Housework
What’s inside...
The aim of this book is to bring social history to life by comparing the experiences of different generations. It looks at a little girl, Holly, her mother and her grandmother, and the different equipment and materials they have used doing housework during their lifetimes.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think everyone in the family has different chores?
How do you feel when you help out with housework at home?
Which chore depicted in the book would you like to try and why?
What do you think would happen if no one did any housework?
Tip: Role play these questions
Highlight the teamwork shown in the book and compare it to how your family divides up chores.
Discuss the importance of each member's contribution to maintaining a home.
Encourage your child to express their feelings about housework and validate their feelings.
Show them the results and benefits of doing housework by drawing examples from your own home.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The book 'Housework' illustrates the importance of taking responsibility through the depiction of characters engaging in various household chores.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by actively participating in the upkeep of their own home, such as cleaning their room or helping to set the table.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: This book highlights the collective effort of family members working together to maintain their home, demonstrating how teamwork creates a smoother and more efficient process.
Real-World Application: Kids can practice teamwork by collaborating with siblings or classmates on projects or during clean-up times, thereby appreciating the value of working together.
Example Lesson: Independence
Explanation: As characters in 'Housework' take on tasks independently, the book teaches children about the importance of self-reliance and personal capability.
Real-World Application: Children can foster independence by taking initiative in their daily routines, such as preparing simple meals or organizing their school supplies.
Example Lesson: Time Management
Explanation: The structure of housework in the book showcases how planning and management lead to the efficient completion of tasks, without overwhelming the characters.
Real-World Application: This lesson can be applied by encouraging children to plan their homework or playtime activities, cultivating effective time management skills from an early age.
Example Lesson: Appreciation of Effort
Explanation: Through its narrative, 'Housework' encourages readers to value and respect the effort put into maintaining a clean and pleasant living environment.
Real-World Application: This can lead children to express gratitude towards family members who handle household chores and possibly inspire them to contribute as well.