Teach Your Child Responsibility and Boost Confidence with this Simple Daily Task: Sweeping

As parents, we all want our children to grow up to be responsible and confident individuals who can take care of themselves and their surroundings. However, achieving this goal can be a daunting task. Luckily, there are simple daily tasks that can help instill a sense of responsibility and boost confidence in your child. One such task is sweeping, which not only helps keep the house clean but also teaches valuable life skills. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits of sweeping as a daily task for your child and how it can positively impact their development.

Sweeping 

Suitable Age: 2 1/2+

Materials: 

• A dustpan
• A small hand broom
• A container consisting of sweeping materials (pine shavings, wood chips, rose petals, beads, etc…)
• An open square shape

Direct Aim:

• To sweep independently

Indirect Aim:

• Refining of the muscles in the hand
• Concentration
• Hand-eye coordination
• Independence

Presentation/ Child instruction: 

1. Once the child has been shown where the items may be found, invite him to take the necessary items to a spot on the floor.
2. Once you are both kneeling on the floor, pick up the container of sweeping materials and empty the contents on the floor in a chosen spot with the open square nearby.
3. Place the empty container to one side (remembering not to block the visibility of the child) and pick up the sweeper, and slowly begin to sweep all items into one pile in the open square.
4. After all the items are in the open square, sweep them into the dustpan and place them back into the empty container.
5. Once all the items are back in the original container, invite the child to try.
6. The child will follow the same steps you just showed him.
7. Once the child has completed the task, give him the opportunity to do it again independently
8. if the child declines, invite him to return all materials back to their original place on the shelf.
9. Invite the child to use this activity whenever he wishes.

Point of interest:

• The various items used for sweeping and becoming independent

Control of Error: 

• Difficulty sweeping up all items or finishing the activity
• Unable to guide the items into the open square
• Unable to sweep the items into the dustpan
• Spilling the items when returning them to the container

>> Read more: Teach Your Child Responsibility and Boost Confidence with this Simple Daily Task: Watering Plants