Why Your Kids Should Be Doing Chores

Most families have their children helping out with the household. For some, it’s a simple task, such as looking after their room. For other families, especially those with older kids, the children may even have an outside job and contribute to the family income. No matter what age your child, household chores or jobs builds responsibility.

Giving youngsters a list of chores and a schedule also builds trust between family members. As the kids are learning useful skills for life on the outside, they are also creating a better family environment. Even kids as young as two enjoy helping their parents clean, cook, work in the garden, or help feed pets. It allows them to improve communication and negotiation skills as well as how to work as a part of a team.

Children that contribute to the family in this way learn competence and responsibility—even when doing chores they don’t like. Completing their least favorite assignment is likely to result in the greatest satisfaction.

According to Eugene Beresin, M.D., M.A., chores play an essential role in child and teen development. He asserts chores are better understood and found more acceptable when reframed as responsibilities, as skills with a great payoff, and that these responsibilities can make children and adolescents feel special.

Sharing the housework amongst all of the family members will also reduce stress caused when a single person is responsible for all or the majority of tasks. It also means the family completes things more quickly, which frees up recreational time.

How to get kids to do chores

The most crucial part of getting your kids to buy into a list of chores is making sure the tasks are age-appropriate and within their capability. If an assignment is too hard, the child can become frustrated or hurt themselves. Conversely, assigning duties that are too easy may cause them to become bored or distracted. The task must have a value to the household that the youngster can appreciate. If this value is not apparent, explain it in terms they can understand. Use family meetings for these discussions, so the child can see how others are contributing as well.

In addition to tasks that benefit the child, such as picking up their toys or bathing on their own, assign chores the entire family will appreciate, such as setting or clearing the table, helping with food preparation, or mowing the lawn.

Here are some other tips for getting your kids to do chores:

• Do the chore together until it’s clear the child is capable of doing it on their own.
• Create a chores-board in the kitchen to list each person’s chores for the day or week.
• Add a column to the chores-board showing completion.
• Add a rewards column for a job well done and give small recognition such as choosing a movie or meal for family night.
• Be encouraging after completion and explain how significant their contribution was.

Kids respond to praise and encouragement. As they achieve goals, they naturally look for new ones to tackle. If their first effort didn’t turn out well, take it as an opportunity to point out the parts where they excelled and explain again the parts that need improvement.

Pocket money for chores

Suppose all chores lead to a monetary reward. In that case, the child might want to bargain to get more money for doing a task he or she should be doing as part of their contribution to the household—especially if everyone else in the family is contributing. Instead, consider giving random bonus awards while avoiding any type of routine or amount.

If the child is saving for a purchase, help them open a savings account and make a big deal out of making deposits. Reward chores that are done exceptionally well by matching the size of their deposit. Matching their savings encourages the child to save more to get more matching contributions, thus achieving their goal more quickly.

If paying for chores is the best way to motivate your child, make it clear bargaining is not allowed. Explain the task and the amount that can be earned and leave it at that. Be prepared, however, that the job may not get done.

A family project

Everyone in the family can and should help with household chores. Older children may contribute by taking on a job and contributing to the household budget. Start younger kids out by assisting them in accomplishing age-appropriate tasks and as they become more confident, allow them to do it without help.

It’s not necessary to pay your kids to do chores, but many parents feel this is the best way to motivate their kids. If that’s the case, set guidelines for how and when assignments will earn a reward and don’t allow bargaining. Encourage children to save for major purchases by opening a savings account and matching their deposits.

As adults, the real world can be sobering. We perform tasks every day without compensation, and that goes unnoticed and unappreciated. Help your child to have realistic expectations by preparing them now.