How Chores Help Children

One of the best ways to teach children responsibility is to give them chores to do around the house. They don't have to be big chores, and they should be age specific. Along with teaching responsibility, chores help with discipline and growth. Here are some ideas for chores you might want to incorporate into your child's day.

1. Doing the dishes. This chore can be started with younger children. Six and seven year olds can help wash dishes. Just be sure to keep easily breakable items away from them. At this age you can start them with the rinsing and drying aspects. Once they are a little older they can do all of the dish washing activities.

2. Folding their clothes. Young children can be taught how to fold and put up their own clothes. It will take some time and patience, but it is possible. They can also be taught to fold towels and wash rags. This lets them help the whole household and not just themselves.

3. Washing their clothes. This chore is best for pre-teens and teenagers. Teach them how to separate everything out, load the laundry detergent, and all the settings on the washer and dryer.

4. Taking out the trash is a great chore for children. This task can be started at a pretty young age also. Seven and eight year olds can learn to tie up garbage bags and take the trash to the can outside. The size of the bag will have to be taken into consideration of course.

5. Separating recyclable items is another chore children can help with. This goes along with doing the trash, in that they have to separate everything out first. Start teaching this one young as it will benefit them the rest of their lives.

6. Cleaning their own bathroom is something every teenager should be doing. The age at which you start your child with this chore will depend on their maturity level. The child needs to understand how to handle the cleaning chemicals in a safe manner before doing this chore. There will need to be supervision and reinforcement involved with this one. Show the child how to do a proper job and then check back and make sure it's correct. It should only take a few times for them to get it down pat.

7. Mowing the yard is another good chore for kids. Children that are eight and above can begin mowing the yard with adult supervision. Make sure to go over all safety aspects fully.

8. Keeping their room clean and neat should be a priority for all children. Teach your children to pick up after themselves as soon as they start playing. Follow through after that by teaching them how to make their bed. When they are older they should dust and vacuum their own room also.

9. Feeding and taking care of pets is a chore that children should learn from a very young age. Teaching a young child how to care for an animal is an easy chore that kids will actually enjoy. They will like knowing they are helping a "friend".

10. Checking the mail is a simple chore that children can start at a very young age. Even four and five year olds can go to the mailbox if it's not next to a very busy street.

As you can see, these are common everyday tasks. They won't be hard for children to learn or accomplish. These chores will help your child learn responsibility for themselves and others. Doing chores also helps children learn that everything in life isn't free; that we have to work for some things. They will get satisfaction from a job well done and grow as a person. Implement chores into your child and teenagers life. It will be good for everyone involved.