importance of chores essay

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The Importance of Chores

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Published: Mar 20, 2024

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Responsibility and accountability, contribution to household and community, development of essential life skills, psychological and emotional well-being.

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The Importance of Chores for Kids

• Preschoolers
• School-Age Kids

Sometimes parents wonder if they should really give their kids chores. After all, isn't it the parents' responsibility to manage the household? And don't kids need an opportunity to 'just be kids' for now because they have the rest of their lives to worry about chores?

Most kids have really busy schedules too. They rush around from one activity to the next with little time to clean the house or mow the lawn . Despite those concerns, however, giving your child chores may be one of the most important things you'll ever do.

Kids who do chores learn responsibility and gain important life skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Benefits Kids Gain from Doing Chores

While assigning your kids chores can certainly take some of the strain off you, that's not the only reason you should expect your kids to pitch in around the house. Studies show chores are good for children.

Research from a well-known 75-year Harvard study examined the childhood psychosocial variables and biological processes that predicted health and well-being later in life.   Researchers concluded that kids who had chores fared better later in life.

Chores were the best predictor of which kids were more likely to become happy, healthy, independent adults.  

Why is sweeping the floor and clearing the table so important to kids' well-being in life? One reason is that kids feel competent when they do their chores. Whether they're making their bed or they're sweeping the floor, helping out around the house helps kids feel capable.

Doing chores also helps kids feel like they're part of the team. Pitching in and helping family members is good for them and it encourages them to be good citizens.

Chores for Preschoolers

Preschool children can be given simple chores that involve picking up after themselves. Chores should include picking up their toys each day. They can also begin to learn how to pick up their room and put their dishes away after a meal.

Young children respond well to sticker charts to help remind them to do their chores.

Because preschoolers usually can’t read, a chart with pictures of each chore can jog their memory about what they need to be doing. After your child completes a chore, put a sticker on the chart. For young children, the sticker can be a good incentive. Older children may need bigger rewards to stay motivated.

Chores for School-Age Children

Once children begin attending school, their responsibility with chores should increase as well. School-age children should continue to do chores that involve picking up after themselves. For example, teach your kids to put their shoes and backpacks away when they get home from school.

Gradually add new chores to your child's chore list. As chores become more complex, teach them in a step-by-step manner how to do each task.

For example, if a child is expected to put his own clothes away, teach him where to put the clothes and discuss your expectations. Praise his effort and encourage him to keep practicing. Don’t expect perfection.

Chores for Tweens

Tweens can start learning how to take on more responsibility. Cleaning the bathroom, sweeping the floors, and dusting might be some of the tasks you add to your child's to-do list.

There's no need to reward a tween for every task they complete. Picking up after himself and cleaning his room, for example, are part of pitching in and helping the family.

Paying your tween an allowance for doing extra chores can be a good way to start teaching your child financial responsibility.

If you don't want to pay your tween real money, create a token economy system . Let your tween earn tokens that can be exchanged for time with electronics or outings with friends.

Chores for Teenagers

Teenagers need chores that will prepare them for the real world. Assign chores such as meal preparation, mowing the lawn, or doing the laundry. These life skills will be important after high school so your teen can live independently.

Giving your teen an allowance can motivate him to do chores. It can also serve as a way to teach your teen about how to manage money.

Make an allowance system similar to the way your teen will earn money at a job. Provide payment one time per week. Don't give out any loans and don't hand out money if your teen hasn't earned it.

George E. Vaillant; Charles C. McArthur; and Arlie Bock, 2010, " Grant Study of Adult Development, 1938-2000 ", Harvard Dataverse,V4. doi:10.7910/DVN/48WRX9

Albernaz A. Sparing chores spoils children and their future selves, study says . The Boston Globe. December 8, 2015. https://www.bostonglobe.com.

Harvard Medical News:  Sparing chores spoils children and their future selves, study says .

• Michigan State University Extension: Benefits of Kids Doing Chores .

By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, an international bestselling author of books on mental strength and host of The Verywell Mind Podcast. She delivered one of the most popular TEDx talks of all time.

Essay on Household Chores

Students are often asked to write an essay on Household Chores in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Household Chores

Introduction to household chores.

Household chores are tasks we do to keep our homes clean and organized. These tasks include cleaning, cooking, washing clothes, and many more. Everyone in the family can help with these tasks. Doing chores is important because it teaches responsibility and helps keep our homes nice and tidy.

Types of Household Chores

There are many types of household chores. Some chores, like dusting and sweeping, are done to keep the house clean. Others, like cooking and washing dishes, are done to prepare meals. We also do chores like laundry and taking out the trash.

Benefits of Doing Chores

Doing chores has many benefits. It teaches us how to take care of our things. It also helps us learn to work as a team when we do chores with others. Plus, doing chores can make us feel good because we are helping our family.

In conclusion, household chores are important tasks that help keep our homes clean and organized. Doing these chores can teach us many valuable skills, like responsibility and teamwork. So, let’s all do our part in keeping our homes clean!

250 Words Essay on Household Chores

What are household chores.

Household chores are tasks we do to keep our homes clean and tidy. They include activities like washing dishes, cleaning the house, cooking, doing laundry, and taking care of the garden.

Importance of Household Chores

Household chores are very important. They help us keep our homes clean and safe. A clean home is healthy and comfortable to live in. Chores also teach us responsibility and discipline. When we complete our chores, we learn to take care of our things and spaces.

