LITTLE HELP FROM LITTLE HANDS

“Children’s good habits will help them in the future.”

During my second pregnancy, which was dominated by the feeling of constant fatigue, dizziness, and daily vomiting, I decided to ask my three-year-old son for help with everyday duties. What surprised me at first was that he didn’t make any objections, and even enjoyed it. What he liked the most was vacuuming, he could do that for hours. His second favourite duty was taking out the laundry and hanging it up too. My son had his own little drying rack where he hung his socks and underwear. It helped me a lot because I often get dizzy and vomit when I bend down. https://littlepuzzlesandme.com/cleaning-theory/

Of course, there were also critical comments from friends and family: “Such a small child shouldn’t be vacuumed” or “Such a small child shouldn’t be making breakfast.” At age 3, Patrick took some cornflakes and poured himself some milk. He had to do it himself because during my pregnancy the smell of milk in the morning made me vomit.

My son from an early age learned to carry dirty dishes to the sink, collect dirty clothes and put them in the laundry basket, dust, and most importantly, vacuum. He still likes to vacuum (he is 6 years old now), although he does it with less enthusiasm, faster, and with questions: “Why vacuum, guests will come?”

In my home, my children understand that we share responsibilities, we don’t do everything for them. I see a lot of parents doing that. I heard from other parents that a 6-year-old is too young to vacuum. Many times I only saw Mom bringing dirty dishes to the sink, Mom pouring juices and milk – or worst of all – Mom picking up dirty clothes from the floor.

At my house, the children are able to prepare breakfast – especially cereal with milk. They understand the idea of cleaning up after themselves. At my house we don’t use the thesis – mom will clean everything.

And as I’ve heard criticism before, recently I heard from parents I know that maybe it’s better for Patrick or Dorothy to learn their duties from an early age. My friend has done everything for her children since they were little, and now her teenage children leave dirty dishes in the room waiting for their mother to wash them, dirty clothes on the floor, and the hoover is too heavy for them.

I know that every mother from an early age tries to help her children in everything. I also know that children want to become independent very quickly. There is a period when children often say: “I’ll do it myself.” Then let your child pour the juice himself and put the glass in the sink.

Don’t show the kids that mom will do it for them. As soon as you ask your child to vacuum, he will do it, hang the jacket on the hanger himself and put the shoes in the place intended for this. Without mom’s help, children will manage better than you imagine. You will see how children learn their responsibilities very quickly and will continue these principles into their adult lives. Let’s not bring up children in rules – everything in the house will be done by Mom.

Children like to help and be independent, but we have to let them and show them that they can handle this “heavy vacuum cleaner”.