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Chores are a part of everyday life. If you live anywhere (unless you are rich) you have responsibilities of upkeeping your home. Chores and childhood go hand in hand like peanut butter and jelly. This is the way we all learned responsibilities (and usually the distain for it!).
Importance of chores
Sure, chores teach responsibility, but there is so much more than that. We are all part of a community. As adults, we work jobs, volunteer and are good citizens to keep our community running to benefit all that are part of it. As children, our home and family is the community we are primarily part of.
Children also learn team work and to share the work load. When they do not do their part, it affect others. This is important for children to learn that their actions (or inactions) have consequences beyond themselves.
Discipline is another virtue of chores. As children get older, they will have to discipline themselves to do their work, even when they do not want to. Learning to put their leisure activities to the side while they complete their responsibilities will help them learn to be disciplined adults.
Benefits
Children learn a sense of work ethic. Sadly, we are losing work ethic in today’s society. It is harder and harder to find people who are willing to work. Adults who learned the importance of work in childhood are more successful adults.
Chores can give children a sense of pride. Knowing that they have helped contribute to something bigger than themselves will allow them to be proud of the work they have done. It is important that they are praised for helping out and being a good member of the house hold.
How to begin chores
Have clear expectations of each chore. Just saying “clean your room” leaves it open to interpretation. I think we all know how a 7 year old would interpret that. (Imagine everything shoved under the bed) Instead, you can have pictures of what the room should look like along with a list of things that should be done and what you expect to see when you check the job.
Have a time limit or time frame for the job. For example, if the job is to vacuum, how long should it take? 10 minutes? 20? When I was a child I HATED, no, despised, doing dishes. I would take forever to do them. I used lots of soap, made huge piles of bubbles and just took my time. Give time limits.
Have a chore chart and assigned chores. Your can color code your chores to help keep them organized. Children should be able to easily see what they have to do. For younger children create a picture chore chart. This can be made with clip art on the computer or by taking pictures of the child actually doing the chore!
Chore List
Unsure what age and chores go together? Here are some guidelines. Keep in mind, children are all different and may be more capable. AS they master chores, step it up to a new one.
- Ages 2-3
- Make bed
- Take dirty clothes to laundry
- Put away clean laundry
- Pick up toys and put away
- Dust furniture
- Feed pets
- Put clothes in dryer
- Match socks
- Clear place after meals
- Water plants
- 4-5 year old
- Set table
- Clear table
- Help cook dinner
- Carry and put away groceries
- Take sheets off bed
- Sort laundry
- Pull weeds
- Make snack
- Fold towels
- Tidy room
- 6-9 years
- Vacuum
- Fold laundry
- Sweep floor
- Clean counters
- Empty dishwasher
- Help cook meals
- Get mail
- Rake leaves
- Load dishwasher/wash dishes
- Take out trash
What chores can you add to this list?
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