No parent should ever have to live out their life as a permanent maid or butler for their children. Any child should be capable of helping their parents out when it comes to common household chores. For parents struggling with finding the right way to do so, this post will provide a breakdown of how to simplify the process and tips to keep kids engaged.
Framing The Chores Correctly
While it can be a challenge for many children to accept more responsibility around the house, it’s imperative for parents to inspire their children to do so however they know how. Often times they will have to overcome the fact that many kids perceive chores in a negative light. They don’t understand the purpose of chores and how important they are in maintaining a healthy home.
It’s imperative for parents to stray away from cleaning as a punishment at a young age. This is the prime motivator for children to disassociate with these types of tasks. Meaning if parents hope to keep their children willing to help, they should find other ways of effective punishment. This is exacerbated if one child is punished while their sibling is not.
Often times what can be helpful is breaking down which chores are most appropriate for your children based on their age-group:
Age Appropriate Chores
While some younger children will be exempt from these tasks, It’s important for parents to let their children know that these chores are the types of task that are expected of them to help maintain a home’s clean status. Many parents go the route of chore charts to split up tasks by their children per week. Each week, the chart would shift, allowing each child a chance at a different chore the following week. Sure, some chores might be easier than others, but that gives children something to look forward to.
Chores for Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers
- Returning their toys to their storage bins
- Pour pet food into bowls from smaller cups (with adult supervision)
- Help a parent or older sibling make the bed
Chores for Elementary School Kids
- Clean spills and messes
- Placing utensils and plates around the table before meals
- Tending to household plants
- Washing dishes
- Sweeping floors
- Helping younger siblings with their tasks
Finding A Healthy Balance For Your Kids
While it can be enticing as a parent to pass along all of the household chores onto your kids, it’s all about finding the right balance to make sure responsibility is being shared evenly throughout the home. Always be sure to thank your children for the work that they do around the house, as providing this sort of positive reinforcement can set your children down a path of doing chores just for the sake of doing them. For more information on how to find the perfect balance for getting children involved in household chores, be sure to continue reading on to the infographic paired alongside this post. Courtesy of Carpet Cleaning Group.
