“When you have to do one of the following chores, invite your child to help – let him or her watch as you demonstrate, then have a go. Give plenty of praise for effort and progress. Next time it crops up, invite your child to help again, and this time to do a little more. Give lots more praise. Eventually, you can hand over the task. But don’t rush at it – it’s not a race – and don’t get impatient if your child takes a long time to acquire the skill. Just enjoy the oppurtunity to spend time together.

1. sew on a button;
2. handwash clothes;
3. iron a shirt;
4. unblock a sink;
5. wash a car;
6. use the phone book;
7. make a hot drink;
8. defrost a fridge;
9. change a fuse;
10. clean a window;
11. cook a meal;
12. change a plug;
13. grow a plant;
14. change the bed;
15. look after a pet;
16. weed a garden;
17. change a light bulb;
18. sort the recycling;
19. use a vaccuum cleaner;
20. use a potato peeler;
21. clean and dress a wound;
22. use public transport;
23. find the way home (with a map);
24. go shopping (with a list);
25. mow a lawn;
26. clean a cooker hob;
27. put out the rubbish;
28. stack and empty a dishwasher;
29. take phone messages;
30. make conversation with a guest;
31. use a screwdriver;
32. give simple first aid (e.g. grazes, burns)
33. check the cars oil and water;
34. use a washing machine;
35. contact the emergency services;
36. wash the dishes.

And, of course, 21st century life skills, such as,

1. check out a website;
2. tidy up a desktop;
3. send a text;
4. find snail mail details on the internet;
5. get rid of spam;
6. download or tune a program.”

Source: Palmer, S. (2008). Detoxing Childhood: What Parents Need to Know to Raise Bright, Balanced Children. London: Orion Books.

Please let me know if you have any more ideas.

Shazad Khan