Doing Chores

Many parents often have a need for their children to help around the house.  Particually families with a number of kids.  Obviously, the more kids the more mess.

This is not an unreasonable expectation and one could argue, necessary expectation.  The problem is that some parents simply expect their children to know what to do as far as chores are concerned, and its a problem because the kids usually do not know what needs to be done, or for that matter, when it needs to be done.

When we are trying to get our kids to start doing the chores, it is important that we skill them up to be able to do them. None of us learnt to drive a car the first time we sat behind the steering wheel. The same applies to kids learning to do chores.

I know it sounds ridiculous when the chore appears so simple, but the reality is that it is not simple for the child! They have no previous experience & no basis of comparison.

Its never to early to teach children to do chores, but it is important to start slowly and gently, and of course, in a positive manner.

Its easiest for all to start simple and make it fun. Cleaning toys is a good example. When you ask your child to clean up the toys, sit down with and help. Make it fun!  Give them lots of encouragement, and praise them for helping putting the toys away.

Some parents make the mistake of castigating the children into doing chores. We have all heard the remark "Why haven't cleaned your room?!"  Unfortunately, this motivates no one and just simply makes the task a burden to keep the parent happy rather than learning responsibility and helping out with the chores.

So,  getting children to carry out chores is one of training, encouragement and motivation. Ridicule and anger have no place in the training regime.

Be aware that the choice of chore should also reflect the ability of the child.  Tidying up a bedroom is one thing, vacuuming and changing bed linen is another!  Also, be aware that a child's sense of timing is often different to that of an adult.  This particularly applies to teenagers, if you are unfortunate enough to have one!  So putting the garbage out in time for pick up can sometimes be beyond the ability of some of our children. There are also those who would argue that this also applies to husbands!

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