Chores
Chores! Why are they important for children to learn? Research tells us that children who do chores have increased self-esteem, are more responsible, are better equipped to deal with frustration, and delayed gratification. We also know that teaching children how to do chores helps them learn time management skills, develop organizational skills, accept responsibility within the family, they provide opportunity for success, reinforce respect, they teach children life skills, and help build a strong work ethic. This “why” is important to remember when we are implementing the chores that we know may be easier and faster to do on our own!
We know the why, but how do we implement chores in our households? Giving kids choice in what chores they complete and keeping a visual chore chart is helpful. Also, making the chores specific and breaking them down into steps by modelling how to complete the chores will make it easier for children to understand and follow (ex. First you scrape the plate, then you rinse the plate, and then you put it in the dishwasher like this). Having a set schedule and time for chores and being consistent with this routine (ex. after dinner or before screen time) is important. Try to find ways to motivate your child by making the chores more engaging and fun (ex. Races, timers, singing and dancing, family time after chores). And here’s the hard part…. accepting that it may not be done as well as you could have done it and that’s ok. Allowing your child to complete the chore independently after they have been taught by you, acknowledging your child’s best efforts, and recognizing that the younger years are for practice and not perfection.
We know the why and the how, but what chores are appropriate for my child’s age and development? Researchers say that children as young as 3 can start participating in chores. The chores that work for your child and will depend on your specific child and your household, but a list of suggestions can be found here: https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/chores/the-ultimate-list-of-age-appropriate-chores/. Building up your child’s capacity to do chores can be tedious and time consuming (and sometimes met with resistance), but the benefits for your child and the family as a whole are well worth it!