Read on to learn how common everyday chores for kids can help boost strength, proprioception, bilateral coordination, midline crossing, fine motor skills, visual skills, and cognitive skills!
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Chores for kids…as moms, we know that they’re great for fostering independence, promoting a sense of responsibility, and making kids feel like capable members of a household. As therapists, we love the fact that chores for kids are also amazing for promoting all kinds of developmental skills!
Simple, everyday chores around the house can help boost coordination, strength, cognitive skills, fine motor skills, and more! Now you have more reason than ever to put those kiddos to work!
Read on to find our favorite chores for promoting various developmental skills for kids.
Promoting Developmental Skills With Chores for Kids
Chores for Improving Strength and Proprioception in Kids
Proprioception is the way joints and muscles send messages to the brain to help coordinate movement. Proprioception also allows us to regulate the force of our movements. As kids move against an opposing force, they strengthen their proprioceptive systems. This kind of movement is also great for all over strengthening.
Help kids improve proprioception and strength with chores that involve lifting, pulling, and movement against resistance:
-Taking out the garbage
-Washing the floor (squeezing out a mop or sponge, scrubbing the floor)
-Loading the washer and dryer with clothes
-Raking, shoveling, pulling weeds
-Taking sheets, blankets, and pillowcases off beds to be washed
-Making beds
-Vacuuming
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Great post – just pinned. I like the printable and how you sorted it by developmental skills not necessarily by age. If you need some more reasons of why children should do chores check out my recent blogpost http://yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2015/03/19/3-reasons-why-children-should-do-chores/
Thanks very much for sharing–go OT!