Many parents today hire help, thus believing their children don’t need to do chores. Many others do everything themselves because they only require their children to study well, not knowing that doing chores is very good for children.
At what age should children start doing chores?
Many children dislike doing chores, and parents often have to remind and urge them to do so. Some parents believe that when a child doesn’t want to do chores or doesn’t do them properly, it’s faster and more effective to do them themselves. However, parents’ patience in this case is very good for their children.
Children should start doing chores from an early age
Doing chores is a stepping stone and a learning tool that helps children become confident, build resilience, and become independent as they grow older. It also encourages responsibility, teamwork, and work discipline, which are essential in later life. Julie Lythcott-Haims of Stanford University, author of How to Raise an Adult, says: “By getting children to do chores, they will soon realize that they have to do their part in life to be a part of life.”.
Doing chores is not drudgery but has many benefits for children. Research by Marty Rossmann, associate professor of family education at the University of Minnesota, USA, shows that “the best predictor of a young person’s success in their mid-20s was participating in family chores at age 3 or 4. This predictor no longer holds if they do not start doing chores until age 15 or older.
Assigning chores to children from a young age helps them learn responsibility sooner. According to scientists, children who do chores will live better as adults. Family chores also improve children’s health and well-being because they feel involved and play an important role in the household. Seemingly small tasks like clearing the table, folding clothes, cleaning up toys, etc. are, in fact, small building blocks that help shape their independence.
Assign your children appropriate chores according to their age
Children are naturally helpful and want to please others. Parents should take advantage of this enthusiasm and accept that their children will not do chores perfectly, but will improve over time.
Of course, chores should be suitable for the child’s age and not force them to do everything for their parents. While doing chores, children also become proficient in other skills.
Assigning chores according to the child’s age
For children aged 2 to 5: At this age, children can gradually become familiar with personal tasks such as getting dressed and putting away toys. For toddlers, chores help them develop new skills and show them that every task has a beginning, a middle, and an end – show them the process of getting dressed, taking off their clothes, and then putting them in the laundry basket.
Suggested chores: tidying up toys and books, putting laundry in the basket, making their bed, and clearing their plate after eating.
For children aged 6 to 7: At this age, children can participate in more activities around the house. This is a good time to instill in them the importance of teamwork and helping others. Therefore, have your children help you cook, clear the table, make a grocery list, and bring in necessary items from the store.
Suggested chores: helping to prepare meals, grocery shopping, clearing the table, feeding pets, and watering plants.
For children aged 8 to 9: As children get older, they can take on more responsibility, such as managing their belongings. At this time, parents guide their children in organizing their space, bedroom, study desk, toys, and clothes.
Suggested chores: tidying up their belongings, folding and putting away laundry, etc.
For children aged 10 to 11: Now it’s time to let the older children get ready for bigger tasks! At this point, you can give them time-sensitive tasks, like packing their lunch or making breakfast before school.
With children of this age, parents should guide them in planning complex tasks so that they can complete them.
Suggested chores: making breakfast, packing lunch, taking out the trash, taking out the garbage, dusting, vacuuming, etc.
For children aged 12-15: For teenagers, chores can help build a positive self-concept if they feel trusted – or, in other words, treated like adults. Therefore, assigning them age-appropriate chores can motivate them. Parents should teach their children about discipline.
Suggested chores for this age are washing the car, doing laundry, cleaning the yard, mowing the lawn, changing bed linens, mending clothes, washing curtains, etc.
From 16 years old: Preparing for adult life. As teenagers enter their teens, with their inherent abilities and independence, they can now do everything a normal adult can do, including managing money and dealing with emergencies. Suggested chores at this age are shopping, cooking, car maintenance, changing light bulbs, deep cleaning appliances, etc.
Ages 6 to 7: Helping with meal preparation, grocery shopping, clearing the table, feeding pets, watering plants.
Ages 8 to 9: Organizing their belongings, folding and putting away laundry, tidying their bedroom and study area.
Ages 10 to 11: Making breakfast, packing lunch, taking out the trash, dusting, vacuuming.
Ages 12 to 15: Washing the car, doing laundry, cleaning the yard, changing bed linens, mending clothes.
Ages 16 and above: Shopping, cooking, car maintenance, changing light bulbs, deep cleaning appliances, managing money.
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