This was doing it’s rounds on Facebook recently – if you have some spare time read the comments – you will find everything that is wrong with the world in a few of the more negative comments.
Much to the older kids protest, they actually do (or are able to do) almost all of the stuff that is age appropriate for them here. In fact, Cameron in particular has done nearly all the things on the 12 and older list, even the ironing.
There are so many reasons why chores are such an important part of growing up. It is not only about helping out but also about learning how to do things yourself. Kiara can cook a mean mince dish from scratch, she can cut the onions, fry everything, add herbs etc. Cameron can make french toast, scrambled eggs and a few others meals. If they learn nothing else, by the time they leave home they will both be able to cook for themselves. Their chores are teaching them independence, responsibility and confidence. They are also learning how to be part of a team where every piece is important and when one piece stops working, the rest of the pieces can’t work as well.
Chores aren’t about making your child “work” or punishing them, they are a vital part of parenting and if you do not insist your child has chores you are doing them a great disservice!
Do your children do chores? Do they match up to this list? Did you have to do chores?
(PS – I see the value of chores but as a single mom I was very inconsistent about ensuring they happened, David is largely responsible for the current involvement of the children in the household daily chores)
10 Responses
That’s so good about the cooking especially! I also left my mother’s house able to cook well! I take chores very seriously, and kids are happy to be involved. We recently got a dog, and the kids are happy to do everything for him other than pick up his poo! They are disgusted by this chore! lol!
I love seeing you grow. You are my favourite, favourite. David aren’t find behind.
I totally agree that it’s not ‘work’ it about life-skills and becoming independent and self-sufficient!
My children do loads of chores.
We have a domestic 3x a week to help us with major cleaning and laundry etc. But day to day stuff we share and they are very helpful and capable. Quinn is entirely responsible swimming pool maintenance now, Griffin waters the garden and feed the pets, both help with cooking and packing the dishes etc.
Quinn can cook brilliantly and I think he could make anything he wanted to now, Griff only does simple things so far, but can certainly feed himself the basics.
As a child for a long time we had no domestic and I had to scrub bathrooms, vacuum, clean windows etc. And the usual stuff like making beds, laying and clearing tables, dishes, closing curtains at night etc.
My children always had chores….and they were clever because we also had a domestic worker that was more like family…and she always covered for them.
you know mine have chores. yes they can do all of those on the list… but I don’t disinfect doorknobs 🙂
My mother actually didn’t make us do anything. Her thing was that our “job” was to study and do well, and I did………….. but I left home useless. D and I knew nothing and we lived on eggs and burgers, etc. for about a year before I said, ‘that’s it. I have to learn to cook” 🙂
I do have an innate need for order and cleanliness so the house stuff I took to like a duck to water!
Chores teach kids about responsibility and accountability. By the time I was 8 I could cook basic things. And it was the same with all my siblings. We had help but my mom always reminded us the help was for the adults and not the kids so she made us do house work which at the time I thought was a mean thing to do to kids but as I got older I realise she was getting us ready for the future.
Me and my husband also believes that our children should do chores as this teach them valuable life lessons. We believe that chores teach them how to take care of themselves and be a grown up adult one day which will be able to take care of themselves.
The chore list in in your post does not correspond to what my son can do according to his age. You know because of his ADHD, so he is a bit behind but he will get to these things 🙂
N does all of her age appropriate things…but not all of the time.
I did chores growing up. I also believe if you can’t do what your helper does, you won’t truly value her!
I fully agree with you!! Jada cleans the house – from sweeping and mopping the floors to dusting surfaces and making sure everything is in place. She is responsible for feeding the dogs and taking dry washing off the line. She also packs and unpacks her own school bag and makes her own bed up (amongst other things)
Tori currently only gives the dogs water, tidies after herself and helps her sister here & there.