Sharing Chores in a Family

In a family, everyone should help with chores. This way, the work is not too much for one person. Parents can do the harder tasks, while children can help with simpler ones. For example, children can help set the table or tidy up their toys.

Learning New Skills

Doing chores can also teach us new skills. For example, cooking can teach us about different foods and how to prepare them. Laundry can teach us how to take care of our clothes so they last longer.

The Joy of Completing Chores

Even though chores can sometimes feel boring, there is joy in completing them. When we finish a task, we can feel proud of our work. We can see the results immediately, like a clean room or a cooked meal.

In conclusion, household chores are an important part of our daily lives. They keep our homes clean, teach us responsibility and new skills, and can even bring us joy.

500 Words Essay on Household Chores

Introduction.

Household chores are tasks that we do to keep our homes neat and tidy. These chores include cleaning, cooking, washing dishes, doing laundry, and many more. They are part of our daily life and play a vital role in maintaining a healthy and organized environment.

There are many types of household chores. Cleaning chores involve sweeping and mopping the floors, dusting furniture, and cleaning windows. Kitchen chores include cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning the kitchen. Laundry chores involve washing, drying, and folding clothes. Outdoor chores might include gardening, mowing the lawn, or washing the car. Each chore has its importance and helps in keeping the house clean and organized.

Benefits of Household Chores

Doing household chores has many benefits. First, it helps to keep our surroundings clean and hygienic, which is good for our health. Second, it teaches us responsibility and discipline as we need to complete these tasks regularly. Third, chores can be a great way to exercise and stay fit. For example, sweeping the floor or mowing the lawn can be a good workout. Lastly, doing chores can also help us to learn new skills like cooking or gardening, which can be useful in our life.

Sharing Household Chores

Household chores should not be the responsibility of one person. They should be shared among all family members. This not only divides the work but also helps in building teamwork and cooperation. For example, parents can cook and clean, while children can help in setting the table or washing dishes. This way, everyone contributes to the household work and it becomes less burdensome for one person.

Chores as a Learning Experience

Doing household chores can be a great learning experience, especially for children. It teaches them the importance of cleanliness and hygiene. It also instills a sense of responsibility and discipline in them. They learn to manage their time effectively as they need to balance their chores and other activities like studies and play. Moreover, they learn practical skills like cooking, cleaning, and gardening which are essential life skills.

In conclusion, household chores are an integral part of our daily life. They help in maintaining cleanliness and order in our homes. They teach us valuable lessons about responsibility and teamwork. Moreover, they provide us with an opportunity to learn new skills. So, instead of seeing them as a burden, we should embrace them as a part of our routine and contribute our bit in making our homes a better place to live in.

(Word count: 500)

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One Comment

Definitely, these sharing of household chores equally including washing dishes, laundry, cleaning, cooking etc.are very important so that the wife ,the lady of the house can get time for herself ( and her own parents). Women already work double if they are working professionals.If working to help husband financially or to make themselves economically independent, husband must help his wife in household chores equally including washing dishes, laundry, cleaning, cooking etc.esp.if she is helping him in working financially.

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Happy Children Do Chores

By KJ Dell’Antonia

Ms. Dell’Antonia writes frequently about parenthood.

• Aug. 18, 2018

Children should do chores. That’s a controversial premise, though not everyone will admit it. A few parents will declare outright that their children are “too busy for chores” or that “their job is school.” Many more of us assign chores, or say we believe in them, but the chores just don’t get done.

That’s a problem. For starters, chores are good for kids. Being a part of the routine work of running a household helps children develop an awareness of the needs of others, while at the same time contributing to their emotional well-being. Children who consider themselves necessary to the family are less likely to feel adrift in a world where everyone wants to feel needed.

One small longitudinal study , done over a period of 25 years, found that the best predictor for young adults’ success in their mid-20s was whether they participated in household tasks at age 3 or 4. Those early shared responsibilities extended to a sense of responsibility in other areas of their lives.

I don’t want to make too much of a small study, and there’s really no need. All that the research in this area does is confirm what we already know.

Children who help more at home feel a larger sense of obligation and connectedness to their parents, and that connection helps them weather life’s stressful moments — in other words, it helps them be happier. Their help, even when it’s less than gracious, helps their parents be happier, too.

But for all that their help matters, to us and to them, few kids are doing much around the house at all. In a survey of 1,001 American adults, 75 percent said they believed regular chores made kids “more responsible” and 63 percent said chores teach kids “important life lessons.” Yet while 82 percent reported having had regular chores growing up, only 56 percent of those with children said they required them to do chores.

We believe in chores. We talk a good game. But when we look honestly at who’s doing what in our kitchens, laundry rooms and bathrooms, many of us (including me) struggle to do what it takes to get kids to help at home.

Between 2001 and 2005 a team of researchers from U.C.L.A.’s Center on the Everyday Lives of Families recorded 1,540 hours of footage of 32 middle-class, dual-earner families with at least two children going about their business in Los Angeles. They found that the parents did most of the housework and intervened quickly when the kids had trouble completing a task. Children in 22 families made it a practice to ignore or resist their parents’ requests for help. In eight families, the parents didn’t actually ask children to do much of anything. That leaves two families in which kids meaningfully helped out. (One of the young researchers involved called working on the study “ the very purest form of birth control ever devised .”)

I asked 1,050 parents an open-ended question: What do you least like about parenting? The most common answer by far was “discipline,” which included enforcing chores and other responsibilities. Other answers: “Enforcing the rules, especially about household chores”; the challenges of “chores and disciplining a child”; and having to nag kids to do simple chores. We may think our children should do chores, but we really don’t want to have to make them.

