Children helping at home

written in May 2009
Ever given this a thought - at what age would you like your child to help you with household work, if at all you want...

This is based on a few observations I recently had in my child(3 yr old) at kindergarten...
They are expected to lay the table, eat on their own, pick up the dishes and keep it at a place and then also clean the table. Kids are very enthusiastic in doing all these work and they take turns in doing so.
Similarly they put on their jackets and zip their jacket, wear the socks and shoes... etc..

Most of the family I know here(in Germany), make it a practise from an early age to make the child do his own jobs even at home.

My main concern Im touching here is helping in kitchen. Just now, I saw a German program where children were preparing dishes from salad, soup, main course dishes chopping kneading frying and all. The age group is from 8-12 yrs. I have never given a knife in Krish's hand, but I know a German 4 yr old girl, cuts apples at her home, ofcourse under the supervision of her father. It was a group effort by her, her elder bro(6 yrs) and younger bro(3 yr) and they were making sandwiches for Sunday breakfast. Its like a fun! Every Sunday breakfast is prepared my the children and they decide the menu. I found it really amazing - the way they participate in helping mom at home.

I was wondering whether, we Indian moms would ever allow our child to enter the kitchen, and give excuse that they get distracted form their studeis etc.
I would not agree to do so. Atleast I know a few handful in my own family. Thats the argument I've heard from not one but many moms who have grown up children of 8-10yrs. They dont even know how to get their galss of drinking water as their bottle is always kept in their room. Strange!

Krish is also 3 yr old and has started chopping salad only Gurken that too I can't move beyond two pieces. I dont have the courage to see himhold the knife yet. Krish is visting his kindergarten just 2 mnths now. I really feel very proud at times to notice when he simles after putting his socks right and the shoes on the correct foot (though many a times he goes wrong ). He has learned to put the zip of his jacket too.

We used our with fingers to eat before he started visiting kindergarten. Now all of us eat with fork and knife. He insists we do so. Infact I was never ccomfortable eating without a spoon earlier.

These are small changes but very positive. He has started filling his own glass of water and make his sandwiches. While cooking he puts the chopped veggied in the pan. Everything when I'm around.

My case was a lot different. Many of my friends used to feel "J" that Im not asked to help Ma in kitchen. Only after I finished my schooling I used to volunteer for a special Sunday lunch reading some Recepie from a book, and all the ingredients kept ready by my mom. I know, it sounds very pampered. I was a real pampered child only in this regard. I hope Krish doesnt read this anytime soon.


What do you think of brothers ordering their sisters for glass of water?


Do we still have such Moms around(in family or friends or neighbours) who think any work at home should be done only by daughters and daughters MUST know every househould work. Ofcourse cooking priority and then from shoe polish to ironing to everything. ???
Crazy but true, there are so many of them!

Being a mother of a boy child. I would take pride in saying my son can manage all his job including preparing his own lunch & dinner whenever this time comes.
I shall visit this post and update whenever the time comes.
 
Check this out on what children can do. Dont stop them and encourage them to move forward leaving your fear behind. 
http://www.ted.com/talks/kiran_bir_sethi_teaches_kids_to_take_charge.html