Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere
Your toddler is now entering what Montessori calls the “sensitive period” of wanting to help. You may see them putting passion and zest into household work like throwing away rubbish, wiping up spills, and helping with the laundry.
Giving your toddler opportunities to help around the house makes them feel independent and valuable. They have an innate drive to contribute and find a lot of confidence and joy in having their own role and responsibilities.
Research shows that children who are exposed early to household work without rewards are more likely to be helpful and involved later in life. Child development experts consistently say happy children are the ones who are given responsibilities around the house for which they don’t get a prize or money. Talk to your toddler about being an important part of your household community.
Try to let go of needing their early work to be productive (or even complete) and think about it as an investment in making a habit of helping.
Here are some ways to let your toddler help out around the home
Encourage them to:
- Help with siblings
- Bring in the mail
- Water plants
- Prep snacks (by peeling eggs or cutting soft foods like bananas or avocados)
- Put placemats on the table
- Sort silverware in the silverware tray
- Feed pets
- Open and close doors
- Clean up/wipe up spills
- Throw away pieces of rubbish
- Take small bags of rubbish to the outside bins
- Help put clothes in the laundry bin or washer
Montessori Placemat & Utensils
Empower independence during family meals with this helpful silicone placemat and utensil set.
The Play Kits
The Play Kits by Lovevery are thoroughly tested, baby safe, eco-friendly and Montessori inspired. Give your child the best start with our stage-based play toy subscription boxes.
Keep reading
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
25 - 27 Months
28 - 30 Months
31 - 33 Months
34 - 36 Months
What kind of chores are right for my child?
Children as young as 18 months can start taking on regular household responsibilities. These will be simple and straightforward, like wiping up spills or helping set the table, and will require modeling and patience from you.
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
5 co-regulation tips to help your toddler manage their feelings
When your toddler is upset, it can be hard to know what to do ❤️ During the newborn stage, you helped your baby calm down by holding them, rocking them, and taking deep breaths. Now the process is getting more complicated. Your child’s emotions become more complex as they get older. Sometimes they don’t want … Continued
13 - 15 Months
16 - 18 Months
19 - 21 Months
22 - 24 Months
Wish your toddler would focus? Try playing together first
When you read a book or practise stacking blocks with your toddler, you do more than bond with them. You also help increase their attention span ❤️ Two related studies published in 2019 and 2022 found that when parents and their toddlers focused on a toy together, the toddlers paid attention a little longer and … Continued