Household Chores

Even though your kids might complain when you tell them to do the dishes or take out the trash, there are positive benefits to giving your children chores that should not be overlooked. Children can learn a lot from doing chores around the house – though they might tell you otherwise. Chores can teach children to be responsible and accountable, give them a sense of purpose, boost their self-esteem, and help them develop a strong work ethic. Chores can also teach life skills like time management, problem solving, planning, and even budgeting – if you give your kids an allowance, they will learn to save and budget to buy that new game or toy they have been asking for. 

Here are some ways to motivate your kids to do chores: 

- Create a chore chart that will help organize and assign chores; visual tools can be very helpful. You can also use a reward chart for when tasks are completed. 

-  You can do chores together in the beginning until they can do them on their own. Doing chores together can also be good bonding time with you and your child(ren).

-  Allow your child(ren) to choose which chore they do, sometimes kids respond better when they can pick their own tasks. 

- Tell them how important their job is 

-  Reward positive behavior when they complete their chores without having to be prompted 

-  Assign age appropriate chores 

Chores help children develop good habits early on that they will need in the future. They will learn to care for themselves, their belongings, and to respect the work that goes into maintaining a household. Though they might snort and groan and say just about anything to get out of it, it will help them build a foundation for success.