 

The Value of Chores for Children

The values of chores for children have been illustrated in many studies. It gives kids a better sense of responsibility early on, improves performance at home/school, and better prepares children for adulthood along with the responsibilities that come with it. 

In fact, the Center for Parenting Education states that your child will benefit from the following with a chore chart:

Experience

Although it is difficult to enforce at times, children benefit from the experience of doing their chores.

Life Skills

Children begin preschool as early as three years old. Teaching them to do chores also helps them learn to function independently and prepares them for success. 

Self-esteem

Contributing to the household and family ensures your child knows that they play an essential role in everyday life and duties. This, as well as the ability to care for themselves, can boost self-esteem. 

Tips for Creating a Chore List 

Chore charts can come in various formats that fit the child’s age, interests, and preferred way of learning. For the first couple of years, this could include sticker boards, printable chore charts, chore sticks, personalized chalkboards, and more. To effectively put it into practice, you will want to ensure you enforce age-appropriate chores with age-appropriate chore rewards.

Here are our top three tips when creating a chore list:

Choose Age-Appropriate Chores

Children ages 2-3 could be assigned to put away their toys and dress themselves, while children ages 4-5 can make their bed, clear the dinner table, and wipe down counters.

Divide and Conquer Household Chores

Divide household tasks by how many kids you have and what they’re capable of doing. It can be beneficial to have a day on the weekend dedicated to chores for all of your kids to conquer household chores together.

Consider Safety Issues

Always consider the safety of your children when making a list of chores. The younger siblings should be given the simple chores, and an adult should always supervise.

The Casa Connection

Your child’s development in their early years is one of the most important times of their life. Teaching them about responsibility, self-reliance, and other life skills is essential to their growth well into adulthood. Other important skills include social responsibility, environmental awareness, and bilingual learning.

Here at Casa de Corazón, we focus heavily on cultural appreciation to ensure your little ones are enriched with activities that promote language and communication, physical development, cognitive learning, and social and emotional growth. Reach out to any one of our locations to learn more about what our programs have to offer you and your little ones.