And yet, when researchers ask parents about what qualities they care most about fostering in their children, almost all respond by saying they are deeply invested in raising caring, ethical children, and most say they see these moral qualities like these as more important than academic or career achievements.

But many kids seem to be getting a different message. Richard Weissbourd, a Harvard psychologist, and colleagues surveyed more than 10,000 students from 33 middle and high schools around the country and found that almost 80 percent said they valued their own happiness and achievement over caring for others. Most thought their parents would agree.

“Our interviews and observations over the last several years also suggest that the power and frequency of parents’ messages about achievement and happiness often drown out their messages about concern for others,” Dr. Weissbourd said.

We can do better. Although household chores seem like a small thing, the subtle but pervasive message of requiring them isn’t small at all. Requiring a high schooler to contribute to the family well-being and the smooth running of the household before turning his attention to his books conveys the value you place on that contribution.

Sports and homework are not get-out-of-chores-free cards. The goal, after all, is not to raise children we can coddle into the Ivy League. The goal is to raise adults who can balance a caring role in their families and communities with whatever lifetime achievement goals they choose. Chores teach that balance. They’re not just chores — they’re life skills.

Persuaded? Then you’ll be looking, now, at the end of this article, for some golden advice on getting your children to step up. You might be worried that there aren’t enough words left here to encompass all you’re going to need to learn to make this happen. Is there another page perhaps? A link to click to make the magic happen?

There is not — because unfortunately, getting children to do chores is an incredibly simple two-step process: insist, and persist, until the chore is done.

Accept no excuses. Don’t worry if you must repeat yourself again and again. If you’re spending more time getting the child to do this job than it would take to do it yourself, then you’re doing it right. Getting children to do chores without nagging — that’s an entirely separate endeavor. Right now the goal is the chore.

Can an allowance help? Maybe. But if you’re trying to teach kids to share the responsibility of a home, paying them for routine chores is not the right message. After all, no one pays you to unload your own dishwasher, and no one ever will.

The good news is that children whose families have established an expectation that they will contribute to the workings of the household do just that. There are 7-year-olds in the suburbs who do the laundry, just as there are 5-year-olds in the Amazon who help harvest papayas. In our house, the kids clear their dishes, feed the animals, clean the kitchen after dinner and take out the trash. I’ve found they may not whistle while they work; they may require near-constant reminders; they will almost certainly not do the job to your standards without years of training, but children can and will do the work if you require it of them.

And in another 20 years, they might even thank you for it.

An earlier version of this article misstated the values that 80 percent of students in a survey ranked more highly than caring for others. They were happiness and achievement, not just happiness.

How we handle corrections

KJ Dell’Antonia is the author of the forthcoming “How to Be a Happier Parent,” from which this essay is adapted.

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion) , and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter .

8 Surprising Psychological Benefits of Routine Daily Tasks

Lower stress, reduced dementia risks, and more "me time.".

Posted August 12, 2022 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

• Brain benefits of chores include a lower risk of dementia, according to new research.
• One study found that mindful dishwashing resulted in a 27 percent decrease in nervousness for participants.
• Researchers have found that undemanding tasks give the mind a break, allowing for more creative ideas.

Cooking. Cleaning. Washing the dishes. Mowing the lawn. Making the bed. These household chores are never done; they just get repeated like a broken record. Boring ! Or are they?

While many people regard chores as necessary evils, there are science-based reasons to change your attitude about chores. It turns out that doing chores is great for your health—both physical and mental—and not always in the ways that you might think.

Here’s what recent research tells us about the value of ordinary household tasks:

1. Chores can lead to creative problem-solving.

As researchers state here in a study entitled, "Inspired by Distraction: Mind Wandering Facilitates Creative Incubation," doing undemanding tasks allows the mind to wander where it will. Your mind gets a break and allows you to consider old problems with new eyes. In fact, undemanding tasks stimulated more creative ideas than demanding tasks or just resting.

2. Chores are linked to lower dementia risk.

To discover what activities might be linked to a lower rate of dementia, researchers analyzed massive amounts of healthcare data from the UK Biobank. Some 500,000 participants who had an average age of 56.5 years were followed for an average of 10.7 years.

As summarized here, the researchers found that “Those most engaged in frequent exercise, household chores, and daily visits by friends and family had a 35 percent, 21 percent, and 15 percent lower risk of dementia compared to those least engaged in these activities.” These correlations do not imply causation, but they do illustrate how simple lifestyle changes can make big differences in health, as fellow Psychology Today blogger Christopher Bergland writes .

I wondered why chores might provide a buffer against dementia that was even stronger than visits from friends and family. Maybe—I'm speculating here—it’s because chores like washing the dishes, while seemingly simple, require more planning than you might think. And chores combine physical and mental activity, both of which reduce the risk of dementia. Not to mention that as we age, the ability to do chores is one factor keeping us independent.

3. Chores are health-promoting exercise snacks .

The evocative phrase “exercise snacks” refers to small, even tiny, morsels of physical activity, such as standing for a few minutes after sitting for a while, taking a two-minute walk, or doing a chore such as sweeping up the kitchen.

Researchers have studied the effects of exercise snacks ranging from 30 seconds, like walking up a flight of stairs, to 10 minutes, like cycling on a stationary bicycle. Some of the health effects included improved memory , increased coordination, mood lift, reduced risk of atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity, and increased longevity.

