"Chores" for toddlers

As a business owner and a farmer we find it important that our son learn the value hard-work. Yes I know “he is just a kid”, yes I know “he has his whole life to work”. However, that does not change the fact that our toddler is perfectly able to help us and learn responsibility all at the same time.

If you are looking for some ways to have your kiddo help out please feel free to read below:

Walkers favorite “chore” is to help momma in the kitchen. I know it’s not typical for boys to help in the kitchen but I think it is an important skill for a boys to learn. Grab a butter knife and let your kids help you cut fruit or vegetables. One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is bake so anytime Walker gets the opportunity to help my measure, pour, mix...anything he loves it!

Another “chore” that Walker will often help with is taking care of the animals. This includes cleaning the barn stalls, feeding our 2 Labrador’s, watering the calves, feeding the chickens...etc. We usually always have something in the barn whether it be bottles calves, freshly weaned calves or heifers to halter break. So you can imagine how nasty it can get. Now I know that he may not be able to help much but it’s the value of learning to take care of what you have and to care for your animals that he is learning.

Lastly, we grow a garden (which I’ll discuss some tips in another post) but Walker helped Trampus and I start our plants from seeds and is now asking to go to the garden daily to help pick the vegetables and pull weeds. He has enjoyed so much watching the process and typically the tomatoes and cucumbers don’t make it back to the house with a few bite marks out of them ha.

I once heard a quote that has always stuck with me “prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child.” I truly think that by allowing our son to help us do such simple tasks that he learns not only how to care for things but also responsibility.