When selecting prizes, choose
something your child wouldn’t receive
otherwise. If you go to the park several
times a week, an extra trip to the park
won’t seem much of a reward. But if
you normally go only once a week, an
extra visit will be more enticing.
For toddlers and preschoolers,
immediate rewards are important.
Offer to go to the ice cream store or
park, to play a favorite game together,
to invite a friend over, or a fun sticker
or favorite treat. You can also purchase
prizes that come in a set, such as mark-
ers. Then offer one piece of the set for
each completed task until your child
has earned the complete set.
Elementary children are able to
save for bigger rewards. Use a chart
and offer prizes for accumulated stars.
But don’t make your child wait more
than a week or so for a reward. Oth-
erwise, the reward will lose its motiva-
tional value. Rewards for elementary
age children might include additional
television or computer time, a trip to
the zoo or museum, baking together,
having a friend overnight, or a new
magazine or matchbox car.
Older kids are able to
accumulate points for longer
periods and begin to look toward
long-term rewards. A teen could
accumulate points for several weeks
to earn a concert ticket or trip to the
amusement park, a new outfit, or a
special privilege such as staying out
later or additional phone time.
Age appropriate chores
Toddlers and preschoolers are more
capable than we realize. In these early
years, children should take on house-
hold tasks. Remember that attention
span is short at this age. So keep chores
brief when assigning them to little ones
unless the chores are especially fun.
Your preschooler can:
• Make juice
• Frost cakes and cookies
• Set the table
• Rinse dishes
• Empty wastebaskets
• Vacuum (with a small vacuum)
• Dust
• Sort dirty clothes
• Put clothes in drawers
• Pick up toys
• Stack books
• Answer the phone
• Get the mail
• Water flowers
Elementary age children are more
coordinated and capable of performing
better quality work. In addition to the
previous items, your elementary age
child can:
• Fix her breakfast
• Prepare microwave foods
• Bake
• Help pack lunches
• Warm soup
• Clean off the dinner table
• Load the dishwasher
• Wash windows
• Clean bathroom sinks
• Fold laundry
• Run his own bath
• Pack her suitcase
• Care for younger siblings (with an
adult at home)
• Feed and walk pets
• Vacuum the car
• Take out trash cans
Kids in middle school and beyond can
learn nearly any task. During the teen
years, introduce new tasks periodically
so your adolescent can master all skills.
Your teen can:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Clean tubs and toilets
Organize the garage, basement,
and closets
Set up a garage sale
Clean the kitchen, refrigerator,
and oven
Fix dinner
Make a grocery list
Grocery shop
Pump gas
Do laundry and ironing
Mow the lawn
Do minor household repairs
It’s not too late
If your child is beyond preschool or
elementary age and you haven’t offered
many household responsibilities in the
past, don’t despair. While it’s better to
start when children are young, it may
be more difficult, but it’s not too late.
Make a plan today to set your child on
a path toward self-reliance. You’ll both
be glad you did as you watch your child
reap the benefits of growing into an
independent, successful young adult.
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