Kids and meaningful work

I was first introduced to this concept of "meaningful work" through the Waldorf school. My daughter's teacher sent a link to the articles below from one of my favorite blogs, The Parenting Passageway.  It gives parents ideas on ways to involve children in the daily tasks around the house.  It is considered a very good thing to have them do chores at a young age. It is taught that these seemingly menial tasks are, in fact, important ways to nurture the home.  They are real assignments and give the small child a sense of accomplishment, a sense of belonging to the family unit, and build motor skills. 

This was the most life-changing concept I learned about through Waldorf!  It has made my job as a parent much easier and more of a delight.  Some of the fun ways I've involved my daughter in housework is to give her her own rag so she can dust, or a bottle of vinegar to clean glass, or wash spoons and forks in a soapy bowl of water, or clean the bathtub with baking soda and a rag.  She now helps with grocery store tasks such as picking out items from the shelves, placing the items by the cash register, and putting the grocery cart away.  She feeds and brushes the cat, organizes the pantry, and uses the broom and dustpan. 

Let me mention that the work of toddler will not be that of a professional housekeeper.  It won't be up to your standards.  That's fine.  I've learned from wiser mothers that it's better to have them work at something even if you have to go back and re-do it yourself.  It's all a part of their learning. Let them try. 

The last thing I want is to have teenagers who don't do chores or only reluctantly help out around the house.  That's why I wanted to start early with her.  It engages her.  She has such a sense of pride when she's helping.  I hope this can help some other parents, too. Please take the time to read the following 2 articles. It will certainly enrich your home life!
http://theparentingpassageway.com/2011/06/28/guest-post-meaningful-work-for-toddlers/
http://theparentingpassageway.com/2011/06/29/more-about-how-to-create-meaningful-work-for-toddlers/