What do you suppose is one of the most impossible things to get your children to do?
Doing chores, without a doubt.
All those Ethan Hunt stunts, like jumping off the cliff on a bike or climbing the Burj Khalifa, look doable compared to getting them to do the chores at home.
Why is it so difficult for them to do these willingly when there’s so much to learn from them?
1. Practical way to learn life skills.
It’s learning hands-on about the day-to-day activities. By helping around in the house, they’ll realise what it takes to run a house.
From taking out the garbage to laying the table to cleaning their room, each activity needs to be done by someone.
By getting involved and helping around they learn about these mundane, everyday activities. It will prepare them for when they move out of the house.
2. Accountability and responsibility.
Regularly doing the assigned chores, builds accountability. Since they have to do that chore, it’s their responsibility to complete it. And if they don’t do it, there are consequences. Someone else has to do it instead.
Whether they do it themselves or get someone else (like their siblings) to do it, it becomes their responsibility to complete it.
Children have to develop this sense of accountability to understand their responsibilities.
3. Building habits.
When the parents decide on who does which chores, they’re establishing a schedule for every family member to follow. This helps develop disciplined habits. And good habits form the foundation of a wholesome personality.
Children will have to make sure they do their share of the chores regularly. Eventually over time it becomes a part of their personality, helping them to become better people.
Doing the chores regularly will become a part of their daily routine. This teaches them about consistency.
4. Managing and prioritising.
It teaches them about time management. And if they can learn this, half their problems (and ours!) will disappear.
They have to do the chores so they need to figure out how to organise their schedule to include all their activities.
Do they clear the dishes in the night or before leaving for school?
Do they want to keep the garbage out at night or in the morning?
Do they lay at the table before sitting down to study or before dinner time?
It also teaches them about prioritising their various tasks. Homework and activities have to be balanced along with the chores.
5. Family time.
Doing chores ensures they are involved in the family affairs.
It’s a frequent complaint about how the children are often so self-absorbed and indifferent, that they expect to be looked after but will not help.
This can be handled by giving them appropriate chores. After all, it’s a home and each family member matters. And since it’s not a motel or a B&B, they need to pitch in.
Chores are not forced labour designed to torment the children. They are lessons on life skills. By involving children in the chores, you’re ensuring they remain connected to the family. Parents must insist on the children helping with the chores.
Of course, you’ve to be ready for the constant haggling between siblings about exchanging chores or one snitching about the other not doing their bit. Or even maintain a record of how many times one has done their job and the other hasn’t! That will surely train them to become excellent supervisors and managers (another skill acquired)!
But it’s a small price to pay if they learn the essential life skills at home before stepping out.
