Make helping with dishes easy!

As I was unpacking our kitchen in the new house 6 months ago, I did something that I am ever so grateful for. I gave the little man his own cupboard down low. My aunt had done this in their HUGE kitchen for some toys, extra diapers, etc... But, in our small kitchen I made it his own cupboard with his own dishes. He was very excited about this from the beginning and now helping with the dishes has become routine - and even exciting for him to pick out if he's going to eat on Spiderman or Spongebob.

I encourage him to get out his own bowl for cereal in the morning - and he has his own slot in our utensil drawer for just his. He will also get his own plate, cup, etc.. for dinner.

And I've been able to expand putting away just his dishes, to all of the silverware AND since he bakes/cooks with me often he can usually put the mixing bowls, measuring cups - all the non-breakables away. He knows where more stuff goes in the kitchen than his father does. (And when I'm gone the little man usually tells his dad where everything goes - haha)

I almost always emtpty the dishwasher with him, so it also becomes fun time spent together. And I believe it is teaching him independence as well as learning how to take care of himself.

His aunt recently moved in with us, and because she was so much younger than Aaron, she was basically raised as an only child. Now, so was I so what can I say here... but somehow I DID learn responsibility and how to take care of myself. This was her first time moving away from home (and her mother). Without being too harsh - she was clueless. Didn't know how to do laundry, doesn't know to at least offer to help with dinner, set-up or clean up... etc. etc. This is something I want to avoid. And by making it fun, hopefully it will continue throughout his life.