Laundry Helper!
At this stage of Michael’s development, he was, hmm…how to say this diplomatically…not that helpful.
He was only able to help load the washing machine or move the wet clothes from the washer to the dryer. He was starting to learn how to fold towels. It’s fine if your child’s help is not actually that helpful! The idea is to build the routine of being involved in chores. Keep it light and stress-free.
Big Ideas on Chores:
- Every member of the family who can “help” should try.
- Short bursts. Marathons of chores are no fun for anyone.
- Learning to fold a towel means folding a towel poorly at first.
- Frequent helping is better than a full day of helping once a year.
- Build in skills/concepts/vocabulary. Laundry allows for talking about wet and dry, colors and names of the items of clothing.
Share This Post
About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
Let's Connect
Subscribe to our newsletter for more updates