Age-Appropriate Contributions and Learning Milestones for Children

Aged 1-3 Years Old:

Task: Pick up and put away toys (remember to have a limited amount of toys for children. It can overwhelm and stimulate children when there are too many toys.)

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Developing hand-eye coordination and finger dexterity.

Cognitive skills: Learning categorization and organization.

Gross motor skills: Improving balance and coordination. Carrying and moving objects and items.

Social skills: Enhancing communication and cooperation.

Task: Setting the table with assistance. Handling utensils and placing them correctly.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Hand-eye coordination, refinement of senses, order, visual discrimination.

Social skills: Understanding mealtime routines and roles.

Task: Assist in putting away their own clothes or shoes.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Managing zippers, buttons, and Velcro.

Independence: Fostering self-help skills.

Task: Water plants with assistance or placing cut flowers in a vase.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Pouring water and handling a watering can. Hand-eye coordination, muscular strength, problem-solving (water spills), and care for self and the environment.

Sensory development: Experiencing different textures and materials.

Joy and fulfillment: Sort objects by color or shape or matching socks from the laundry.

Task: Participate in simple art activities with supervision as needed and allow independence and freedom as appropriate.

Skills Developed:

Creativity: Exploring different colors and materials.

Fine motor skills: Holding and manipulating art tools.

Task: Greet people and say simple pleasantries.

Skills Developed:

Social skills: Practicing greetings and interactions. Grace and courtesy lead to emotional intelligence.

Communication skills: Learning basic conversation etiquette.

Task: Caring for a pet by offering food and water in the pet’s bowl or caring for a fish by feeding it daily.

Skills Developed:

Responsibility: Learning to care for living creatures.

Empathy: Understanding the needs and feelings of pets

Children Aged 3-6 Years Old:

Task: Set the table for meals with plates, utensils, and napkins.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Placing utensils and dishes accurately. Hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, and retention of information (memory).

Spatial awareness: Understanding table settings.

Task: Clear dishes after meals and help load the dishwasher.

Skills Developed:

Responsibility: Taking ownership of mealtime tasks.

Coordination: Carrying dishes safely and stacking them.

Task: Make their bed.

Skills Developed:

Gross and small motor skills: Hand-eye coordination, problem-solving, persistence, and care of self and contribution.

Task: Put away groceries in appropriate places (e.g., pantry or refrigerator).

Skills Developed:

Organizational skills: Learning where items belong.

Vocabulary: Naming and categorizing food items.

Task: Assist in folding simple items of clothing, like washcloths.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Folding and stacking items neatly.

Sequencing: Understanding steps in a task.

Task: Sweep small areas using a child-sized broom and dustpan.

Skills Developed:

Gross motor skills: Sweeping and coordination.

Cleaning skills: Learning to tidy up.

Task: Wipe down tables and countertops.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Using a cloth to clean surfaces.

Hygiene awareness: Promoting cleanliness.

Task: Help with basic food prep, like washing fruits and vegetables.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Washing and handling produce.

Food awareness: Learning about different foods.

Task: Feed pets and refill their water bowls or feed a pet fish.

Skills Developed:

Responsibility: Caring for pets' needs.

Motor skills: Pouring water and handling pet food.

Task: Water outdoor plants with supervision (indoor or outdoors).

Skills Developed:

Gross motor skills: Carrying and pouring water outdoors.

Problem-solving skills: Handling spills and water management.

Task: Assist in matching socks and folding laundry.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Matching socks and folding clothes.

Organization: Sorting and tidying up clothing.

Task: Help with chopping vegetables with a child-safe knife or a butter knife.

Skills Developed:

Hand-eye coordination: Fine and gross motor skills as the child washes and moves the vegetables from the cutting area to a bowl.

Critical thinking: Problem-solving, visual, tactile, and olfactory senses.

Children Aged 6-9 Years Old:

Task: Prepare simple snacks, like making a sandwich.

Skills Developed:

Culinary skills: Basic food preparation and safety.

Independence: Gaining confidence in the kitchen.

Task: Make their own bed each morning and wipe down the sink area.

Skills Developed:

Responsibility: Establishing a daily routine.

Fine motor skills: Neatly arranging bed linens.

Task: Sort and take out the recycling. Take out trash or bring in the newspaper (if you get a paper delivered).

Skills Developed:

Environmental awareness: Understanding recycling practices.

Organization: Sorting and disposing of materials.

Task: Vacuum low-traffic areas under supervision until they are skilled.

Skills Developed:

Coordination: Operating a vacuum cleaner effectively.

Cleaning skills: Maintaining a tidy environment.

Task: Loading and unloading a dishwasher.

Skills Developed:

Spatial awareness: Placing dishes and utensils correctly.

Social skills: Understanding mealtime etiquette.

Task: Assist with yard work, such as raking leaves or weeding.

Skills Developed:

Physical strength: Engaging in outdoor tasks.

Problem-solving: Determining which areas need attention.

Task: Help with organizing and decluttering their room.

Skills Developed:

Organization: Sorting and tidying personal spaces.

Decision-making: Choosing what to keep or discard.

Task: Learn and tie shoelaces. Get fully dressed independently.

Skills Developed:

Fine motor skills: Developing dexterity in finger movements.

Independence: Putting on shoes without assistance.

Task: Assist in meal planning and creating a grocery list.

Skills Developed:

Planning skills: Deciding on meals and needed ingredients.

Math skills: Budgeting and creating shopping lists.

Task: Reading nutrition labels, learning about food and healthy choices.

Skills Developed:

Understanding nutrition: Reading and interpreting food labels.

Task: Folding and putting away their own laundry.

Skills Developed:

Responsibility: Completing the laundry cycle.

Organization: Sorting and storing clothing.

Enjoy the journey as a caregiver!

Wishing you joyful moments,

Yogi