That's quite a payout for a short investment of time and energy. A recent study found that any short amount of activity after eating, such as standing, doing chores, or (best of all) a two-minute walk, could even lower blood sugar, according to this report . (Excuse me, I'm going out for a two-minute walk right now. Be right back.)

4. Finishing your chores can increase motivation .

What is the single most important skill in behavior change? BJ Fogg, author of Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything, asserts that the most important skill is recognizing and celebrating successes. That's why completing even a small task, like making your bed, can give you a sense of satisfaction and motivate you to tackle the next task... and the next... and the next. In the same vein, best-selling author and speaker Admiral William H. McRaven argues, "If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed." Small wins have an amazing ripple effect.

5. Chores are good for your mental health.

Completing chores increases your sense of " self-efficacy ," defined briefly as a person's belief that they have the ability and skills to reach their goals.

"Self-efficacy," a concept first developed by psychologist Albert Bandura in the 1970s, has been shown to increase confidence and motivation. As discussed in more detail here , "low self-efficacy, or learned helplessness , is associated with anxiety , depression , lack of hope and lack of motivation... while higher self-efficacy is associated with life satisfaction, self-confidence , social connection, and growth mindset ."

6. Chores are good for children's mental health.

Learning to do chores teaches children necessary housekeeping skills and provides "mastery experiences" that increase confidence.

To encourage children even more, psychology professor Lea Waters recommends that parents create a "success narrative" by noticing a child's small successes and acknowledging those accomplishments. In my own case (probably seen through a nostalgic rosy glow), my sister and I also learned to cooperate to get the kitchen cleaned up, and we bonded by gossiping and singing together while we did it.

7. Doing chores can reduce stress.

A small study from Florida State University explored whether the chore of dishwashing, done mindfully, could reduce stress. Using a group of 51 students, they discovered that dishwashers who were instructed to be mindful when washing dishes—focusing on the smell of the soap, the warmth of the water, and the feel of the dishes—reported a decrease in nervousness by 27 percent and an increase in mental inspiration (see #1) by 25 percent.

Although the control group didn’t experience the benefits reported above, I wonder if just finishing a necessary chore in itself relieves some stress. It's a good feeling to cross something off your to-do list or improve your living space. More research, please.

Chores that reduce clutter can also reduce stress. Various studies have indicated that clutter can be linked to higher cortisol—a stress hormone —and can also interfere with focusing. I love the title of author Gretchen Rubin's book: Outer Order, Inner Calm. That about sums it up. So if you’ve been yearning to clean out that junk drawer, do it. You’ll feel better.

8. Chores are an opportunity for “me time.”

Wanna get away? Doing repetitive chores allows you to access your inner thoughts, reflect on them, and retreat from your busy life.

Even chores you dislike can be made more meaningful in one simple way: Ask yourself why you are doing the chore. In this way, you can remind yourself of your basic values. For example: Maybe you take pride in a clean and well-organized house or in delicious, well-prepared food. Maybe doing chores is a way of contributing to the well-being of yourself or your family. Maybe you value the beauty of your lawn and garden and houseplants. Maybe you value the competence you feel when you complete a task successfully.

That said, it would be impossible not to resent household tasks at times. My fix? I focus on gratitude , reminding myself that I am lucky to be independent, alert, and vigorous enough to do those chores.

(c) Meg Selig, 2022. All rights reserved.

Facebook image: Stock-Asso/Shutterstock

LinkedIn image: Odua Images/Shutterstock

Meg Selig is the author of Changepower! 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success .

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The Benefits of Chores

Growing up, my mother would give me a white, plastic bucket on a nice summer’s day.  She would then say that I could not come inside until I had filled the bucket up five times with pinecones. Pinecones. This woman had me picking up pinecones all around the yard. I hated it. When I was not picking pine cones or pulling weeds in the yard, I was folding towels or vacuuming the floors of the house.

My childhood consisted of chores, chores, and more chores. Often times I had to tell my friends, “Sorry I can’t play today because I have chores to do.”  Although I disliked chores when I was young, I am glad that my parents made me help around the house. Many of my friends never had to do chores. They never folded a single towel or picked up a single pinecone.

I have moved on from the pinecone days, thank goodness. Now, when I come home for breaks from school my mother has me paint. I do not paint murals or portraits of our pets. I paint the cinder block walls of out basement, but only after them have been vacuumed. I paint the back of the steps, or even the floors. Not to toot my own horn but I am a pretty good painter.  My mother really wants me to embrace our off-brand artist name. It is only a few letters off of the famous French painter, Henri Matisse.

When students come to college they have more responsibilities. They are own their own and must take care of themselves. I think that those who have done chores as a child are more prepared for college and life away from home. They know how to do laundry, clean the dishes, and vacuum the floors. And those that never had to do chores often find that their rooms are littered with water bottles and dirty clothes scatter the floor.

Unfortunately, I still know of some college students that take their laundry home to their parents’ house on the weekends. This is part of the experience and part of growing up. Soon enough we will have graduated and will have our own apartment of house. We will have to mow the lawn, wash the dishes, wash the windows, fold the towels, and vacuum the floors.

Nowadays, I wake up and will often vacuum part of my house or empty the dishwasher before heading off to school. It feels like every day I am doing laundry. And now that fall is here, the leaves and pinecones will begin to cover the ground. I cannot wait until I have my own little pinecone slaves, I mean children. I have developed so much respect for my mother, but there are times where I still think that she is overboard with the cleaning and chores. She will ask me to vacuum the first floor of the house and then will be upset that it only took me half an hour. Meanwhile, it takes her four hours to vacuum a single closet. I cannot help that I vacuum better than her, it just comes naturally. And, if you are ever looking for a cheap, but talented painter you know who to call. 

