Helping Hands Jobs
What you need
- a sheet of paper for a picture job list
- greetings cards to stand up
- a basket of the family's winter socks and gloves
- a dustpan and brush
How to do it
- Draw three little pictures on the paper for today's jobs: cards, socks, sweeping.
- Job one: stand the cards up on a low shelf or windowsill, spacing them out.
- Job two: match the winter socks and gloves into pairs, and count the pairs.
- Job three: sweep up any paper scraps with the dustpan and brush.
- Tick each picture as you finish, and say thank you for the help.
Why it matters
Real jobs with a picture list let them see what needs doing and feel proud when it is done.
What they're learning
- Real jobs
- Doing a job that helps the family makes them feel part of the house.
- Matching pairs
- Finding two socks that are the same is careful looking and sorting.
- Following a list
- Checking the picture list for what comes next is early planning.
What to look for
Watch for them checking the list to see what comes next without being told.
A tip
Short, real jobs work best. Stand the cards on a low shelf, well away from the tree.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: pick one job and do it together
Harder: let them choose the order and tick the list themselves
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Everyday helper activities · Toddler activities with a basket · Toddler activities with paper · Toddler activities with socks