Children and Chores
I have heard many parents (both those that I have worked with or those in my personal life) say that children should enjoy their childhood. Chores will need to be done all throughout life, so let’s give the child a break while we can. Frankly, Dear Reader, I couldn’t agree less.
I agree that childhood is a fleeting time. But it is an important time and unlike any other time in our lives. It is where we begin to understand about the world, build habits, learn strategies, and begin to understand how the world around us functions. And let’s be clear, household tasks and chores, are a large part of that function.
Chores are great!
I can hear you out there. Telling me that chores are definitively not great. I hear you saying that chores are, in fact, tiny little to do list demons that appear and reappear in a never ending cycle. Well, you aren’t wrong either.
Let me revise. Chores are great for building aspects of our children that they will need throughout their lives.
Chores help by doing the following:
Build confidence and self-esteem
Give children the feeling that they are important and needed to make the family home run smoothly
Give the child a sense of contribution
Give children a sense of pride
Teach social responsibility
Teach consequences of action…or non action
If responsibility is taught in the home, it can have the following beneficial effects:
The children will become (more) responsible.
Because responsible children are such a unique commodity in today’s society, the children will be sought after for babysitting, lawn mowing, and other employment opportunities outside the home.
Parents will find themselves with more energy, because they are doing less tasks that now are being done by the children.
Chores teach children how to care for the home and complete the basic tasks required for daily upkeep
Chores keep children active. And in a society that leans to sedentary habits, active is amazing.
Tips to help with chores
Start teaching your child at a young age to be responsible.
If your kiddo is already older, that’s okay! Start today. It is never too late to begin.
Teach your child to pick up after each activity
Get children involved in the process of doing chores by allowing them to help with choosing the chores that they feel they can do.
Let your child help place the chart on the refrigerator in a spot where they would like it to go.
Teach children the joy of self-evaluation and a job well done instead of dependence on rewards.
Do not do anything for your child that he can do for himself.
Always praise your child for a job well done when a chore is completed!
If your child does something on their own (without you asking) make sure you use specific praise.
Do you need more information? Contact us and we can help you start.
