Are you struggling with getting your kids to do their chores around the house? Would you like them to help a little more than they already do?
Then this post is for you.
Believe it or not, kids in most ages benefit greatly from participating in chores around the house, as it makes them realize they are part of the life within the family. They will grow up feeling important, and they will learn how to be part of a community, no matter how big it is.
In this article you’ll get useful tips and tricks to motivate kids in most ages to do their chores, no matter if they’re big or small.
Little Kids Are Naturally Enthusiastic
From toddlers to preschoolers, this is the easiest age when it comes to motivation. Kids this age are naturally enthusiastic, and they love to pitch in and imitate their parents. They want to carry that one gallon of milk in their own little shopping cart while doing grocery shopping, but as a parent you should never belittle their efforts, but instead encourage them and praise them for helping with even the smallest tasks. This lays a great foundation, and kids are more likely to continue helping out as they grow older.
Elementary Schoolers Take a Bit of Patience
This is where it gets crucial. Kids between 6 and 9 years are still eager to help, and they want to take on more difficult chores around the house. They will usually love to participate in peeling potatoes, water the plants, carry groceries, etc., but they might take considerably longer to finish a small task, and they might not always be able to do it without one or more flaws along the way. But this is where you as a parent need to be very patient, and accept that their level of efficiency is not as high as yours. Over time they will get better and better at most tasks, so this is a great and very important step, when developing their skills.
Make Your Middle Schoolers Proactive
This is where you start feeling a noticeable difference from just doing what they are told, to being proactive and contributing on their own. It might take a bit of practice, but from this age they are perfectly able to learn how to contribute on their own, instead of waiting for you to put them to work.
Teach your middle schoolers to always look around, seek new tasks, and being proactive. It will serve them great later on, as it is a natural part of contributing to a community, a team or between a group of coworkers.
As an added help for kids this age, you should consider buying proper equipment so they can easily help you around the house. A great place to start is picking a vacuum cleaner they can handle on their own, which is most likely a small canister vacuum or ditto upright vacuum. For more information or inspiration, you can check out sites like Reviuu.com or similar.
Teenagers Should Not Be Shielded from Chores
Some parents tend to “protect” their teenagers from what they consider difficult or laborious tasks, like assembling a piece of furniture or painting their own rooms. And that’s actually a shame, because when kids become teenagers, they are taking their first steps towards independence and self-reliance, and putting together a piece of furniture, painting their own rooms, or even mowing the lawn are important life skills, that should not be taken for granted. As young adults they need to figure out how to do things on their own, and while they are still teenagers, this is a great opportunity for you as a parent to letting them accomplish things on their own, well knowing that you are always there to help when needed.
The Benefits of Kids Doing Chores Around the House
Making your kids pitch in and do chores around the house is highly beneficial for the entire family, as you get more time together instead of creating an imbalanced relationship where some family members relax all day and get up late, while others work hard to do most of the chores on their own.
Doing the chores together as a family can also be considered quality time, as it gives you more time to communicate, talk about school, relationships, or the upcoming seasons. There’s most likely always something to talk about, and this is where you as a family will benefit from having everyone pitching in and doing their part.
0 Comments