Sabin, DaVIS, HETRICK, ANDEREGG, Macalady, walker, darling and Katers

“Nothing inspires cleanliness more than an unexpected guest.” — Radhika Mundra

Right now we have an unexpected and unwelcome guest in our nation and we may be running out of educational entertaining ideas for the family.

If you haven’t already done so consider a good house cleaning, throw away, and give away before we are all freed from the house again.

If the time is positive, fun, and short, young children may enjoy being included in many household chores and learn important skills at the same time in small game like doses.

In addition, children begin to understand that everyone helps in a family.

Around the house

≤ Dusting, vacuuming and sweeping: If you plug in the vacuum, provide a broom and dustpan or Swifter- type sweeper, your preschooler with the help help of older folks will love to gather up crumbs and dirt, especially in their own room. You can work together or make it a game to find little bits and dust bunnies. They can also dust surfaces with a damp cloth, dusting brush or a big old sock with their hand inside. They can help prepare surfaces for washing and waxing.

Your young children will be developing language skills, muscle control, and organizational skills, as well as, the positive self- image that comes from helping others. They may not be able to do much at first, but they can help with added responsibility as they grow older.

≤ Washing in the kitchen: Children can help empty drawers and wash them out. Young children love to use water and soap bubbles to clean silverware, plastic dishes and cups. Set your little dishwasher up on a sturdy stool at the sink or on the floor. Show the kids how to wipe off the table and chairs, too.

Clothes

≤ Sorting clothes: This is an extremely important skill. Your children can help you sort the dirty clothes into piles of dark and light colors. Later, when the clothes are washed and dried, they can help fold and sort again into piles for each person. Matching socks is an especially good activity for learning about pairs, as well as, the concepts of same and different. They can help make piles for the change of seasons, give away, and throw away.

Give kids jobs can they handle depending on their age and understanding. Be ready to finish up or redo later, if they get tired, and let children know you appreciate efforts. There are many other jobs to train children to be helpful: Raking, sweeping, shoveling, setting the table, providing pet care, stacking magazines, getting the mail, watering plants, separating materials for recycling, working in the garden, and taking out the garbage.

For more family tips see grandparentsteachtoo.blogspot.com or wnmufm.org/ Learning Through the Seasons live and pod casts, and Facebook.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Grandparents Teach, Too is a non-profit organization of elementary and preschool teachers from Marquette, Michigan. The writers include: Jan Sabin, Mary Davis, Jean Hetrick, Cheryl Anderegg, Esther Macalady, Colleen Walker, Fran Darling, and Iris Katers. Their mission since 2009 is to help parents, grandparents, and other caregivers of young children provide fun activities to help prepare young children for school and a life long love of learning. They are supported by Great Start, Parent Awareness of Michigan, the U.P. Association for the Education of Young Children, Northern Michigan School of Education, the Upper Peninsula Children’s Museum and the Northern Michigan University Center for Economic Education.