Why chores are good for kids

Even though it is more difficult at the time to persist in having children do chores, kids benefit from the experience. Research indicates that those children who do have a set of chores have higher self-esteem, are more responsible, and are better able to deal with frustration and delay gratification, all of which contribute to greater success in school.

Doing chores gives a child the opportunity to give back to their parents for all you do for them. Kids begin to see themselves as important contributors to the family. They feel a connection to the family. Holding them accountable for their chores can increase a sense of themselves as responsible and actually make them more responsible. Children will feel more capable for having met their obligations and completed their tasks.

One of the most frequently sited causes of over-indulgence stems from parents doing too much for their children and not expecting enough of them. By expecting children to complete self-care tasks and to help with household chores, parents equip children with the skills to function independently in the outside world.

With only so many hours in a day, parents need to help children decide how to spend their time and to determine what is most important. If you let children off the hook for chores because they have too much schoolwork or need to practice a sport, then you are saying, intentionally or not, that their academic or athletic skills are most important.

And if your children fail a test or fail to block the winning shot, then they have failed at what you deem to be most important. They do not have other pillars of competency upon which to rely. By completing household tasks, they may not always be the star student or athlete, but they will know that they can contribute to the family, begin to take care of themselves, and learn skills that they will need as an adult. In addition to being steadfast in the belief that it is important to have children complete chores, your attitudes can help set the tone that will increase possible cooperation in your household.

Conversely, you can send the message that these are the tasks that need to be completed in order for your household to run smoothly and that everyone in the family is encouraged and expected to participate. Young children naturally want to be a part of the family and want to help.

Ideally, you will encourage their participation even if it takes more work on your part in the short run. By the age of three, youngsters can be assigned their own tasks, for which they are responsible, such as pulling up the sheets on their bed or placing the napkins on the table or sorting the laundry. The size of the task does not matter; the responsibility associated with it does. For those parents who did not begin a chore regimen when their kids were little, you can still start a plan now.

Are the ones already selected the best fit for each of your children and ones that are most meaningful to the running of your household?

Learning to do household chores shows your child that, while school can feel like a struggle, other tasks can be easily mastered and completed. Chores that involve some level of responsibility, like caring for younger siblings or pets, can also instill this idea of capability. Remember to praise your child when chores are completed. And this in turn means a feel-good boost in confidence. Having weak organizational skills can be frustrating for kids, especially at school. But chores can help them get more organized without feeling pressured.

Setting the table for dinner, for instance, demands a lot of organization as well as attention to detail. Your child needs to put out the napkins and arrange the silverware, plates, and glasses.

Kids who do this every night will figure out the most efficient way to do it. When you start your child on a new chore, it helps to write a list of the steps or draw a picture. For the table setting example, you can map out what the table should look like. Over time, give out more complex chores like helping you make a salad for dinner. That involves many steps: washing vegetables, peeling, chopping, and putting them into a bowl, with the lettuce at the bottom. Research shows that kids who do chores become adults that work well in collaborative groups.

Chores teach kids problem solving skills. Engaging with real-life manipulatives—like sorting socks or setting the table—builds a strong foundation of representational experience and a deep understanding of abstract mathematical concepts.

What are some space-saving strategies when loading the dishwasher? What can be done the night before to make school mornings less rushed? Whenever we choose to work for a later or larger goal, we are modeling the value of delayed gratification.

This might include saving up for a family vacation or making something when it would be easier to buy it. I'm part of a family. I'm part of the workplace. Chores support motor development. I finally gave up and created a printable chore chart that we can print off at the beginning of each week. Life is full of creative adventures.

Download the list and start making creative family memories today! Name Email send me the family fall activity poster! Read this article, the first in this series, on why chores are important: Why Chores are Good for Kids.