The average adult is not a fan of chores. However interestingly, most of us grew up on doing chores, which though you may not even be aware, helped shape many of life’s skills.
Chores are simply just small household routine tasks or odd jobs.
Picking up and packing away toys. Taking out the trash. Making your bed. Setting and clearing the table before and after a meal. Washing the dishes after a meal are just a few of the things that can be labelled as chores and there are age-appropriate chores.
“Kids who do chores learn responsibility and gain important life skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.” Says Amy Morin, LCSW in the article, The Importance of Chores for Kids. (Very Well Family).
Former Dean of Stanford University Julie Lythcott Haims said, “professional success in life … comes from having done chores as a kid, and the earlier you started, the better, that a roll-up- your-sleeve- and-pitch-in mindset,” based on the Harvard Grant Study.
‘Make them do chores.” A statement that went viral after Julie Lythcott Hains talk, but in an article from (Parenting for Brain) April 22, 2021 questioned this statement. And I quote.
“Is it really true? It kind of makes sense, but something doesn’t sit well with me. I was curious, So I went to look up the data from the Harvard Grant Study. To my surprise, I couldn’t find any sign that doing chores was associated with success in that study. It is not referenced in any information related to that study that I could lay my hands on.”
Why would I mention this statement? This would imply that we should force our children to do chores. instead, we should encourage and motivate them to participate in doing chores. A practice that would be teaching and molding their young minds into becoming responsible adults. We should also be mindful of rewarding them for doing these chores baring in mind that if they become accustomed to getting something after doing a chore, then you are actually sending the wrong message which means that when there is no reward there will be a reluctance to do these chores.
There is absolutely nothing wrong doing chores. There are age-appropriate chores for toddles from three years old to teenagers. Example, teaching your toddles to pick up and pack away toys after they are through playing with them. Be mindful of how much chores a child is given as you do not want them to see this a burden or “work” as the aim is to have them be willing to participate in household chores.
As parents we are sometimes overwhelmed with work, preparing meals, and all the other duties that make up our daily lives. Even for stay-at-home moms this can be a challenge. So too kids can become overwhelmed by homework, chores that are not age appropriate, and so many things. Here are a few age appropriate chores.
Toddlers
Likes to help make the bed.
Picking up their toys and books.
Help to feed pets.
Put away laundry.
Ages 4 – 5year old
Setting and clearing the table at mealtimes.
Help with cooking and food preparation.
Dusting furniture.
Carrying and putting away groceries.
Ages 6 – 8year old
Taking care of pets.
Take out the trash.
Folding and putting away laundry.
Ages 9 – 12year old
Learn to wash dishes.
Help to prepare simple meals.
Sweeping the yard.
Ages 13 – 18years old
Doing their own laundry.
Prepare meals.
Helping to clean the house.
Assigning kids chores helps teach them responsibility. They will learn team work. Helps reinforce respect. Helps to build a strong worth ethic. Helps improve planning and time management skills. Gives families a chance to bond. They will learn how to manage time.
Remember childhood is when the functional anatomy of your brain is growing and adapting so hands on experiences are a critical part of that growth. But be mindful of how any chore or duty is given as this can also have a negative effect.
Morin, Amy. Lockhart, Ann-Louise, T. The Importance of Chores for Kids.
https://www.verywellfamily.com/the-importance-of-chores-for-kids-1095018
