Discipline How To Blog

Since I have a nine year old, this age is very dear to my heart!  However, this is an age where sloppiness sets in.  Nine and ten year olds are usually not very neat with their clothes and will try and wear clothes from the hamper or off the floor.  Nine and ten year olds are into making plans and will often help out with family outings planning the littlest of details.

Unfortunately, it is at this age that children also learn that parents are not infallible.  They begin to see that everyone makes mistakes and question authority.  Girls will start to mature faster than boys and will not understand why the boys in their class at school are still “silly.”

Don’t let your child lose interest in school at this age.  Get them additional help if needed so that they do not feel left behind.

Children that are nine and ten should be able to:

• Mop floors
• Do own laundry (with instructions)
• Bake cakes and cookies
• Set goals and follow through
• Learn first aid
• Wash car
• Clean stove and oven
• Write letters and thank you notes
• Vacuum out car
• Plant a garden
• Hammer nails and saw wood
• Use e-mail
• Sew on buttons
• Follow a simple recipe
• Wrap presents
• Use a leaf blower
• Memorize poems or bible verses

If you have a relative that loves to cook and bake, let your son or daughter help them out.  We send our daughter and son over to their grandparents house on holidays and they learn how to make some of the old family recipes.

This is also an age when respect needs to be instilled and enforced.  If children do not respect parents and other adults at this age, the teenage years will be unbearable!

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Your seven and eight year old is well into academic learning and has been focused on school for a couple of years already.  Hand-eye coordination is fully developed and she has good balance.  Kids at this age can be quite self-critical and need boasts to their self-esteem.  Unfortunately, you might find that your child can be quite a complainer at these ages.  However, your child really starts to know the difference between right and wrong and is willing to take blame and correct mistakes.  This is a time to be patient with ever changing emotions.  Be sure to discuss peer pressure with your child at this stage.

Children that are seven and eight should be able to:

• Wash/Dry Dishes
• Floss Teeth
• Clean toilets
• Pull weeds
• Take care of nails and hair
• Use an alarm clock
• Be interested in Team Sports
• Start to know own interests (music, sports, drama, etc.)
• Clean mirrors
• Care for pet
• Know Address and Phone number

Take time to adjust your chore chart to include new responsibilities.

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Five and six year olds are finally out of the toddler stages and enjoy planning!  They can also be real talkers and like to discuss what is going on around them.  They are eager to learn, but can get frustrated if things don’t come easy enough.  At this age, they usually prefer one to two friends at a time, instead of a large group.  This is the age when they can be a bit bossy!

Since they are capable of doing a lot more at these ages, chores and responsibilities should change.  Introduce them to money and let them save and spend.  Have them save for a bigger purchase and it will give them a sense of accomplishment.

Children that are five and six should be able to:

• Clean/Straighten their own room
• Take a Shower (teach them how to wash their body and hair)
• Vacuum small areas
• Dust
• Empty garbage cans (with a little help)
• Set and Clear the Table
• Help make their own lunch
• Help load and empty dishwasher
• Clean sinks
• Know how to use a microwave
• Water plants
• Learn how to use the phone

Giving your five and six year old an allowance, with rules, can teach them financial responsibility.  A good rule of thumb, is one dollar per week per year of age.  A five year old would receive $5 per week.  Have the child save part of the money, give some to charity and leave a little left over for spending.  Here is how my child spilts up his allowance: $1.00 for college savings, $0.50 for charity, $2.50 for spending and then $1.00 to be saved for a big purchase.  If he wants put more money towards the big purchase, he can take money out of spending money.

Try using a fun chore chart that rewards your child as well!

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Photo by chefranden

Three and four year olds are usually independent by nature. They want to “do it” themselves even though they may not be able to finish the task. They may find it harder to transition at this stage and may need to be warned of changes before hand (we are going to the store in 5 minutes). They readily accept suggestions and can follow simple directions. They enjoy helping with chores and this is a good time to start a simple chore chart for them. When giving them a choice, let them choose between two things (i.e. you can wear the red or the blue shirt today).

Three and four year olds may become more picky at meal times. Decide how you best want to handle these situations. If you make a rule, such as, you must try at least two bites of everything, stick with it.

Children that are three and four should be able to:

• Dress
• Use potty by themselves
• Learn to brush teeth (but may need some help still)
• Pick up toys
• Say prayers with help
• Make bed by straightening covers
• Make a simple breakfast (cereal and milk, toast)
• Make a simple sandwich
• Put belongings away in room

As a parent, this is a good time to get in the practice of teaching your child these skills. As she gets older, you will add to the skills that you teach her.

Start a chore chart for your child at this age. Some responsibilities could include:

• Help make the bed
• Pick up toys and books
• Put dirty laundry in laundry basket
• Help feed pets
• Clean up spills
• Dust

You can buy a chore chart, find a free printable one on the internet, or make a simple chart yourself.

NOTE: This is the second part in a seven part series. Previous posts include:

Tips for Raising Independent Children

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