Should children do chores? Heck yes! In fact, it should be on the top of the list. Performing chores teaches children important life skills. As parents and teachers, it can be super hard to stand by sometimes while children learn how to help at home or at school. It takes a lot of patience because most of the time the adults can complete the chores faster (and possibly better) than the children. BUT, it is critical that children learn the valuable skills and lessons from helping out around the house or school.
Three Reasons Why Children Should Do Chores
Three Reasons Why Children Should Do Chores
Next time you ask yourself should children do chores here are three reasons why they should.
1. Some research indicated that children who started chores at a young age, grow up to form good relationships with family and friends, to achieve academic and early career success and to be self-sufficient.
2. Children learn empathy when performing chores especially when the chores focus on helping the family or classroom not themselves. They learn that helping others can be rewarding.
3. Children learn to understand and accept responsibility.
Suggestions to Help Children Be Independent
Suggestions to Help Children Be Independent
Here are a few tips to help children be motivated to do their jobs:
Provide positive reinforcement.
Provide positive reinforcement.
Praise for a job well done especially if the jobs are completed without a reminder.
Provide incentives.
Provide incentives.
It may be helpful to provide an allowance or sticker chart to earn a reward after completing chores. There are some fun apps out there that can help motivate children to complete their chores.
Set a good example.
Set a good example.
Remember to do your own chores.
Ask children to be “helpers” versus “to help”.
Ask children to be “helpers” versus “to help”.
Research tells us that parents and teachers can encourage young children to be more helpful by using nouns like helper instead of verbs like helping when making a request of a child.
Use visual reminders and routine.
Use visual reminders and routine.
It can make it easier for children to complete chores when visual reminders are used and the chores are part of the everyday routine. Daily Routine Visual Schedules digital download includes 70+ picture icons for Morning Routines, School Routines, Afternoon Routines and Evening Routines. The pictures are suitable for all ages. This document is in black and white. You can create routine visual schedules for all the children that you teach.
Take the time to teach the actual chores.
Take the time to teach the actual chores.
Children need time to learn how to complete the chores. Provide step by step instructions and allow practice time in order for the children to be completely independent.
With the help of parents and teachers, children will reap the benefits of being independent with chores.
Reference: Wallace, J. Why Children Need Chores. Retrieved from the Wall Street Journal on 3/18/15 at http://www.wsj.com/articles/why-children-need-chores-1426262655
Taken from Your Therapy Source https://www.yourtherapysource.com/blog1/2020/01/08/should-children-do-chores-2/
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