Developing, the child undergoes tremendous changes, transforming in all respects. This process can be compared to the phenomena that occurs with a butterfly – first, the baby is just a small and helpless larva, then the transformation into a caterpillar, and then we see the cocoon and then the beautiful butterfly, that is the very “homo sapiens.
The baby is twice unprepared for life. His first unpreparedness lies in his banal physiological helplessness. The human child develops physically more slowly than any other creature born into this world.
The second unpreparedness can be considered a complete lack of understanding of “society. As the child grows up, there will be many epochal changes in his inner world of mental development before he becomes exactly “Homo sapiens,” but that is not all! All human “socialization” – language, social behavior, social roles, education, and so much more – must be imprinted on this mind as human beings do not inherit it. All this is to be learned.
The role of the adult is essentially that of the famous Papa Carlo, who will “whittle” the child out of the log until he becomes the jolly and resourceful Pinocchio.
When assigning duties to the child, the adult, on the one hand, shouldmust not traumatize his or her psyche, On the other hand should not miss the moment when a particular function becomes available to the child. Correctly built responsibilities form an essential part of the personality of the future adult. This is what this article will talk about.
Homework for preschoolers
A baby spends the first year of his life mastering his own body. It can be compared to learning to work in a spacesuit, it is as if “putting on” itself. First learning to hold his head, then turn over, sit, crawl, stand up, and finally walk. On top of everything else, he deals with his primary signal system – the feelings of hunger, pain, pleasure, fatigue, and others.
From one to three or four years of age, the child perceives reality directly and indistinguishably from him or herself. And the reality will only exist for him as long as it is in the realm of his own perception. If he is distracted by something else, everything else just “ceases to exist for him.
Approaching the age of three, the child goes through his first age crisis. The world is divided for him into himself and those people who are in the outside world. From this moment on, he will “position” himself in every way, asserting his existence among these people.
At this age, you can already consider the issue of basic skills, as responsibilities for the home:
Going to the bathroom by herself and dressing afterwards.
The ability to put on the bottom piece of clothing on their own, understanding the difference between a right and left shoe (sandal, sneaker, etc.).p.) and their relationship to their feet.
Recognizing their belongings, being able to take them out of their place and put them back in their places (clothes, toys, toothbrush, etc.).p.)
To eat neatly, using a spoon and fork sometimes, is able to use a toothbrush, wipe a soiled face with a napkin, wash his hands before eating and after a walk, wipe them.
He undresses after returning from a walk, having learned the difference between outerwear and underwear.
It seems that this is not much, almost nothing, but it only seems. A “jump” from one state to another has occurred. The child begins to socialize. However, this process is not comparable to adult concepts of this phenomenon. He is not yet interested in other people in terms of their feelings and generally their inner world. The essence of his or her socialization is to find his or her place in this world, and preferably this place should be as comfortable as possible. The people around him will start to be evaluated, the “good” ones will be those with whom he feels comfortable and the “bad” ones will be those who cause him discomfort. In this case, up to the age of 7 a child will not consider himself/herself “bad”; no matter what he/she has done, he/she will always be “good. This phenomenon in a child’s psyche narrows the adult’s options for his upbringing.
Up to the age of seven, the infant is focused on learning the word “should”, followed by “may”, “must” and the very same “may not”. In other words, he accepts the “rules of the game” of society and learns not to be distracted by momentary desires, but to be guided by the need that comes from desire. By performing the learned actions, will establish itself in its social environment (family, kindergarten). Given this peculiarity, you can continue to involve the child more actively in household chores.
By age 4, the childis already learning basic self-care skills:
The child is able to clean up after himself/herself (toys, clothes, shoes, personal items).
Carry out all hygienic procedures (wash, use a handkerchief, comb, towel, go to the toilet, etc.).p.).
Dress and undress independently (outerwear, underwear, shoes, headwear).
By the age of 5, social rulesis not yet fully understood by the child, but he is already able to show independence and initiative in elementary matters of household chores:
On his own initiative to clean toys.
Perform simple chores (sweep the floor, wipe the table, wash dishes after themselves).
The algorithm of the processes of washing, dressing, bathing, eating, cleaning the room and the use of all objects and accessories that accompany their actions (towel, hygiene products, napkins, handkerchiefs, cutlery) is clearly mastered. For a very detailed look at the characteristics of preschool age, click here.
As the child gets older, the range of activities will expand, and at age 7 there will be another “jump” in mental development. A great discovery will happen in his life, he will learn that he has feelings. Of course, he has always had feelings, but it is only at this age that a child learns to categorize them. For him/her appear “I am happy”, “I am upset”, “I am kind” and other range of feelings classified by people. Teaching a child to categorize feelings correctly is a very important task for an adult. Omissions in this matter lead to borderline mental disorders.
In addition, the child goes to school and there he/she will face the assessment of outsiders – teachers and peers. All of this will spur his potential and capabilities.
At the age of 7the child is already quite capable:
Taking out the trash and vacuuming your room.
Taking care of pets.
Wash small items.
Ironing simple things.
If there is a plot or dacha, living in the house – collect fallen leaves with a rake, sweep the yard.
The 8-9 year old child is capable:
Vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping floors.
Maintain and keep order in their belongings and closet compartments.
Make minor repairs to clothes, – sew on a button, mend a ripped seam.
Wash the dishes.
Can do small purchases (2-3 items).
In the countryside, picking fruit, whitewashing the curbs, painting the fence.
By the age of 10, the child becomes a person who is considered to be a “personality.He will already have definitely clear ideas about himself, the structure of his surroundings and people. With a child of this age, it is already quite possible to negotiate, using logic and generally accepted patterns of behavior, without resorting to bargaining, – “you to me – I to you”.
A 10 to 11 year old child is able to:
Helping take care of younger children (look after them, play, put them to bed)
Change bedding, make the bed, do laundry using the washing machine.
Buy products and other goods guided by the list of.
Cooking meals (starting with simple dishes for themselves, to more complex ones for everyone)
To help an adult with construction and repair.
Do most of the work in the garden (digging, harrowing, planting, pruning and cutting down bushes and tree branches if necessary, even using a lawnmower).
Washing the bathtub and toilet.
Provide minor repairs and maintenance for your bicycle.
With proper parenting, a child becomes quite an adequate and independent individual by age 12, and is capable of being a full substitute for an adult in any area of household chores.
A great deal and detail about the chores that are available to children of different ages here.
However, rejoice early, it is from this point another “jump” will occur and it is associated with the period of puberty. In girls a little earlier in boys a little later, but the “tsunami” of hormonal and sexual changes will carry only – just formed consciousness of the child into the “pubertal ocean” of sensations and experiences. Can not help it – it’s life.
In any case, if an adult manages to instill all the above skills in a child, before the appearance of “secondary sexual characteristics” their performance by the child will go on “automatic”, with minor adjustments for the storms of feelings and emotions peculiar to youth.
This article is based on material from parenting sites and forums: kanal-, www., media.price.ua; books by A. Kurpatov’s “Happy Child. Universal Rules” and educational practices of the staff of Solnyshko Children’s Home RK domsolnyshko.kz/o-nas/o-detskom-dome/
