Topics:Chores

The Value of Daily Chores
by Shirley M. R. Minster, MS Ed. (c) 2001
Chores are inescapable in an adult’s life. Yet we often see them as a necessary evil rather than as a way to serve others. We put off doing them until the tasks are so overwhelming that we grudgingly complete them or delegate them to other family members who in turn dislike doing them. Our ‘honey do’ list eventually becomes so long that it takes a full day to complete it.

Education in the home is a far-reaching task with many goals.
One is so that the children will be able to manage their homelife successfully.
Another is to be able to serve others and a third is to be responsible adults.
Parents are the best teachers because they understand their offspring and can fit the chores to their children.
When children are taught early how to complete chores well, there will be less friction as they grow up when more complex chores are added.
It is imperative that they understand that each job is important and that the the family depends upon successful completion of the jobs in a timely manner.
Conversely, it is important that they see the results of not doing the chore.
For instance, having the family wait patiently while Bobbie washes the silverware so dinner can be eaten is a good lesson in preparedness. It also teaches patience to other members who may instead prefer to ridicule and express disgust.

Children as young as two years old enjoy helping Mommy, Daddy, or siblings when they are doing the same job.
Make a game of the activity when you are working with your little child.
Sing songs, talk about colors, tell stories about the objects as you put them away. This teaches your child that you enjoy being with her, that ‘many hands make a work light’, and that no chore has to be onerous.
It is not a good idea to reward the child with a prize after completing the daily chore because she will come to expect it. A big thank-you and hug are better.

Choose appropriate activities based upon your child’s size. Don’t expect a little one to be able to wield an adult-sized broom. Instead purchase a toy broom that can be handled easily. Give Junior a child-sized job so he will be able to accomplish it. Discouragement makes a job tedious and may result in its not being completed.

The child’s mental ability must be also considered. Ask yourself if your daughter is old enough to remember to perform the same task daily. To help instill a habit, put a job chart on the refrigerator. Paste a picture of the daily jobs to be done and have stickers nearby so that each time the job is completed, she can sticker it.
Monotonous activities are not fun and can become the cause of arguments, so switch jobs every week.
Any sooner than that makes it difficult for it to become a daily habit and harder to remember.

Physical ability is another consideration. Is your son coordinated enough to lift up the wastebasket to empty it into another container? Perhaps it would be better to give him a plastic bag to drag around the house to dump the trash. He can then drag it to the kitchen so that a parent can take it to the trash outside. If she is not strong enough to carry the laundry basket down to the laundry room, perhaps she could drop the laundry onto a sheet and leave it in a corner of the bathroom for a parent or older sibling to pick up.

The work ethic begins in the home and is best taught by the parents. The act of learning to do chores well is a training ground for adulthood and performing any job well.



Helpful tips for teaching responsibility with chores
Start teaching your child at a young age to be responsible.
Teach your child to pickup after each activity (Enforce this when she asks for something- especially when she is done playing with her toys! (i.e. food, to go out, a movie etc...).
Get children involved in the process of doing chores by allowing them to help with choosing the chores that they feel they can do.
Let your child help place the chart on the refrigerator in a spot where they would like it to go.
Teach children the joy of self-evaluation and a job well done instead of dependence on rewards. Children love the satisfaction of placing the completed stickers on their chart.
Do not do anything for your child that he can do for himself.
Always praise your child for a job well done when a chore is completed! Tell the child "good job!" (Not "good boy"!).
If your child does something on his own (without you asking him to do it) make sure you tell your child that you like when he does this. This will encourage more of this behaviour (cleaning up after himself).
Lee-Bee Homework Tips

Teach children the consequence of their actions. If a child forgets or doesn't finish homework, don't remind your child of the consequences or do it for him. The teacher will discipline him appropriately for not doing it, and thus the child will learn to do his homework!
Divide large tasks into smaller ones. A child is more likely to finish a project or task if he can break it up into smaller tasks. Apply this to book reports, large homework assignment, etc...
Give children specific time limit markers. "You can watch the rest of your show, but then you will need to get dressed".
Let your child help choose scheduling daily chores and homework routine. "Would you like to do your homework straight after school or after your snack?"
Acknowledge children's problems or large tasks and/or homework assignments, then offer to help in a limited way.
Always praise your child with a job well done when she does chores without you reminding her or does her homework on time. (positive reinforcement will encourage more positive behaviour!)
A chore chart is a great way to start teaching your child responsibility. The key to positive motivation is getting children involved with the process! You can make your own chore chart or use a Lee-Bee Chore Chart. We created one for you with 150 reusable chore stickers so that your child can pick and choose from the many common tasks and chores. We also include blank stickers for you and your child to customise your own chores and incentives. Whichever you decide, remember...
Make children's Chores FUN!