Tips On Giving the Kids Chores

I recently visited my sister's home and noticed a long list of chores posted on the refrigerator. I was surprised to find out from my niece that those chores were posted as her to-do list. The number and types of chores wasn't what was surprising to me. The surprise was the fact that she had a list of chores at all. The last time I visited, I asked my sister what chores her kids have to do and she said they didn't have any. So I was surprised to see the turnaround in the situation.

My belief is that giving kids a list of chores to do helps them to understand responsibility. It teaches them that it is important to help out around the house and helps them to appreciate the work that their parents put in to take care of them. Besides, it makes things easier for the parent by saving time and by giving their children something to occupy them.

My daughter doesn't do chores...yet. She's only three months old, so obviously she isn't even capable of doing chores. But my wife and I have already started thinking about the small things the she can start doing when she gets a little older. In thinking about chores for your child, keep in mind a few simple things.

Remember to keep your perfectionism to yourself. Keep in mind that your kids are just starting to do the things that you've been doing for years. It's unreasonable to expect that they will do it perfectly. They might miss a couple of stuffed animals when picking up their toys or mis-match some socks when helping you fold the laundry. Allow them to make mistakes, and still tell them how great they did. You can always encourage them to do it better next time.

Start out with simple tasks. You obviously shouldn't have your 4 year old go mow the lawn. Keep the tasks appropriate to their abilities. Even smaller kids can handle cleaning up after playing with their toys, but only older kids will be able to do more difficult tasks like dusting or sweeping. You know your kids and their abilities. Just use your judgment and assign tasks according to your knowledge of your kids.

Don't even bother with "toy chores." You've seen the toys that look like vacuum cleaners, right? Well why not just let your child actually clean? Let them try the vacuum cleaner or the sweeper. You might be surprised at how well they do. Just be sure to supervise for the first few times to make sure they are careful. This will show your child that you have confidence in her. And it'll motivate her even more to do her chores.

Be careful with household cleaners. You probably shouldn't use cleaners that give off toxic fumes in the first place. But if you are going to have your kids help with the cleaning, make sure you use non-toxic cleaners. These days, there are many environmentally friendly and non-toxic cleaners to choose from. They may be a little more costly (although they are becoming more and more reasonable), but your family's health is worth it...and that includes you.

Above all, have fun with it. Enjoy watching your little one help you...and wanting to help you. When they become teenagers, they may complain about their chores. But then again, if you've started them early and trained them well maybe they won't mind so much!