The Helpy Helpers Learning Club

We needed an incentive for learning, so I got each girl a plain white T-shirt, and with fabric paint we wrote…

Our goals for the year were to have each girl be able to manage loads of laundry, prepare a simple meal with no cooking, cook at least one simple dish, learn to wash, dry, and put away dishes, and learn the components of a clean room from the checklists they have learned to complete in their notebooks. As each area of expertise was mastered and a patch earned, the chore would be included in their regular routine of chores. As their proficiency grew, so would their responsibility.

The Seven Dwarfs whistled while they worked. The Helpy Helpers had a song to sing while they did their chores. At “club meetings” and as they worked around the house, my girls sang this to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?”:

I like helping
I like learning
How about you?
How about you?
I’m a helpy helper
Be a helpy helper
You can too.
You can too.

We had a club meeting once in a while to check the girls’ progress and talk things over. I always made it a point to ask them what they were interested in learning or working on. They had some very helpful ideas, such as learning to take care of a pet (and so we got a puppy) and learning the names of different flowers, which we have tried to incorporate in our gardening.

This method can be used for anything you are seeking to teach your child, such as saying their ABCs, picking up toys cheerfully, even potty training! Many children are very motivated by this system and view each patch of accomplishment as a badge of honor.


Life Skills For Kids: Equipping Your Child For The Real World

by Christine M. Field


I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth. ~ 3 John 4

Dad

 

 

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