PHOTO TAKEN by Caroline Mattise

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Modern Day Role Models

When I was a little girl growing up in the 90s there were many positive role models. I remember cuddling in front of the TV to watch Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Sister, Sister. Melissa Joan Hart and Tia and Tamera Mowry were the kinds of girls I wanted to emulate. They were brave, smart, funny and caring, but not without their awkward or vulnerable moments like every young girl has to endure at one point or another in their life. The most important thing is that I could relate to them and learn lessons about growing up. This makes me disappointed when I look at the scarcity of positive role models on television for young girls and boys today.

The Importance of Chores

In this article, you will find:, why chores are important.

• Chores can teach & chores can earn

Here's the reality, and American society's dirty little secret-many kids don't learn how to wash their clothes, cook a meal, mow a lawn, make a bed, or even effectively wash a dish until they've moved out of the house. (In other words, you're not the only one with a demanding slug for a child!) Yet, most people agree that kids do benefit from having a role in the daily operations of the family.

Figuring out the right amount of responsibility is a balancing act. Kids work very hard. Between schoolwork, learning to deal with social situations, and, for many kids, their many extracurricular involvements, kids have very little “down” time. They need a chance to play, relax, daydream, nap. At the same time, teaching children life skills (and I'm talking kids of both sexes here, by the way) has a number of benefits:

It's a Good Idea!

Think about the benefits of family responsibilities as more than just learning survival skills. It's the participation that matters. Participating in family responsibilities helps a child develop essential social skills.

• A person who enters college, or an independent living situation, with life skills will have a far easier time living with roommates.
• Family responsibilities teach basic discipline.
• The skills learned from having family responsibilities include time management, prioritizing tasks, and general organizational abilities.
• With family participation, the parents don't have to slave their life away serving the royal offspring.
• Most importantly, the child understands that he is part of a community (your family) and that as a member of the community, he needs to share responsibilities to keep the community going.

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Researcher Studies the Importance of Chores (and How to Get Kids to Do Them)

Lucia Alcalá grew up in a small town in southern Mexico, where it was normal for children to substantially help with household work. She saw a different picture when she migrated to California at the age of 14, not knowing then that it would become the foundation of her research.

Now an assistant professor of psychology at Cal State Fullerton and a mother of three, Alcalá studies parenting and child development across diverse communities. Her recent work focuses on how Maya children from Yucatan, Mexico, learn to help as they participate in family and community activities.

Engaging Children Early On

“When I asked Maya mothers at what age can children help, they responded, ‘As soon as they can sit or walk,'” said Alcalá, explaining that babies learn by simply observing chores. “Other mothers reported that as soon as a child can walk, he or she can help by picking up toys or clothes.”

What’s really interesting, says Alcalá, is that most of the time indigenous parents do not ask children to do chores — children offer to help. “I know this might sound very strange to many of us struggling to get our teenagers to clean their rooms, but children in many indigenous communities contribute extensively to family work.

“By contrast, most middle-class Mexican and European-American parents in our studies reported that children do not help unless parents ask them to help or when there are consequences or privileges,” shared Alcalá. “Most children in these families will help with self-care chores, such as cleaning their rooms and picking up their own toys, but rarely contribute to chores that benefit the family, such as doing the laundry, cooking or washing the dishes.”

Alcalá believes the key is including toddlers in household work from an early age. “Toddlers around the world are eager to help and want to work with others. However, parents often limit toddlers’ engagement in chores because they might make a mess and create more work for them. But it is through these ‘mistakes and messes’ that toddlers will learn that they can contribute to their household and that their help is acknowledged.”

For older children and adolescents, Alcalá recommends helping them develop ownership of and competence in their chores.

“If we want our older children and adolescents to develop a sense of responsibility and to help at home, one thing that doesn’t help is to use chores as a form of punishment,” she explained. “Instead, we can invite our children to contribute to the household and to develop ownership of their work — while guiding them in becoming competent at their tasks and showing them how their work benefits the family.”

The Benefits of Household Work

So why is it even important to do chores? Executive function skills (working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibition), collaboration, attention and school-readiness are a few reasons, says Alcalá.

“There are many benefits of helping at home, such as learning by observing, developing new skills, acquiring new information, and learning to be a contributing member of the group. Helping at home can also serve as the template for children to become competent and responsible community members.

“Additionally, when children and their contributions are valued, they are more likely to develop a sense of responsibility and a sense of self-efficacy and self-worth,” she continued. “Children who take the initiative to help at home are more likely to show a sophisticated, fluid collaboration when they work in school-like tasks, and are more likely to recognize when someone needs help and to help without being asked.”

Expanding Child Development Research

Alcalá envisions her work to be part of a new line of research that centers on the marginalized voices and experiences of children of color. The Spencer Foundation recently awarded her a nearly $50,000 grant to expand research in this area.

“One of the main goals of this grant is to develop new executive function tests that can be used reliably with multiple, diverse samples,” said Alcalá. “Often when we use pre-existing tests that were developed based on research with middle-class, European-American children, we miss a lot of the skills and abilities that children in other communities might have developed based on their daily experiences.

“What I have learned through my personal experiences as a mother of three children, and my research experiences with mothers across diverse communities, is that there is no ‘one-best’ way to parent your children,” she added. “On the contrary, there are many approaches to studying children’s development if we take the time to challenge the underlying assumptions of the current theories.”

