Children and Chores

Childhood Chores

Children and Chores; quite often the two don't mix. And if you attempt to do it the hard way, it could deteriorate into a pooch training session. This can only result in a lifelong allergy to the simple chores that bring balance and beauty to life. You've done well if you have brought up a child who does chores cheerfully.

Photograph courtesy hummingbird-morguefile.com

                 

Chores For Kids

Putting away toys, story books, shoes, folding small articles of clothes, setting the table, watering potted plants, and making beds, are a few they can start with and grow into. As a matter of fact, kids love to be involved right from the time they are old enough to move around and it is often the parents who say No! with the best of intentions, of course. It is true, though, it might call for the patience of a monk to let your 3 year old help you with folding clothes, a chore which might go into the extended version with director's cut when you could easily get the job done in the so-called jiffy.

Photograph courtesy Clarita morguefile.com

How To Get Kids to do Chores

When it comes to kids and chores the smartest thing to do would be to not make it sound like a bad thing or a drab job. Make it a fun project, or better yet, a game. Sing along as you pick up stuff, count as you put away toys, stack according to colour or kind, you get the idea. As the child grows up, you can ease off and let her do it all.

Little kids love to imitate what they see others do. You can make good use of this monkey see monkey do philosophy and include them in the little things you do around the house. As toddlers they love following in your footsteps, mostly getting in your way and tripping you over. But those are the baby steps of socializing which later on extends beyond the homefront to school, friends, and the public.

Children are easily put off by staccato instructions and nagging. That's a surefire way of putting them off chores for good. The idea is to put them in charge of a certain number of chores that need to be done. Make them feel important and applaud when they do a good job. Bring it up casually before other people and you'll see them glow with pride and take their job even more seriously.

Photograph courtesy Mary R. Vogt-morguefile.com

Of course there's not much you can delegate to kids from your busy schedule, but there are quite a few things they can do. This is something you decide since you know your child better than anyone else. Don't discourage them even if they impede your chores a little bit. You can put them in charge of one chore when young and promote them eventually. Kids soon get the idea that it is expected and taken for granted that these tasks will be done by them, just as the parents mow the lawn or do the laundry.

How Chores Help Kids

Children learn responsibility when they have regular chores to be done. On top of that, they experience the warm feeling of a job well done. It will certainly encourage self-esteem, concentration, innovative thinking and an ordered life style in your child. The very thought that the family depends on them to put away newspapers or water the plants makes them feel important and valuable members. It gives kids a feeling of independence. They will almost certainly grow into house-proud individuals who'll keep neat homes. Doing chores will definitely keep boredom at bay and their bedroom neat.