- Life skills and money
- Classes 3-5
- 3 min read
Helping at home
Find safe jobs you can do at home, learn why helping matters and how to do each job with care.
Let us begin
The big idea
A home runs well when everyone helps. Even children can do many jobs. When you help, you learn useful skills and show that you care about your family.
Helping at home is a way to say thank you to the people who look after us. Our parents and elders work hard all day, and our help makes their load lighter.
There are many safe jobs for children. You can lay the table, put away your plate, water the plants, fold clean clothes, sweep a small area and keep your bag and shoes in order.
Some jobs need an adult. We should never touch the gas stove, hot pans, sharp knives or electric switches with wet hands. If a job looks risky, ask an adult.
Do a job well, not in a hurry. Ask kindly, work cheerfully and say thank you when somebody helps you too.
Worked examples
See how it works
Laying the table
Before dinner, Anil puts a plate and a glass for each person. There are 4 people, so he needs 4 plates and 4 glasses. He also puts a jug of water in the middle.
Watering plants
Priya waters the plants every evening with a small mug. She checks the soil first. If the soil is wet, she waits until the next day.
Folding clothes
Karan folds his shirts and trousers and puts them in the cupboard. His mother does not have to do it, and he finds his clothes easily.
Try it at home
My helping chart
You will need
- A sheet of paper
- A ruler
- A pencil or crayons
- Stars or stickers (or draw stars)
What to do
- Draw a table with the days of the week across the top.
- Down the side, write three jobs you can do, such as laying the table, watering plants and packing your bag.
- Each time you do a job, draw a star in its box.
- At the end of the week, count your stars.
- Share the chart with your family and pick new jobs for next week.
Ask a grown-up: An adult can choose jobs that are safe for your age and teach you how to do them.
Practice sheet
Check what you learned
Practice sheet: Helping at home (Classes 3-5, Life skills and money)
- Why should we help at home?
- Name three safe jobs a child can do.
- Name two jobs that need an adult.
- There are 5 people at dinner. How many plates do you need to lay?
- When should you water the plants again if the soil is wet?
- What should you do if a job looks risky?
- Why is it good to fold your own clothes?
- How can you thank someone who helps you?
- Why should you never touch a switch with wet hands?
- Write your own helping plan for three days.
Answer key
Answers: Helping at home
- To thank the people who care for us and to make their work lighter.
- Sample answers: lay the table, water plants, fold clothes.
- Sample answers: using the gas stove, using a sharp knife.
- 5 plates.
- Wait until the soil is dry, usually the next day.
- Stop and ask an adult.
- It helps our family and we find our clothes easily.
- Say thank you with a smile.
- Water can carry electricity and give a shock.
- Sample answer: Day 1 lay the table, Day 2 water plants, Day 3 fold clothes.