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You know how your two year old can “help” you by bringing you diapers for the baby, putting away a few toys, and stirring a plastic spoon around in some soapy water as a way to “wash dishes?” Some of those little fella jobs are really just “here let me keep you busy so that I can keep you from painting the cat with plaster of Paris” right? But it also teaches responsibility and a servant heart. So moms of toddlers and preschoolers: Keep teaching your kids to work and serve and help!!!
As tough as it is to let your little ones help you, especially knowing that you could do it forty times faster by yourself, I’m here to tell you that it is so very worth your extra effort! Even when our oldest was 7, I could tell a huge difference in his ability to really help ease my work load. Now that I’ve got kids 9, 12, 14, and 16? Well, I haven’t scrubbed a toilet in years. We put these kids to work, and it’s a huge benefit to our household.
My favorite thing from today is this: Not only were my kids working hard, they were teaching each other. Asa (16) has been our expert guacamole whipper-upper for several years. I asked him to make some to go with our lunch today. Then I asked him to pull Elias (12) in with him and teach him how to make it. It was awesome. They did the work from start to finish, and now, thanks to Asa, Elias also knows how to make this great dip.
We devoured this Spicy Avocado Dip with our burritos today. So good!
This afternoon, the boys pulled out our Risk game. I loved hearing Asa and Justus (14) teach our younger boys to play. Even Malachi (9) was figuring it out.
Teaching your kids new skills is great. Letting older kids teach younger kids? Even better. I’m thankful for hearing my olders teach my youngers today. The conversation was sweet, the arguments were few, and we all got to eat awesome guac. Happy day. :)
Now your turn. Share what you’re thankful for! Leave a comment on this post letting us know how God is working in your life. If you’ve written a blog post about what you’re thankful for, leave the link in the comments so we can visit your blog to read about it. We love sharing and reading about God’s blessings!
I am so grateful for prayer. Not only the opportunity to speak to God and be heard but also for the wise men and women of prayer who went before us and left an example to follow!
http://www.maidservantsofchrist.com/detail.asp?DetailID=398&Return=/
I am thankful that I can be acceptable to God
http://sandrasark.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/why-we-worship-18.html
I have two children ages 13 and nine. I love when my oldest teaches her younger brother had to complete a task. Lately, she has been teaching him in the kitchen. I also love when my son teaches his older sister new tasks as well. Each of them have gifts that God has blessed them with and now they are teaching one another. A servant’s heart is truly a blessing.
http://www.theforeverneighbor.com/2014/05/we-have-two-choices.html
I am so thankful for the sweet times that my five year old and I get to spend together learning her Bible memory verses fo Awanas! Here’s 4 reasons why I love memorizing Scripture with my little girl: http://www.brookeespinoza.blogspot.com/2014/05/4-reasons-i-love-memorizing-scripture.html
I only have one child, but boy do I relate to the phrase “to keep them from painting the cat with plaster of paris”. We started giving Britton “jobs” from the time he was about 3. He’s 16 now and even though, like most teenagers, work is not his favorite thing, he is a hard worker. His grandpa does carpentry/handyman work and Britton has been working with Bob in the summers since he was about 13. He started out just working 3 days a week and now he’s planning on working everyday this summer, so he can earn money to buy a car. Bob said he’s great help and really misses having him during the school year. I’m very proud of him. We had planned on buying me a new-to-you car this year and giving him mine, but it just wasn’t working out for us finacially. My boy wasn’t even upset about it. He just sat down and starting figuring up how long it would take him to save up for his own. No whining, no pouting. Teaching children that work is important and a part of life is so vital to there growth.
Yes! My 3-year-old is much more willing to do “chores” than my 5-year-old… BUT she is always ready to sit down and teach him how to play a game or read to him. It’s so sweet – and so helpful, since I am now very pregnant with baby #3!
Having lunch with hubby