In many households, chores are often seen as a boring necessity, and usually most of them tend to fall to the mom. This can be a challenge, especially for moms or parents who work full-time. A great way to prevent moms and parents from getting overwhelmed by these tasks, is to get your kids involved. When children participate in household chores, they’re not just learning how to wash dishes, fold clothes, or vacuum the floor; they’re developing crucial life skills that will serve them well into adulthood. I’m not talking about doing chores in exchange for a monetary allowance. What I mean is that kids should be involved in helping out around the house so they can become responsible, capable adults. It should be an expected part of their daily lives.
Involving your kids in chores can build a foundation for responsibility, teamwork, and self-sufficiency.
One of the most significant benefits of kids helping with chores is the sense of responsibility it fosters.
When children are assigned tasks and expected to complete them, they learn to manage their time and understand the consequences of their actions. Whether it’s folding laundry, setting the table, or cleaning up their own messes, these activities teach kids that their contributions matter and that they have a role in the smooth running of the household. Obviously this starts gradually, depending on your child’s age. One of the first tasks I instilled into my children was picking up their toys. It was always something they did before bed, when they were old enough to do so. From that point on, my kids have almost always cleaned up their messes without being asked. They still need some guidance and reminders once in a while, but for the most part, a sense of responsibility has been instilled into them from a young age. I have always feared the tween and teenage years because the stereotype is that they are messy and their rooms are a complete disaster. Thankfully, I have yet to experience this because the majority of the time, their rooms are clean and tidy. They are responsible kids.
Another benefit of kids helping out around the house is that it strengthens collaboration and communication skills.
Kids learn to work as a team when they help with shared tasks, such as cooking a family meal or doing the laundry. This collaborative environment helps children understand the value of working together, communicating effectively, and supporting each other. The ability to work well with others is crucial in many aspects of life. Some great examples are group projects in school and working as a team in a professional setting for a future job. The ability to work well with others is such an important skill. When we have shared family tasks, it also saves time and relieves stress, especially on the mom, so that tasks don’t fall solely on her. Moms are typically the ones who usually keep the household running, so having help from the rest of the family is such a relief. As a family, we often tackle cleaning the house, laundry, and kitchen tasks (cooking and cleaning up) as a family. We all know exactly what our roles are and we can knock out basic, everyday tasks very quickly. On a normal day, nobody complains about it because they simply know that it’s much easier on everyone if we all work together, communicate, and cooperate as a team.
Chores and household tasks can also help with problem solving and developing independence.
I always tell my kids, “Don’t be a problem creator, be a problem solver.” Sometimes my daughter will take out a week’s worth of clothes and will have them laying on her bed, over her chair and on the floor. I love watching her figure out how to put it all back without my help. Sometimes she even gets creative and folds her clothes a different way or puts them in a different place because it makes more sense to her. My son has a ton of fishing gear and golf gear in our garage, and sometimes it gets out of hand. I refuse to help clean it up because it’s not my mess. Again, he has to figure out a way to clean it up. Both of my kids tend to have a sense of pride when they figure out solutions and show off what they did to “clean up.” Seeing them take pride in their problem-solving reinforces their independence and boosts their confidence. I believe that this will better equip them to take on any challenge they face in the future.
By participating in household responsibilities at an early age, kids develop essential life skills that contribute to their overall growth and success. From fostering a strong sense of responsibility to enhancing problem-solving abilities, chores are more than just tasks. They are valuable opportunities for learning and development that will help prepare them for the real world. My kids have this instilled into them so that I often do not have to ask for them to help. They will take out the trash if it’s full, they clean up after themselves after a meal, and if their room gets messy, they will clean it up. Sometimes they may ask for help, and that’s ok.
