At what age can you start your child doing dishes?

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AllieLee

New member
A 7 year old would be playing around in the water as you said - think its all fun and games, they won't be making the dishes clean and right for your family to eat off again. I suggest let her wash her own dishes for awhile - she will get sick of it soon. When she gets older and more understanding or cleaning then she can take over every now and then. Good Luck!
 
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keyonaj

New member
My daughter is 7yrs old..and she keeps asking if she can do dishes..i personally think she won't do them right..i think she just wants to play in the water..i like a clean home and things to be done the right way..but with that said..she wants to help and i love her for that and so many other reasons. but is that too early to start dishes?
 
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rainwriterm

New member
By the "right way" do you mean hot water, adequate soap, removing all of the debris, and rinising off all of the soap, or by "right way" do you mean that glasses are washed first (smallest to biggest and all of the glass ones before plastic), then the plates (but only the large ones) then the bowls, then the smaller plates and then the utensils but only if they are put in this exact spot in the dish dryer, and that the water must be exactly 115 degrees with no less than X amount of soap and this one particular wash cloth...

If the former, go ahead and let her learn how to wash dishes and help you. If the latter, be honest about "Mommy likes it this way because I'm just weird, and it's okay to do it another way, but save that for later please." Then let her stand up on a chair with you and help you wash dishes.
 
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Erialc

New member
My kids started "helping" me wash dishes when they were 2 or 3 years old. I would wash them and they would rinse them off and put them on the rack. I personally think that you should let her do them. If she doesn't do them right, you can go back and re-do them after she goes to bed.
Good luck!
 
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shawanabang

New member
I would wait a little bit, maybe 9 years old until you let her start to wash them by herself. I'm like you I want things done right the first time, couldn't hurt to supervise her while she does them though, maybe you rinse after she washed to double check.
 
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madiesmum

New member
when we go camping and the dishes are washed outside my child loves to do them and has been since about 3yrs old. 7 years old isnt too soon to was and dry dishes. dont make her overly sensitive about doing it right from the start, they have to learn sometime and if its not done your way then so be it.

doing it your way is your problem not hers, so you have to give a little leeway and let her learn.

let her do dishes now cause in another 7 years she wont want to do them at all, no matter how much you want her to.
 
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SquirrelNuts

New member
I wouldn't think it's too early. I have a 3 yr old who stands in the chair beside me and helps rinse. I'd just let her sit on the counter or something and see how well she can do them. If it seems like she's doing it to your liking, then maybe she can start doing a few minor dishes. Like a few cups, small bowls, or a little silver wear....she might can help you out a lot. I'd enjoy it while I could. In a few years, that will be one of her chores and she won't wanna do them then haha
 
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Precious

Member
Let her do all the easy dishes and you can do the hard ones. My kids are 6 and 3 and I have them help me unload the dishwasher, pick up toys, go around the house and pick up any big lint on the carpet/trash, and occasionally dust the coffee table. I should have them do it more regularly since they enjoy helping me so much.
 
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KellyHanlon

New member
well me im 13 but my mom never has me do dishes she says its a moms job and she is worried i wont do them properly sure id like to do it SOMETIMES wereas when i go to my dads i have a sstep mom there that completley belives its my job to clean the house and do dishes. ya sure i will vacum and wash dishes sometimes but she has me doing it all the time. so u see there is a diffrences between them a big diffrence. i dont think 7 is too young she can do them if SHE WANTS i dont think you should force her though hope i helped :)))
 
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ethersflame

New member
Just don't let her put them away when she's done, have her put them where you can check that they've been washed thoroughly and rewash them yourself if they haven't. If she doesn't do dishes you'll have to wash them yourself anyway so it's not like her doing them first will be any extra work for you. She'll get better at it with practice.
 
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