Contact: Lynn Juliano [email protected]

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Unlocking the Mystery: Why are Chores Important for Kids

By  Shannon McLaughlin   | Updated On  June 6, 2023

• Medically reviewed by  Maureen Lezama

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways:

• Skill Development: Chores help children gain skills like responsibility, teamwork, and problem-solving, influencing their future success.
• Self-Esteem and Work Ethic: Chores foster children’s confidence and a strong work ethic, promoting their overall personal growth.
• Readiness for Adulthood: Chores provide practical life skills required in adulthood, including understanding the value of money.
• Family Bonds and Respect: Chores strengthen relationships and promote respect for personal and shared spaces.

“Why are chores necessary? “is a question every parent ponders at some point.

Imagine coming home from a long day and finding that the dishes are still in the sink, the floor needs to be vacuumed, and the laundry piles are getting higher.

Instead of doing these things yourself, picture your kids eagerly helping you, their hands washing dishes, and their feet playfully pushing the vacuum.

Research suggests that children who help around the house have a 25% better chance of success than adults. Not only does their help lighten your load, but it also prepares them for life outside of your home.

Wouldn’t that be a situation where everyone in the family wins?

Let’s look at why doing chores around the house is crucial for your kids’ growth and helps the family grow closer together.

Why are household chores necessary? 17 Reasons.

Not only do chores help keep our homes clean and organized, but they are also a great way to teach practical life skills.

Getting our little girls and boys involved in these household tasks from an early age  helps keep the house clean and also helps them learn to be responsible and grows them as people.

Children can learn to manage their time, work as a team, and be self-reliant by doing household chores.

In addition, it teaches them to work hard, which they will carry with them to school and into their adult lives. In short, involving children in chores is essential to getting kids ready for a successful future.

Getting kiddos to help with chores has many benefits. Here are 18 essential things that children can gain from doing chores:

It makes kids more responsible.

When you assign chores for kids, they learn to be accountable for their actions. They know that the work they have to do is theirs and that doing it is not just an expectation but a duty.

This sense of ownership carries over into other parts of their lives, teaching them to be responsible students, friends, and, eventually, adults.

It helps kids learn to manage their time.

With schoolwork and household chores, kids must learn to use their time well. These critical time management skills help them balance their immediate responsibilities with their long-term goals, which is an important skill to have in life.

Chores promote teamwork.

Completing household duties often requires working together. When everyone is helping household members and working together to finish a task, they learn the value of teamwork and talk to each other well.

These strong teamwork skills are helpful not only at home but also at school and in future jobs.

Encourages self-reliance.

Maureen Lezama , a mother of three and a Counseling Psychology graduate student says, “Self-reliance in kids brings on more than just developing independence. Research shows kids who can rely on themselves develop good problem-solving skills, feel more confident, have high self-esteem, and learn to make decisions independently.”

When kids do their chores, they learn to depend on themselves. Whether making their bed, cleaning their room, or helping make dinner, these tasks give them a sense of independence and help them prepare for bigger jobs.

Develops problem-solving skills.

Problem-solving is a critical trait for a child’s development and can be learned and improved by doing household chores. For example, figuring out how to remove a tough stain or the best way to put away toys can be challenging.

However, getting past these problems makes them better at solving problems and teaches them to be strong.

Chores boost self-esteem.

When kids finish tasks well, their self-esteem goes up in a big way. It makes them feel intelligent and sure of themselves, essential qualities that help them in their social interactions, schoolwork, and personal growth.

It builds a work ethic.

Chores teach kids how important hard work is and how good it feels to do a job well. They learn that hard work pays off, which makes them realize how vital a strong commitment and determination are.

Encourages empathy and respect.

When kids help out around the house, they learn to understand the work that others do and respect the work it takes. This helps people have more empathy and respect for others, which improves their social and emotional health.

It helps kids get ready for adulthood.

Kids’ chores teach competencies they will need as adults. They learn to cook, clean, manage their time, and balance their responsibilities. This gives them a taste of what it’s like to be an adult and makes the transition more manageable when it comes.

It teaches basic skills.

Simple tasks like preparing meals or doing your own laundry are essential skills. By doing these things, kids learn to care for themselves and their surroundings, essential abilities they will need as adults.

Promotes health and hygiene.

Chores like cleaning and putting things away teach children how to be clean and healthy. They know a clean environment is essential for health and wellness, leading to a healthier lifestyle.

Strengthens family bond.

Doing household tasks together can bring family members closer together. It encourages teamwork and unity, strengthening family relationships and creating a good family culture.

It helps kids earn to prioritize.

When kiddos have chores and other responsibilities, they learn to put tasks in order of importance and urgency. This skill is essential for doing chores and schoolwork, jobs, and other things in life.

Improves academic or athletic skills.

Housework duties improve academic and athletic performance. Chores teach discipline, focus, and organization, which helps youngsters succeed in school. Tasks build a firm commitment that helps with school and sports.

Physical duties improve motor skills, fitness, and athletic performance. Chores teach children practical abilities and keep the house clean.

Enhances motor skills.

Motor skills can be improved by having kids do physical chores like sweeping, mopping, or setting up the room. It helps them improve their coordination, balance, and strength, essential for biological growth.

Doing these things allows them to learn more about space and improve their fine and gross motor skills.

Improves financial literacy.

When kids do household chores and get an allowance in return , they start to understand what it means to earn money. This can be the first step toward teaching them how to save money, stick to a budget, and make sound financial decisions, setting them up for a lifetime of good money habits.

