Doing chores as a kid is almost a tradition in many households in America. Chores are not only a way for parents to receive some additional help around the house but also to instill a sense of responsibility in their children and give them valuable life skills. This can vary from taking out the trash to simply cleaning their room. However, one of the most common questions parents have about putting their children to do chores involves the type of chores they should assign. The following list includes information about some of the types of chores for your children along with a few things to avoid.
Don’t Wait Too Long
Understandably, many parents will always tend to see their children as babies. However, you might be surprised about how much they are capable of at an early age. Although they might not know how to do things properly at first (setting the dinner table, trash), it should be understood that they will only learn by doing the task and failing at it. Therefore, it is imperative that you don’t wait too long before giving them chores to do.
Make the Chores Matter
Neither kids nor adults like to do things that don’t matter. Kids understand from an early age when you are simply providing them with busywork. When you say you need help, they clearly understand that it’s simply a ploy to make them get to work. The best way to have your kids understand the importance of chores and develop a habit of doing them without being told is to provide them with a reason. Chores that matter can include setting up the table for dinner, folding their clothes or feeding the family pet, to name a few.
Keep Them Consistent
If there is one thing that children desire, it’s consistency. When you constantly provide them with different chores every week, you tend to risk losing their support as well as their motivation. Therefore, you must assign the same tasks week in and week out. An excellent way to do this is to write it out on a large piece of paper or on a chalkboard that can reside within the kitchen. This will provide them with a concrete list of things they must do and can also offer proof that these tasks are being completed.
Things to Avoid
Although chores do provide children with necessary and useful life skills, it should be noted that some things are best done by the adults rather than the children. After all, they are still developing and may not have the best eye-hand coordination just yet. Even minor slips can be serious for kids. Younger children must always be supervised from afar when they are doing their daily chores. Even older kids should not be given dangerous or potentially harmful tasks. If they are going to participate in a bigger home improvement project, it should only be under direct parental supervision.
Giving children daily household chores is a great way to both demonstrate a sense of responsibility and trust between you and them. These tips can help you find the right chores to get your kids involved.