Little Laundry Helper!

Little ones LOVE to help with chores around the house and will help joyfully, as long as the job is age appropriate. Here is a picture of my daughter at 2yo helping load the wet laundry into the dryer.

Some jobs that my two year old has enjoyed helping with are: setting the table with her big sisters, pushing the dryer button to start the dryer, adding clothes to the washing machine, pulling clothes out of the dryer into a basket, helping put toys away, getting things for Daddy or her sisters or her Mommy, helping let the dogs and cats in and out of the house, gathering eggs in the chicken barn, helping Mommy feed the chickens, and more. She recently began helping clear dirty dishes and bringing them to the sink and also bringing wood inside for winter heat (of course she brings in a small piece of wood while we bring in several large pieces).

At this age, the jobs are usually something your child can do with an older child or parent. A happy attitude of the one helping the young one can go a long way in developing good habits of helpfulness. Positive praise for a job well done will also encourage your little one to want to do the job again. Little ones love to be just like us big people and when we include them in our lives, even just a tiny bit, it brings them so much joy.

Some might say that it is too much work, but don't let that fool you. What a joy to work with your child! Enjoy these happy days and moments with your child smiling up at you for approval. It won't be long and this child will be able to do these things on their own, with proper training, and having a daughter at 18yo, I know how quickly they grow... the years really don't seem as long as some of those early days. I now wish, looking back, that I had spent more time with my little helpers and that I had not grumbled over the jobs that took so long when they wanted to help.

Some other blessings of working and training our young children are the joys of developing a relationship with our children, watching them grow into responsible children, and saving alot of work in the long haul. Training an older child is more difficult, although it still can be done, it is done much easier and with less struggling with a younger child, when pertaining to a job that fits their abilities.

What an awesome responsibility we have as parents... I often wonder why God chose me! I pray for strength and the wisdom to train up these little ones of His. It is quite humbling to realize that God put this responsibility in "our family's hands". May we as parents pray for direction in our day to day activities and may we be open to training our children all day long, with a smile on our face and gentleness in our talk.

Warmly,
~Melissa