The following ideas and developmental benchmarks, provided by Teresa Greco at the Lucy Daniels Center Family Guidance Service, will help encourage a child’s independence. The homework examples apply to typically developing children.
Preschool
- Choose clothing and get dressed
- Pick up and put away toys
- Get napkins and utensils to set the table
- Brush teeth and wash face (with supervision)
Early elementary school
- Help sort laundry and fold easy items. Put away folded laundry
- Set the table
- Attempt to complete homework without help; review with parents’ help
- Pick out and return library books
- Empty and assemble backpacks, with supervision
- Keep homework folder organized
Late elementary school
- Make and pack lunch; empty lunch bag after school
- Pour breakfast cereal
- Feed a family pet
- Help unload and put away groceries
- Get snack after school
- Start and complete homework without help, unless specific help is needed
- Practice spelling words with parents, practice writing the words and create flashcards
- Keep a binder organized by subject
Middle school
- Unload dishwasher
- Do own laundry
- Help prepare meals
- Walk the family dog
- Initiate doing homework and manage time
- Complete all or most homework without help
High school
- Help with family chores
- Clean assigned area of the house
- Run simple errands (if they drive responsibly)
- Manage homework and projects
- Work on projects with peers
- Carpool with peers to after-school activities
- Work a part-time job if it doesn’t interfere with schoolwork
Copyright 2024 Carolina Parent. All rights reserved.
