How many times have you wondered if it’s right to give your children chores? After all, it’s our responsibility as parents to take care of our kids and make sure they have a wonderful childhood. Asking your children to help out around the house is one of the best things you’ll ever do for them. Who here thinks children need chores to be successful in life? Read on.
Why Our Children Need Chores To Be Successful in Life
Chores are your children’s first lessons on responsibility. It’s where they learn some of the life skills that they will carry for the rest of their lives. And these aren’t mere “assumptions,” – these are facts.
Researchers of a famous 75-year Harvard study that examined childhood psychological variables and biological processes concluded that the majority of the people who were given chores as kids ended up happier and more successful later in life.
So how does clearing the table, mowing the lawn, and all those routine chores contribute to a child’s future well-being? These points should give you an idea.
Chores hone thinking and analytical skills
Some tasks are more complex than others. When you ask your children to do something that they might find challenging, you trigger their brains to think and learn how to deal with the task at hand. They have to plan, decide, contemplate their mistakes, and sometimes go back to square one to accomplish what was asked of them. Suffice to say, kids with better analytical skills become efficient in tackling problems when they’re older.
Related: Teaching My Son Responsibility with Money(Opens in a new browser tab)
Chores build self-confidence
What does doing the dishes or washing the car have anything to do with these young ones’ self-esteem? A lot. Imagine a ten-year-old kid who washed his dad’s car for the first time. Accomplishing that task must have felt like a milestone for him.
They may not always show it, but most children feel a sense of pride and competence when they finish a chore. It makes them feel capable.
Chores improve motor skills
Growing children are still in the process of developing their gross and fine motor skills, and doing chores require plenty of that. Whether it’s rearranging furniture, dusting the shelves, or helping you cook and bake; taking part in household activities is an opportunity for them to tune up and practice control of their motor skills.
Related: How to Help Your Child Focus in School(Opens in a new browser tab)
Chores help develop social skills
Let your kids work on tasks together whenever possible, so they get a sense of what it feels like to do something with a team. Group chores teach children how to share, contribute ideas, and communicate with other people. Such activities also provide valuable insight into the importance of teamwork and cooperation, which will hopefully inspire them to become good citizens in the future.
Well, it turns out that creating a downloadable chore chart for kids to follow is the best possible way to teach them responsibility.
For parents, there’s nothing more rewarding than to witness your children succeeding in life. But remember that you have an active role in this success. The attainment of whatever career or endeavor they may wish to pursue depends on how you build their character as they grow. Instilling discipline, dedication, and determination while they’re young will make their future brighter.
Do you think children need chores to be successful in life? I’d love to hear what you think.
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I totally agree! This teaches so much responsibility for now and future as adults!
I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with this! I love it. Thank you so much for sharing this information with your readers.
You’re Welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
I love this! We also use chores to teach about finances. I think our kids are better at savings then us lol
Saving money is so so hard. Teach them while they are young…and maybe they’ll do it when the’re older – MAYBE!!
And a good sense of responsibility! Great article that I’m happy you’ve written (well thought out) and shared!
Thank you. It’s so important to be shared.
This is so impressive, I’ve never thought why kids needed chores
Yep, chores help kids be responsible too.
This is such a good post that I am going to link to it in one of my posts about a chore chart system. Excellent information here!
I’d love that. Please share with me when you do. Thanks
Nathan has to gather his dirty laundry, put his clean laundry away, clean his room, help clean the chicken coop, clean up after himself around the house and help with the weekly grocery list. He helps decide what meals we eat will eat and I tell him what we need and he writes the list.
Connor has to help clean his room (him and Hunter share a room), clean up after himself around the house, gather his dirty laundry, help me sort the laundry and Connor and Hunter feed the dogs.
Hunter helps clean his room, gather his dirty laundry, clean up his mess around the house and helps unload the dishwasher (mostly plastic bowls and silverware).
Connor and Hunter have Garmin Vivofit Jr activity watches and it has an app that I’m able to check off when they’ve completed their tasks. I’ve also added things like Brush Teeth AM and PM, Reading time, etc..things that are not chores but that are expected of them. They can keep track of their virtual coins on their watch then “cash them in” for small prizes or allowance. Nathan earns an allowance. We struggle with what’s and fair allowance so we asked Nathan and he said $5-$1 week so we compromised on $7/week, paid weekly.
WOW, and what does Abby do? Just kidding. We don’t pay Brody. He has started putting his clean close up…but you should see his drawers!! Yikes