Benefits of Chores
Should children, even toddlers and preschoolers, do chores? Yes!
Does this require patience? Most definitely!
Will they clean the way you like things cleaned? Probably not! (but practice makes progress)
Will giving my child chores ruin their opportunity to be “just a kid”? Doubtful!
Benefits of Chores
Participating in chores allows children to feel capable. When children learn something that they didn’t know how to do before, like fold a shirt, then they begin to feel competent in their abilities to learn other new things.
Children that do chores learn to be a team player. Housework is a team effort. It takes everyone doing their part, whether big or little, to make a home run smoothly. Mom can’t do it all—even though it might feel like we are the only ones doing it all some days.
Doing chores helps children learn how to value their things and themselves. They feel like a valuable member of the family by participating. But they also learn to take care of their toys and things by cleaning them up.
Children learn about important life skills that they will need throughout life. They learn that a cleaning fairy does not exist…even though we all secretly wish one did!
Encourage Children to Participate in Chores
Children are natural helpers. They want to help. They want to do what we are doing. They want to do things with us.
When I get in cleaning mode or I’m in a hurry to get dinner on the table it’s hard for me to let anyone help because I can do it faster, I do it “right,” or without fuss. But we shouldn’t push our children away from helping with chores.
1. Do the chores together. Let them help you cook dinner. It’s ok if dinner is a little later than planned that evening.
2. Show them how and then allow them to do try it themselves. Let your child take a turn dusting. Obviously, they won’t dust under each knick-knack, but with time they will soon learn how to do it the way you taught them.
3. Take turns doing the chore. You vacuum a little bit, and then let them vacuum some. This allows them to see and do.
4. Give your child a small task out of the bigger task. Let your child match socks while you fold the clothes. They will still feel like they are being a helper, and will enjoy quality time with you!
It’s so important for children to learn how to do chores to become self-sufficient adults one day. They have to start learning at some point—it’s never too early or too late to begin. Just be patient as this is a learning process. They are going to miss a few crumbs when they sweep, they might break a plate while unloading the dishwasher, and it’s likely that they will spray too much Windex when cleaning the windows. But with some encouragement and practice, the more they will progress towards doing it the “right” way.