Teaches respect for personal and shared spaces.

Doing chores often means taking care of personal items and spaces the whole family shares. This helps your little ones learn how important respecting their own and other people’s space is.

In addition, they know that keeping their space clean and organized makes everyone’s lives better.

Cultivates a sense of belonging.

When kids help with household chores, they feel like they are an essential part of the family. This strengthens family ties and gives them a sense of belonging and safety.

Develops routine.

Household tasks help kids make and stick to a schedule. Having a regular schedule gives kids a sense of stability and order, which can be comforting and help them grow.

Overall, early chores benefit children. They promote personal growth and practical skills. Your child can help with assignments with patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement.

So, should kids have chores?

The answer is definitely yes.

Tasks are more than just a way to get things done around the house; they are also necessary for teaching kiddos essential life skills.

Household tasks are critical to a child’s development because they teach them to be more responsible, manage their time, and work well with others. These skills will make youngsters feel competent in life.

Plus, research shows that children who help with household chores from a young age are more likely to be successful as adults.

By giving their kids age-appropriate tasks, parents prepare them not only for the responsibilities of adulthood but also for the challenges and victories that life brings.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, household chores are part of our everyday life, and kids’ chores are essential for a child’s growth and development, not just for keeping the house clean.

They help gain essential abilities like building self-worth and teaching responsibility, teamwork, and diligence.

So, when your child complains about doing chores or completing household tasks, remind them they’re getting much more than a clean room. They gain important life skills that will help them as adults.

Parents hold on to your faith. Your patience and persistence now will help your child be successful in the future. Keep moving forward!

INC.Com: Kids Who Do Chores Are More Successful Adults, According to Science. (There’s Just 1 Catch) ; https://www.inc.com/bill-murphy-jr/kids-who-do-chores-are-more-successful-adults-according-to-science-theres-just-1-catch.html

AIM: Helping with Household Chores Can Transform Your Child!; https://aimmontessoriteachertraining.org/the-beauty-power-in-doing-household-chores/

Marlborough: Why is Problem-Solving Important in Child Development? https://www.marlborough.org/news/~board/health-and-wellness/post/why-is-problem-solving-important-in-child-development

Pathways.org: 5 Ways Cleaning Can Help Your Child’s Development; https://pathways.org/spring-cleaning/

Department of Education (.gov): Does Housework Help Improve Academic Performance? An Empirical Analysis on the Influence of Participation in Housework on Academic Performance of Primary and Middle School Students; https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1336422.pdf

Motherhood Society employs only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed research, to validate the information in our articles. Discover our editorial methodology to understand how we ensure the accuracy, dependability, and integrity of our content.

By   Shannon McLaughlin

Shannon is a mother of two boys and one girl. She's hoping her experience with parenting and everything in between can help other moms navigate the complex world of motherhood.

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10 Reasons Why Household Chores Are Important

Whether we like it or not, household chores are a necessary part of everyday life, ensuring that our homes continue to run efficiently, and that our living environments remain organized and clean, thereby promoting good overall health and safety. Involving children in household chores gives them opportunity to become active participant in the house. Kids begin to see themselves as important contributors to the family. Holding children accountable for their chores can increase a sense of themselves as responsible and actually make them more responsible.

Children will feel more capable for having met their obligations and completed their tasks. If you let children off the hook for chores because they have too much schoolwork or need to practice a sport, then you are saying, intentionally or not, that their academic or athletic skills are most important. And if your children fail a test or fail to block the winning shot, then they have failed at what you deem to be most important.

They do not have other pillars of competency upon which to rely. By completing household tasks, they may not always be the star student or athlete, but they will know that they can contribute to the family, begin to take care of themselves, and learn skills that they will need as an adult. Here is a list of household chores for kids:

1. Sense of Responsibility

Kids who do chores learn responsibility and gain important life skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. Kids feel competent when they do their chores. Whether they’re making their bed or they’re sweeping the floor, helping out around the house gives them a sense of accomplishment. Doing daily household chores also helps kids feel like they’re part of the team. Pitching in and helping family members is good for them and it encourages them to be good citizens.

Read here a detail blog: Routine helps kids

2. Beneficial to siblings

It is helpful for siblings of kids who have disabilities to see that everyone in the family participates in keeping the family home running, each with responsibilities that are appropriate for his or her unique skill sets and abilities.

Having responsibilities like chores provides one with a sense of both purpose and accomplishment.

4. Preparation for Employment

Learning how to carry out household chore is an important precursor to employment. Chores can serve as an opportunity to explore what your child excels at and could possibly pursue as a job down the road.

5. Make your life easier

Your kids can actually be of help to you! At first, teaching these chores may require more of your time and energy, but in many cases your child will be able to eventually do his or her chores completely independently, ultimately relieving you of certain responsibilities.

6. Chores may make your child more accountable

If your child realizes the consequences of making a mess, he or she may think twice, knowing that being more tidy in the present will help make chores easier.

7. Develop fine and gross motor skills and planning abilities

Tasks like opening a clothes pin, filling and manipulating a watering can and many more actions are like a workout for the body and brain and provide practical ways to flex those muscles!

8. Teach empathy

Helping others out and making their lives easier is a great way to teach empathy. After your daughter completes a chore, you can praise and thank her, stating, “Wow… great job! Because you helped out, now Mommy has one less job to do. I really appreciate that!”

9. Strengthen bonds with pets

There is a growing body of research about how animals can help individuals with special needs. When your child feeds and cares for his pet, it strengthens their bond and makes your pet more likely to gravitate toward your child.

