Chores are a necessary part of life. Having your kids help out at home can ease the burden on you and teach them valuable life skills. You can start introducing chores at a young age and gradually increase your kids’ responsibilities as they get older.
Benefits of Having Kids Do Chores
Having children help around the house can teach them responsibility and teamwork. Kids can also learn to manage their time, balance work and play and delay gratification. Accomplishing tasks can give children a sense of pride, boost their self-esteem and promote independence.
How to Choose Chores for Your Kids
You can start to introduce the idea of helping out when a child is around 2 or 3 years old. A toddler can begin to understand that toys have to be put away, dishes and clothes have to be washed, etc., and that family members have to pitch in and make sure that those things get done.
Consider each child’s age, physical abilities, maturity level and attention span, and look for ways that they can help with routine household tasks. For example, a toddler can put toys in a toy box, put dishes in the dishwasher and put dirty clothes in a hamper. An older child can feed a pet, set the table, help with meal prep, take out the trash or fold laundry. Look for activities that each child likes to do. Kids will be more inclined to do their chores without complaining if you ask them to do things that they enjoy.
Set Clear Expectations
You’ll have to give clear instructions and show your children how to perform tasks. You might have to explain and/or demonstrate something a few times before a child gets the hang of it. Make sure that your kids know what they’re supposed to do and when. You can create a chart to keep track of each child’s chores and let your kids mark the board when they complete a task.
Be Realistic
Kids won’t do chores as well as an adult would, at least at first. It might seem easier to just do something yourself, but being patient and giving your children an opportunity to learn and improve will pay off in the long run. Praise your kids for completing tasks, even if the results don’t meet a high standard. With positive feedback and some additional practice, the results will get better with time.
Make Chores Fun and Rewarding
Doing chores as a family can make things fun. You can play music, sing songs or invent a game to foster some good-natured competition. Reward your kids for doing their chores. That might mean giving them a weekly allowance or letting them accumulate points or stars that they can redeem for a toy or a fun activity.
