Some of us learn about responsibility much later on in our lives, others much earlier.
We’re often told by our parents to clean our rooms, or to fold our clothes, or to put our toys away when we’re done playing with them. And we may not necessarily enjoy doing those things.
Some parents may think that their kids are too young to do chores. Well, that depends on how old they are.
If your kids are able to walk and talk and accomplish simple tasks without supervision, then they are probably equipped to handle more challenging chores.
Chores that can actually help lighten your load as a parent going forward.
But the benefit of giving responsibilities to children don’t just end with the parents.
Having duties will also benefit the children themselves.
The Importance of Giving Your Children Responsibilities
There are many benefits to entrusting your child with tasks.
Having responsibilities in the household helps children achieve as sense of accomplishment, something that everyone craves as they grow up.
The act of completing something can actually be addictive, because our brain enjoys the dopamine that results from the feeling of success.
Doing chores also invokes as sense of belonging.
Your kids will feel like they’re actually contributing to the happiness and wellbeing of the family.
Knowing that their parents entrust them with important chores also greatly boosts their self-esteem and confidence.
Not only that, children who do a healthy amount of chores are also less likely to grow up entitled and narcissistic.
They won’t grow up expecting people to do things for them, or to have an easy life all the time. Which is a good lesson to learn early on before becoming a full-grown adult.
Less entitlement also equals more independence.
You’re more self-reliant on your abilities and knowledge to solve problems, achieve your goals and complete tasks.
Chores also let your kids learn important life skills, skills that we may take for granted. Like doing the laundry, cleaning our house, and cooking.
The following are some good chores to give your kids if they’re ages 2 years and up.
Age-Appropriate Responsibilities to Entrust Your Children With
Cleaning the House
You can start off my letting them clean their own rooms or maybe just their bed.
This is good for younger toddlers.
But as your child grows older, they can move on to clean the rest of their room and even a small part of the house. Like the living room, the toilet or the porch.
If you have more than one children, you can designate different parts of the house for each child.
This way, you can avoid favouritism.
And don’t forget to switch things up every so often.
Watering the Garden
It’s a great opportunity to delegate chores for your kids if you have a garden.
Watering plants, for instance, is such an easy task that any child can do with barely any supervision.
You can start by asking them to water the indoor plants first, and then the plants on the left side of the house. Before giving them full responsibility to water all of them.
Washing the Dishes
A good way to entrust responsibilities is to let your child wash the dishes.
They can start by washing their own dishes after they’ve finished eating.
When they’re older, you can let them help wash up after you’re done cooking, for instance.
There may even come a time when your kids will start cooking for themselves. And they need to be responsible for washing the pots and pans that they use.
You can also ask them to help clear out the sink after parties and events where lots of cutlery are used.
Feeding the Pets
If you have a pet dog or cat, asking your children to feed them is a great responsibility for them to learn.
Plus, it’s simple. Just top up the kibbles, and their drinking water. and it’s done.
They can also be in charge of regularly washing the feeding bowls.
When they’re a little older, they can perhaps deal with the pet litter or grooming.
Establishing Trust and Teaching Responsibility
Now that we know the benefits of chores for our children, we should still remember – everything in moderation.
For one thing, you may not necessarily want to bombard their day with dozens of chores. Especially if they’re young and new to the concept of responsibility.
Just one or two to start of is enough. Sort of like a probation.
And if they excel, you can slowly add more.
It’s also important to always give kids positive reinforcement, even if they don’t do it perfectly each time.
You can always point out areas of improvement later on.
It also helps that you show them the ropes when they’re just starting out.
Don’t just delegate a mountain of tasks and expect them to get it right the first time, or even every time.
So, try out these chores with your kids, and they’ll grow up to be humble, independent, young adults that any parent would be proud to have.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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