Breastfeeding is the best for babies and a healthy diet / maternal nutrition is important when breastfeeding. A decision not to breastfeed can be difficult to reverse. Infant formula is suitable from birth when babies are not breastfed. It is recommended that all formula milks be used on the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, or other professional responsible for maternal and child care and the financial implications should be considered. All preparation and feeding instructions should be followed carefully as inappropriate preparation could lead to health hazards.

Teaching Your Child To Do Basic House Chores

Children can learn a lot from doing household chores. Doing chores teach them about what they need to do to care for themselves, their family members and their home. From tidying up their bedroom to washing the dishes after a meal, your child will carry the lessons and discipline from their childhood all the way into their adult lives. Therefore, it is essential for parents to see their kids as being capable of helping around the house. Raising them to do chores will indeed turn them into responsible adults.

AGE-APPROPRIATE CHORES FOR CHILDREN

Children can help moms and dads in small and big ways depending on their age. To introduce house chores into your child’s daily routine, it is recommended to first explain why sharing the housework is important. If your children do not know why they have to do the chores, chances are they will quit halfway and ignore the mess around them. As you introduce them to the chores, ease one task at a time into their daily lives. Nobody likes being bombarded with many tasks happening all at once. Moreover, be specific with instructions. That way, they will complete the chores according to how you want it to be. Remember to be firm with their consistency of doing chores. Supposedly they give an excuse of not doing it because “they don’t feel like it”, it is your right as a parent to firmly instruct them to return to their task. When it comes to giving praise, be generous to toddlers and preschoolers. For older children, it is better to praise them after they have established a consistency with their assigned chores. There will be times when your children forget to take out the trash or other chores. Go easy on them and resist the urge to nag. Additionally, don’t insist on perfection either. Learn to give and take in the family.

Without further ado, here are some suggestions on assigning chores according to age.

CHORES FOR CHILDREN AGED 2 AND 3

For toddlers, they can start by doing small chores such as below:

(i) Put away toys after playing
(ii) Wipe up spills
(iii) Sort laundry

Given their budding sense of independence, they will be excited with the mini tasks. It boosts their confidence and makes them feel like a valuable member of the family. So don’t be shy and let them be your little helper!

It is easy to be carried away with work. Feed your child with Dumex Mamil Gold Stage 3 milk formula that’s specially formulated for children aged 1 to 3 to help keep their tummies happy throughout the day! Together with calcium, zinc, vitamin D and vitamin E, the milk formula also contains docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) for brain development as high as 75mg per 100g, which plays an important role specially in the first 3 years of life.

CHORES FOR CHILDREN AGED 4-6

As children grow into preschoolers, they are ready to take on chores that require a little more strength. For example, they can:

(i) Set and clear the dining table
(ii) Make their own beds
(iii) Prepare light meals for themselves

It is often encouraged by many parents that childhood is the golden opportunity to teach children how to be independent. This will instil an attitude of proactiveness which will significantly help them in their future endeavours.

Apart from doing house chores, your child will be experiencing big changes in his social, intellectual, and emotional abilities between 3 and 6 years old. Dumex Mamil Gold Stage 4, catered for aged 3 to 6, supports the fundamentals of learning of preschool-aged children. Apart from incorporating DHA into our milk formula, we also know the importance of developing a child’s gross and fine motor skills ― which is why we have incorporated calcium to help with building and maintaining strong bones, and vitamin D for the absorption of calcium1. Not only does our milk formula contain these bone-building mineral and vitamin, but the milk formula also contains an important micronutrient called zinc to support physical development2. Meanwhile, vitamin E is also included to protect the cells in your active child’s body.

CHORES FOR CHILDREN AGED 6 AND ABOVE

Older children can help with tedious household chores by handling these chores below on a regular basis:

(i) Sweep floors
(ii) Empty wastebaskets
(iii) Wash dishes

Most parents are exhausted after coming home from work. With the floors swept clean, trash being disposed of and no sight of dirty dishes in the sink, they can rest more thanks to their children’s helping hands.

As children become stronger and more active, Dumex Mamil Gold Stage 5 is specially formulated for children aged 6 and above. It is fortified with calcium and vitamin D to support bone health. Other than DHA and vitamin E, we have included minerals such as iron and phosphorus. Iron is a trace mineral used in the formation of haemoglobin found in red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout our body3, whereas phosphorus is a type of nutrient needed in larger amounts for bone development4.

It’s amazing how fast children can grow! When they become older, more responsibilities will inevitably be added, including the need to meet their increased nutritional needs. Dumex Mamil Gold milk formula cater for different age groups as they are tailored for every stage of growth. Discover our premium range of Dumex Mamil Gold at www.dumex.sg today!