Nannie's Little Helper

I do the same Ninathenana . Don't feel guilty I think its just showing them that helping people for no reward is good thing and a life lesson all wrapped up with a kiss and a hug from Nana

Only time I have ever felt a twinge of guilt was when I armed my then 3 year old DD with a slipper to go behind the sofa and kill a spider so huge if you had thrown a saddle on it you could have ridden it out !!! In my defence I am afraid of spiders but strangely neither daughter seemed harmed by the experience and are not afraid {smile}

I used a 6 year old GD and a 4 year old GS to peel a huge pile of tomatoes so that I could make soup. (I did let the tomatoes cool down first!)

The 4 year old boy was extremely good at it.

No, Nina, I do the same. I always ask nicely and praise afterwards. Children love to help and it's a lovely feeling when they do. It's a good thing for them to learn to be helpful. The two who occasionally help me are little, 3 and 4, and I would only get them to do little things like fetching something, although they also like helping in the kitchen with things that are safe for them to do. I also get the kitchen floor " cleaned" with a piece of kitchen roll, but I thank profusely. Bless them.

Yes, children love to help.Until they reach a certain age.

I once got DGS1 doing some dusting with a little mop, the kind where the fibres are coated with parafin wax. He had a mild asthma attack in the car on the way home! It might not have been down to the dusting, but I felt so guilty! I never did fess up.

Oops jings

The three year old loves to help with whatever I'm doing. Sadly I know form previous experience that once he gets old enough to be really useful he will lose all interest.

I could get my older ones helping when they were little but not now, in fact I call them Eugenie and Beatrice as they're so idle. They just seem to shrug it off-I would have been mortified if I'd been called idle.
The younger ones, 7 and 6, like to help depending on the task. Especially going round with the hand held dust buster. And they love to help with cooking.
I did them that when THEY are teenagers they can come and mow the lawn and Hoover through-the 7 year old immediately said "will you pay me?"!
I think children helping is a good thing for them to learn.

Outside jobs were 'owning' and inside jobs were family jobs

The ability to follow instructions is a developmental stage that is assessed in school. You are doing your grandchildren a good turn by getting them to practise! ? You'll notice that to begin with they can carry out a single task e.g. to fetch the remote, close the door etc. and eventually they can follow/process two instructions e.g. (in school) go to the office and ask Mrs Jones for some sellotape. Too early, they'll get to the office but can't remember why they're there. Children are individuals, of course, and develop at their own rate but they need opportunities so don't feel guilty about getting them to do things for you! ?

When I was a teenager, I hated being asked by my mother, "Would you like to peel the potatoes (or other task)?" I wanted to answer (but never did), "Not really, but I'll do it!" Apparently, it's better i.e. gets better results, psychologically speaking, to say bluntly, "Will you (do this task)?" rather than the softer language of would you, would you mind etc.

I used to have a small catering business and my daughters favourite job when she was 6 was to peel hard boiled eggs.

My grand daughter age 5 has discovered the wonderment of my carpet sweeper. If she has spent the day with me also with grand son age nearly 8, she loves to run the carpet sweeper over the carpets until they look pristine.

She has never seen a carpet sweeper before and thinks it's amazing.

I don't think there's anything to feel guilty about. You're definitely asking in a polite way and it goes to show how much they want to help their granny!

My DM used to ask me to fetch things from upstairs because 'Your legs are younger than mine' !

Lovely to hear about granny's little helpers

Mine,love to help. G D took care of me on the cable car at Alum Bay and held my stick....she is now 11. I remember , when she was barely walking, her bringing me a newspaper crossword and pen which she associated with me.

My two GDs always ask to fill the bird feeders. We have lots of spillage but they really enjoy it. The bird get a bonus from all the seed spelled.

lizzypop I will remember that. Good to know I'm educating them.

I musnt be a stage 2 yet, I often get to the room and forget what I've gone there for!

They love it my gd 3 likes to clean sink and tiles in bathroom helps prepare meals
Eg putting cheese on crackers or bread and likes to set and clear table make the most of it doesn't last for like long !

The best bit is when they're old enough to drive and you can send them off for all the bits of shopping you forgot

Deedaa, that's when they're also old enough to leave home!