Sensory Friendly Chores and Age-Based Learning at Home

Judy Benz Duncan, Occupational Therapist

Chores and helping out with household tasks is a normal daily routine in most families. Doing chores help a child to learn responsibility, learn functional skills, become more confident, and learn the sense and security of family, while they develop a consistent daily routine.

Chores can be modified for children with sensory processing deficits, behavioral challenges, developmental or cognitive delay so that all children can participate and be successful.

Very small children can start to help out even before they are a year old. The earlier you start working with your child, the better!

A few “pointers” to help in giving your child chores include:

o   No one is perfect. If your child is helping and doing their chores try not to insist on perfection. They will learn by doing and through practice. Show and teach them how to do the task, or how to “make it better,” but remember it is the child’s work, not yours.

o   Give praise and positive comments before, during, and after! Children enjoy hearing and feeling like what they are doing is a “good job,” and that you are noticing. Letting them know that you think they will do a great job, or that they will help you out so much, before they start will help set the tone for the activity, and promote effort.

o   Be consistent with daily expectations. You may want to have a few chores that you expect your child to help with every day, small home tasks and others including personal care “tasks” like changing clothes, brushing teeth, sitting during a meal. Personal care is also something can also be part of your daily “chore list.” If you do not consistently let them know that certain things are expected every day then they may put the task off for another day, or wait it out hoping you will “forget,” or just do it yourself.

o   Give your child some choice on what they may want to add to their daily or weekly list

o   Visual reminders, like sticker charts, or check-off charts, may help in being able to see what was accomplished or what still needs to be done for the day

o   Teach and help your child learn how to complete a task – even if you need to help them complete the tasks, you are creating a positive learning environment and developing positive habits that they will grow up with

Sensory Modifications:

It is a wonderful thing when everyone in the family is able to pitch in and help with the normal household chores. While helping out is also a great life-learning experience, we may need to make some changes and modifications to the tasks for those kids who may have sensory processing issues, auditory processing deficits, ADHD, or behavioral triggers.

Some of the modifications include:

o   Weighted or heavy-work chores (Click for Blog on Heavy Work)

o   Back-ward chaining of the task - let them complete the “last step,” each time letting them complete one more piece of the task (working backwards)

o   Visual cue cards (instead of just verbal directions)

o   Use of timers to break up the time needed to attend – the idea is not that you are timing how long it takes them to complete the chore, but giving them a visual/auditory time frame to work within

o   Split up different kinds of tasks into different time periods (hygiene tasks performed at separate times from home tasks)

o   Limit area of focus (for example, if helping to clean an area, tape off the area to clean in, or use a hula-hoop to identify the area they need to work in)

o   Provide gloves or socks over hands if they have difficulty with touch when cleaning or dusting, or in picking up rough sticks, rocks, or helping with yardwork

o   Headphones for noise reduction, or use of headphones with favorite music or songs

o   Use of weighted vests or compression clothing

o   Use of stickers, hearts, stars, or check-off charts, or award certificates

o   Use of token rewards for tasks completed that they can “turn in” for a favorite activity, book time, park time, and so on

o   Try to stay positive, upbeat and praise all of their efforts – the chore may not get done today, and that’s ok – keeping criticism and stress out of the work will bring the most positive results!

o   Avoid tasks in the beginning that you know will trigger behaviors or sensory overloads – these may take longer and may need to be presented in seconds of time rather than in minutes at first

Age-Based Chores:

Following are some examples of recommended chores that are appropriate for various age groups. Start from where your child is at – not just based on their age, but on what they are able to tolerate and participate in – age guidelines are only suggestions as to where you may need to start from.

It is important to walk your child through each chore, sometimes more than once, so they fully understand what they are being asked to do, and what you are expecting from them.

Taking the time to check-out what they did is important too – let them know how they did, give them praise and confidence, and let them see that you find what they do important to you and the family.

Ages 9-months to 18-months:

o   Putting their utensils on their plate/ in bowl when they are done eating

o   Wipe their mouths after meals

o   Wash their faces and hands (at sink or with wet wipes)

o   Toss their garbage (tissues, napkins, disposable plates, diapers) into the garbage can or container that you have brought over to them

o   Help toss their toys back into the toy box

o   Wipe off their space at the table, or highchair, where they sit

o   Help to brush their hair

o   Holding arms out, legs out, for you for dressing

o   Let them turn the pages of the book you are reading to them

Ages 18-Months to 3-Years:

Above chores plus:

o   Help pick up their dirty clothes to put in hamper, basket

o   Help carry dirty non-breakable dishes to the kitchen, sink

o   Help clear the table of items that will go back into cabinet or refrigerator (they can place on counter)

o   Pick up their toys after playing

o   Put their shoes in a set spot when they take them off

o   Help to feed and water the family pet

o   Straighten books on book shelf

o   Pick up sticks and branches in the yard

o   Help to pull up weeds in the yard

o   Help sort their laundry (piles of colors, whites, pants, socks, etc.)

o   Help to match their socks out of the dryer

o   Help to dust along baseboards, the coffee / end tables

o   Put place-mats on the table

o   Brush any teeth that they have

o   Comb/brush their hair

o   Help to make their bed, straightening covers and pillows

Ages 3-Years to 5-Years:

All of the above chores, plus:

o   Help to sort and fold some of the laundry

o   Match clean socks out of the dryer

o   Put some of their clothes away in the dressers/ closet

o   Help sweep or mop the kitchen floor

o   Help carry in small bags of groceries

o   Wipe off counters, kitchen table, vanities

o   Put butter, jam, nut butters on toast

o   Help to clean patio windows (where they can reach)

o   Help empty garbage cans into larger can or bag

o   Help set and clean off the table

o   Brush own hair

o   Wash self in the tub or shower (supervised for safety)

o   Help with yard clean up

o   Help with vacuuming if they can tolerate the noise, or use a “dust buster” or hand-held vacuum for easier acceptance

o   Help wash off vegetables and fruits

o   Help load/unload the dishwasher

o   Help carry folded towels to the bath or linen closet

o   Help to straighten book shelves

o   Help make a shopping list

o   Change the toilet paper rolls

o   Feed and water the pets

o   Help to make breakfast, lunch, light foods; help to gather items needed for meals

o   Sit to quietly work on creative & learning tasks (coloring, drawing, games, books, music, playdough, etc., for 5 to 15 minutes at a time)

o   Stay in their seat at the table during meals

o   Help push the cart in grocery store, or push the little “kid” cart

o   Help put items from the cart onto the checkout counter

Ages 5-Years and School Age:

Continue with any and all of the above chores, asking for more responsibility to complete them on a regular basis

Add in more “adult” chores like:

o   Picking out their own clothes

o   Cleaning their room

o   Finishing up any school homework

o   Helping make dinner

o   Help wash the car

o   Help wash/ brush the dog

o   and so on, with slowly decreasing need to help and supervise them as they continue to develop, grow, and be safe in their choices and behaviors.

If your child is in elementary school and not helping out at home yet, start with the basics and work up from there

Keep calm, breathe, and stay positive! Every child is different and learns at their own pace – help them achieve!

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