Helping out – tips for babies, toddlers and children

Doing chores has been linked with social^[1] and thinking skills^[2] as well as children’s happiness^[3]. Read on to get some simple ideas to help your child learn by getting them involved in helping with everyday tasks.  

You might leave tidying, cooking and other household chores until your little one is having a nap. Often having a tiny helper can make it feel like everything is taking longer, but children love to help.  

Getting them involved now not only builds the habit of helping it also helps them master skills.  

The other win is that if things are done before nap time, you’ll be able to sit down and enjoy a hot drink while they sleep! 

You’ll find ideas linked to the skills your child is working on right now on your activity screen; and here you’ll find ideas to try this weekend for babies, toddlers and children.  

You know your child so pick the ones you think they’ll enjoy, and have fun getting some help around the house...

Babies 

Simply chatting to them as you do various household tasks will help your baby begin to understand what you’re doing.  

If you use a sling or wrap (and it’s safe to do so), have your baby in the sling as you do some chores.  

Let’s tidy 

Once your baby has mastered the skill of letting go of an object, get them involved in tidying at the end of playtime.  

What you need 

• A basket or box for toys 

What to do 

• Say, “It’s time to put the toys away now.”  
• Pick up a toy and put it into the basket.  
• Hand your baby and toy and say something like, “Your turn,” or “Tidy now!” 
• If your baby doesn’t drop the toy into the box, just keep putting them away, they will watch and might join in future.  

Toddlers  

Let’s clean 

What you need

• Cleaning equipment for your toddler, for example, a cloth or brush 

What to try

• Give your toddler a cloth or brush.  
• Show them where you’d like them to wipe or sweep. 
• Stand back and let them have a go.  

Sweeping and wiping are great for physical development as they help your toddler build strength and control in their arms and shoulders.

Children

Little chef 

What you need 

• A suitable table (one your child can stand at)  
• A recipe 
• Cooking equipment your child can use 

What to do 

• Find a table or work surface your child can stand up at (standing is better than sitting when they’re going to use tools to chop and mix).  
• Involve your child in making a meal or snack.  
• Show them how to do each step, then give them time to have a go.  
• Let them do as much as possible themselves.  

For more ideas to get your child involved with cooking, and get a free toddler-friendly recipe card for banana pancakes, have a look at our article Can cook, will cook.  

References:  

[1] Torrens, M.G., Dreizler, K., & Kartner, J. (2021). Insight into toddlers’ motivation to help: From social participants to prosocial contributors. Infant behavior and Development, 64. Article 101603.  

[2] Tepper DL, Howell TJ, Bennett PC. (2022). Executive functions and household chores: Does engagement in chores predict children's cognition? Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 69(5):585-598.  

[3] White, Elizabeth M., DeBoer, M.D., Scharf, Rebecca J. (2019). Associations Between Household Chores and Childhood Self-Competency. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics 40(3), 176-182.