Aside from helping to take the some of the pressure off mom and dad, chores around the house also teach kids about responsibility and independence – but did you know that many common household tasks also foster the developmental skills of your children?
If you’ve been looking for a reason to have the kids help around the house, here are the ways in which chores are beneficial.
Bilateral coordination refers to the way children use both sides of their bodies smoothly. Household tasks that help kids to use their left and right hands together include:
Strengthening the small muscles in the hands is key to developing good fine motor skills. Chores that incorporate squeezing, pulling, pinching and grasping include:
Also known as kinaesthesia, proprioception refers to the coordination of movement thanks to the way joints and muscles send messages to the brain. Proprioception and strength is improved with tasks that require children to pull, lift and move against resistance, like:
When we cross the midline, we are spontaneously using the arm, hand, leg or foot on the opposite side of the body to complete a task. Tasks that promote midline crossing include:
There is a strong relation between visual perception and visual motor integration (for the coordination of movements) and cognitive skills like sequencing, problem solving and memory. Household tasks that strengthen these skills include:
While they’re at home, have the kids be active members of the household – not only will your home be sparkling, but you’ll also be helping to strengthen the developmental skills of your children.
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