Cougar News

Welcome to our School News page! On this page you will be able to read the latest Cougar news as well as tips to help your child be successful. Be sure to visit this page often, as we'll update it frequently and communicate the exciting things happening at Lee Academy.

Age-Appropriate Chores for Your Child

Trying to figure out exactly which chores you can expect your children to do? You may be surprised by how much even the smallest children are capable of. Use this list of age appropriate chores as a guide when creating chore charts for your children.

Ages 2 and 3

Many toddlers are eager to help with chores, and while you might not always “need” their “help,” you can appreciate their excitement and willingness and use the opportunity to cultivate great habits. They can complete their chores with you helping every step of the way. As you work together, children learn that helping others is important and that it is equally important to contribute to their home and family. Here are some things your littlest ones can do:

  • Help make the bed
  • Pick up toys and books
  • Take laundry to the laundry room
  • Help feed pets
  • Help wipe up messes
  • Dust with socks on their hands

Ages 4 and 5

Preschoolers still find helping to be an exciting venture and are usually thrilled when you take the time to teach them new chores. They are ready to do some chores without constant supervision. Rewards at this age are very motivating. A sticker chart that allows you to build up to bigger rewards can be appropriate. For some preschoolers, tying chores to an allowance is a great option and fosters independence in choosing a reward. Some things your preschooler can help with are:

Ages 6-8

These school age kids may or may not still have their childlike enthusiasm for completing chores. What they do have, however, is an overwhelming desire to be independent. Parents and caregivers can guide children to become independent in their chores, using chore charts to keep track of their responsibilities both completed and pending. Kids this age can also:

  • Vacuum and mop
  • Take out the trash
  • Fold and put away laundry
Ages 9-12

Find a system that works for your family, and do not change it without the input and support of the people it directly affects. Be sure you factor in rewards and consequences, and address those issues with your children. Let them know the consequences of not completing chores as well as the rewards for fulfilling their responsibilities. Additional things this age group can do are:

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Make College for You

Have you thought about what you’d like to do after graduation? If you are like most people, you probably have, but with so many options available, it is difficult to make a decision.

No matter what you decide to do, make college a part of the equation. College will open your eyes to the world and introduce you to careers you may not be aware of. Have you ever thought of becoming a professional hacker (computer security), a conservation consultant (to improve energy efficiency), a greeting card writer, or a jewelry artist? Not only will college open the doors to these and other exciting opportunities, it will also open the door to higher earnings.

In a 2006–2008 job earning comparison by the U.S. Census Bureau, college graduates were found to earn an average of $57,026 while high school graduates earn about $23,000 less. The average college graduate will earn nearly twice as much over his/her career than someone with a high school diploma will earn over a lifetime!

In these tough economic times, college may seem out of reach for many, but with the help of your academic counselor, you can shop around for those grants and scholarships. CollegeBoard has online calculators and lists of available scholarships, and Financial Aid Finder is a blog with tips on how to fill out scholarship and grant applications. A simple online search for scholarships in your area of interest is sure to create hits.

As your high school career is winding down (or even if it’s just starting), keep college in your sights, and don’t limit yourself based on economics. There are many resources out there to help anyone make his/her dreams a reality, such as your parents, teachers, principal, or academic counselor. It will require effort, but it will be worth it.