Teach Your Child Responsibility and Boost Confidence with this Simple Daily Task: Polishing Silver, Brass, Money, and Metal

As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be responsible and confident individuals. However, teaching these traits can be challenging, especially in a world where instant gratification is the norm. But what if we told you that there is a simple daily task that can help teach responsibility and boost confidence in your child? This task involves polishing silver, brass, money, and metal, and it’s something that can be easily incorporated into your daily routine. In this blog, we’ll explore the benefits of this task and how it can help your child develop important life skills.

Polishing Silver, Brass, Money, and Metal

Suitable Age: 3+

Materials: 

• The tray consists of :
  • Cleaning fluid
  • A small brush
  • A bowl
  • A cloth
  • An apron
  • A sponge
  • A placemat
  • A piece of paper towel for water activities

Direct Aim:

• To polish an item until it shines

Indirect Aim:

• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence
• Order of sequence
• Fine motor skills

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Show the child where to find the materials and invite him to carry the tray to his work table. Tell the child he will need a placemat and a paper towel.
2. Invite the child to go back to the shelf and choose something he would like to polish. When he returns you will remove your apron from the tray and put it on, indicating to the child to do the same.
3. Invite the child to remove the items from the tray and display them in the order of the activity.
4. Invite the child to remove the items from the tray and display them in the order of the activity.
5. Invite him to put some cleaning fluid into the small bowl. Please pick up the small brush, dip it into the cleaning fluid, and begin cleaning the item (using circular motions) … After cleaning part of the item, invite the child to have a turn. After the child uses the brush, make a mitt with the cloth and shine the object, allowing the child to also try.
6. Once the item has been cleaned and shined to the child’s satisfaction, invite him to clean more items if he wishes. If so, he may choose a different item to clean and return the cleaned item to the shelf. If the child declines, invite him to discard the remaining cleaning fluid and dry the bowl using the cloth, then place the dirty cloth into the laundry basket (making sure to replace it with a clean one), and return the items to the tray and the tray back to the shelf.
7. Invite the child to clean the silver (etc…) anytime he wishes

Point of interest:

• The brass, silver, and metal items, the shine produced by cleaning the item, doing something an adult does

Control of Error: 

• Difficulty using enough/too much fluid
• Forgetting the sequence
• Difficulty cleaning to a shine
• Spilling the cleaning fluid
• Forgetting to replace the cloth
• A messy work area

>> Read more: Teach Your Child Responsibility and Boost Confidence with this Simple Daily Task: Cleaning a Window