Not many people like doing chores, especially children but it is a necessary part of life. Some parents question whether they should make their children do any chores because they just want their kids to be kids or they don’t trust them to do it the “right” way. However, there are many benefits to children doing chores and these benefits will carry into adulthood. As parents, one of our jobs is to teach our children how to be successful when they grow up. Giving kids chores is one way to do that.
Chores help your children feel wanted, teach important life lessons, help ease the workload on parents, teach work ethic, responsibility, time management and self-reliance. They can help build up self-esteem and teach your children the importance of respecting and taking care of themselves, others and their possessions.
Some parents aren’t sure when they should start chores with their children and the good news is that you can start from age 2 on. It’s important to note that children are not always going to do the chores the way you may do them and that’s okay. The goal, especially with the younger children, is to teach them responsibility and to get them in the habit of helping out. While they are doing the task, make sure to give them a lot of praise and encouragement. If you are too critical of them or how they are doing it, then it will lower their self-esteem and make them have a negative association with chores. Below are some chores your children can do at each age.
Toddlers (ages 2-3) (At this age, kids will need supervision)
Preschoolers (ages 4-5) (At this age, kids will not need supervision for everything)
Primary Schoolers (ages 6-9) (At this age, they will need a lot less supervision)
Middle Schoolers (Ages 10-13) (In addition to any of the tasks listed above…)
High Schoolers (Ages 14+) (In addition to any of the tasks listed above…)
As a parent, it’s important to remember that your child will not always enjoy or like the chores or responsibilities that you give them. One way to help reduce some of the resistance is to give your children a choice in what they can do to help out. This is especially helpful as your children get older. If they feel like they have a choice it will help them resist less. However, no matter what the chore or responsibility they have, make sure to keep encouraging them and giving them positive feedback.
Resources:
https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/chores/the-ultimate-list-of-age-appropriate-chores/#gs.5yiu7z
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inside-out-outside-in/201908/why-chores-are-important-kids
https://www.momentumlife.co.nz/stories/why-kids-should-have-chores
Chores help your children feel wanted, teach important life lessons, help ease the workload on parents, teach work ethic, responsibility, time management and self-reliance. They can help build up self-esteem and teach your children the importance of respecting and taking care of themselves, others and their possessions.
Some parents aren’t sure when they should start chores with their children and the good news is that you can start from age 2 on. It’s important to note that children are not always going to do the chores the way you may do them and that’s okay. The goal, especially with the younger children, is to teach them responsibility and to get them in the habit of helping out. While they are doing the task, make sure to give them a lot of praise and encouragement. If you are too critical of them or how they are doing it, then it will lower their self-esteem and make them have a negative association with chores. Below are some chores your children can do at each age.
Toddlers (ages 2-3) (At this age, kids will need supervision)
- Put their toys away
- Fill up a pets food bowl
- Place clothes in the hamper
- Dust or wipe baseboards with socks on their hands (they’ll love this one)
- Put books or magazines on shelves or tables
- Help make the bed
- Help set the table
Preschoolers (ages 4-5) (At this age, kids will not need supervision for everything)
- Make their bed
- Clear the table
- Pull weeds
- Water flowers
- Use a hand-held vacuum for some messes
- Put away clean utensils
- Help bring in light groceries
- Sort laundry into different categories (whites or colors)
- Match socks together
- Dust with a cloth
- Feed and water their pets
Primary Schoolers (ages 6-9) (At this age, they will need a lot less supervision)
- Sweep floors
- Help make lunches for school
- Rake the yard
- Clean their own bedrooms
- Put away groceries
- Load the dishwasher
- Empty the dishes
- Vacuum
- Help prepare dinner with the parent
- Make their own snacks/breakfast
- Scrub the table after meals
- Put away their own laundry
- Walk the dog (with supervision)
- Wet mop
- Take out the trash or recycling
Middle Schoolers (Ages 10-13) (In addition to any of the tasks listed above…)
- Wash the dishes or load the dishwasher
- Wash the family car
- Prepare easy meals without assistance
- Wash their own clothes
- Take the trash or recycling bins to the curb
- Babysit younger siblings with parents at home
High Schoolers (Ages 14+) (In addition to any of the tasks listed above…)
- Clean out the refrigerator
- Help deep clean the kitchen
- Clean the bathroom including toilet, sink and shower
- Babysit younger siblings without parents in the home (short periods for younger teens)
- Mow the lawn
- Care for pets, including walks
- Make more complex meals
- Accomplish small shopping trips alone once they get a license
- Iron clothes
- Help parents with simple home or auto repairs
As a parent, it’s important to remember that your child will not always enjoy or like the chores or responsibilities that you give them. One way to help reduce some of the resistance is to give your children a choice in what they can do to help out. This is especially helpful as your children get older. If they feel like they have a choice it will help them resist less. However, no matter what the chore or responsibility they have, make sure to keep encouraging them and giving them positive feedback.
Resources:
https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/chores/the-ultimate-list-of-age-appropriate-chores/#gs.5yiu7z
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inside-out-outside-in/201908/why-chores-are-important-kids
https://www.momentumlife.co.nz/stories/why-kids-should-have-chores
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