Keeping the Castle - Housekeeping & Homemaking Tips

Kids and Household Chores

by Maricar on July 8th, 2005

Beyond learning how to cook and clean, which are great life skills in themselves, there are a lot of benefits in letting kids help around the house. When we were kids, my parents gave my siblings and myself little chores to do. Starting with something as simple as keeping our study tables neat, we eventually graduated to helping with meals, buying groceries, and even cleaning out the refrigerator. I will admit that I did not always accept these responsibilities with cheerfulness (I was just a kid, after all). But I’ve come to realize just how valuable these skills are. All four of us siblings, 2 brothers included, know how to run a household with some success. We’ve learned how to budget both time and money in order to keep a home functioning. When I left home, my parents didn’t have to worry that I would starve from lack of cooking skills, or that my dwelling place would be overrun with dirt and clutter. The training I got is something that still benefits me and, now, my own family

Mark Brandenburg, in his article “Give Your Kids Chores!” says that parents who let their kids perform even simple chores do much for their self-esteem, confidence and sense of responsibility. He cites research done by Marty Rossman at the University of Minnesota:

The startling results of the study were that the young adults who had participated in household chores when they were ages 3 and 4 were more successful as adults than those who didn’t. Specifically, these young adults were more likely to complete their education, get a good start on a career, develop adult relationships and avoid the use of drugs.

That’s a pretty powerful connection between early participation in maintaining a home and later success in life. I’ll never know all the effects of having been assigned chores as a young child, but I do know I’ve benefited tremendously from that early training.

Get your children involved in maintaining your home. They will thank you for it later.

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