How to add item to CheckedListBox from User Control

public partial class MyUserControl : UserControl
  {
    public MyUserControl()
    {
      InitializeComponent();
    }

    public int CheckedListBoxAddItems(object item)
    {
      return checkedListBox1.Items.Add(item);
    }

  }
}

protected override void OnLoad(EventArgs e)
{
  base.OnLoad(e);
  myUserControl1.CheckedListBoxAddItems("item1");
  myUserControl1.CheckedListBoxAddItems("item2");
  myUserControl1.CheckedListBoxAddItems("item3");
}