It’s Not A Chore At All!

It’s Not A Chore At All!

There are many good reasons why parents should enlist the help of your little ones in the house.

Over and above getting some relief or for the children to learn and contribute a share for the family, chores help them to learn responsibility and lessons about life.

Parents can start to assign some simple chores to their children when they are three or four years old e.g. putting away the toys.

They may messed things up even more or take a long time to do a chore but this is essential for them to start learning to be a team player.

According to “More Than a Chore: Getting Things Done the Right Way” by Family Education, children will learn that a job well done is a reward on its own, and praises from parents or any other rewards e.g. going out to play are secondary benefits. 

In short, they will learn to possess an inner drive to do well rather than be dependent on external motivation.

In the same article, it is also explained that children will learn to delay gratification e.g. by doing their chores first before they can go out to play.

Learning to delay gratification is ranked by John Gray, PhD, in Children Are from Heaven, one of the "essential life skills".

Sounds great isn’t it? So now, here are some tips to help get your child started:

1. Be positive. This will help encourage your child to adopt the same attitude. 
2. Be fair. Hold a family meeting to discuss and assign chores to all family members. Where possible, do take into consideration individual preference.
3. Be participative & creative. Do some chores together with your child and make it fun by e.g. singing together while working. This can be a good bonding time too!
4. Be consistent. Set a schedule and help your child to work at the chores regularly.
5. Be realistic.  Everyone has his/ her own ways of doing things, even for the children. Avoid criticism or worse, jumping in to do the chore when it is not done the way preferred.
6. Be encouraging. Praising will help your child to feel appreciated and work at his/ her chores more willingly.

Reference Source: More Than a Chore: Getting Things Done the Right Way by Family Education