10. Gain an appreciation and understanding of currency

What better way to teach your child the value of a rupee than by having him earn it. After your child finishes his chores,  pay him right away and immediately take him to his favorite toy store where he can buy something he wants.

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I love this! This has a lot of awesome information.

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very well done it is resanoble reasons

cool info it helps me see why chores are important.

Thanks for your kind reply.

This was really helpful for a school debate!

Very helpful article!

My daughter has to speak about a topic which is why and how we should help our parent in household chores and this helped her a lot

Thanks so much for your feedback! All the best to your daughter.

Thnks a lot! the article helped a lot in my assignment and there is very nice information, Thank you!

Thanks, glad you found it useful.

Very nice article…Thank you 🙂

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

Very good article about house chore

This is very helpful for a student like me

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The Importance of Chores

Like most adults, I had chores growing up: mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, cleaning the bathroom, and the like. And it seems like a no-brainer that parents today would continue to assign their children chores. Why wouldn’t they? It’s free labor!

Alas, in many families, chores have gone the way of VHS and land-line telephones: Once ubiquitous, they’re now quite rare. While more than 80% of US adults had regular chores growing up, less than 30% are now assigning regular chores to their children. 1 This is troubling because “Decades of studies show the benefits of chores—academically, emotionally and even professionally.” 1

The Benefits of Chores

First, I should acknowledge that having children do chores does not always save parents time or make parents’ lives easier, and this is especially true for young children. But the only way for children to become effective and efficient at helping out around the house is to let them start as beginners and give them opportunities to practice. And that’s also the only way for them to gain the more important benefits of doing chores.

“I must admit, getting my children to do chores is a labor-intensive activity. It would be much easier to do them myself. And that would require no supervision, no frustration, no emotion… and definitely, it would be done much faster! But what would that teach my child?” – Sharon Harding 2

This is another classic case of balancing short-term and long-term goals . As children grow up, parents must constantly make choices about how much responsibility to give them and how much support to provide. Every step of the way, you can get a better “product” – a cleaner bathroom, a neater yard, a tidier house – if you do everything yourself, but in doing so you’ll be losing the chance to have your children develop greater “production capacity” – their ability to do good work in the future. 3

So, aside from developing the capacity to effectively do housework, how do children and teenagers benefit from chores?

First and foremost, chores teach you how to work . Having regular chores makes it normal to do things that you don’t want to do, and success in both school and life depend on your ability to do the necessary work, even when you don’t feel like it. If schoolwork is the only time children are made to do work they don’t want to do, they might come to see school as a uniquely awful form of torture – a cruel punishment designed by adults to make children suffer. But if doing work that you don’t want to do is just a normal part of life, then school won’t seem as bad. Homework is just another chore.

There are many parallels between schoolwork and chores. You take out the garbage when it’s full because, if you don’t, there will be immediate negative consequence. Likewise, you turn in your homework when it’s due because, if you don’t, it will immediately impact your grade. You dust and vacuum from time to time to keep your living space clean and healthy. Likewise, you review old concepts from time to time to keep them fresh in your mind. You tidy up your room as needed because living in chaos is tedious and draining. Likewise, you organize your backpack and binder as needed because constantly sifting through a mess of papers makes school harder than it needs to be. In short, you often you do schoolwork for the same reason you do chores: it benefits your future selves .

More than just the ability to work, a habit of chore-doing eventually teaches most children to be good workers. In her excellent TED Talk, “How to raise successful kids without overparenting,” Julie Lythcott-Haims points out that doing chores helps children develop “the instinct to roll up their sleeves and pitch in and look around and wonder, how can I be useful to my colleagues? How can I anticipate a few steps ahead to what my boss might need?” 4 At first, your “colleagues” are your siblings and friends, and your “boss” is a parent or some other adult, but later this attitude is incredibly useful in the workplace. I remember helping my dad with a household construction project, and having him point out that, instead of waiting to be asked, I could anticipate his need for a particular tool or see that something needed doing on my own. That lesson stuck with me and I’ve applied it at every job I’ve ever worked.

To drive this home, here’s Lythcott-Haims again:

“The longest longitudinal study of humans ever conducted is called the Harvard Grant Study. It found that professional success in life … comes from having done chores as a kid … [because it cultivates] a mindset that says, ‘There’s some unpleasant work, someone’s got to do it, it might as well be me,’ a mindset that says, ‘I will contribute my effort to the betterment of the whole.’” 4

Chores can also teach teamwork, problem solving skills, and a sense of pride in a job well done. 2 Most chores are also low-consequence tasks where making a mistake or failing completely won’t cause much harm, 2 so they’re a great opportunity to take risks and try things independently. 2

If you give children responsibilities, it makes them more response-able, 3 more capable of being helpful in any situation. Unsurprisingly, children who do chores become more helpful in general. 5 This will make them better guests in other people’s homes, better roommates in college, and better spouses.

Children and teens who do chores also become more grateful 5 as they increasingly recognize how much work other people do to make their lives good. Doing some hard work yourself makes you less likely to take someone else’s hard work for granted. They’ll be more likely to express gratitude toward teachers, coaches, custodians, landscapers, baristas, waiters, and *gasp* parents. Children and teens who do chores come to understand that they’re part of a community – your family – and that they have an interdependent role to play in that community.

Chores also help develop willpower and mental toughness because, as mom and blogger Alexia Dellner says, “Knowing that you can’t play with your friends or watch TV until you’ve done your chores teaches kids about discipline and self-control.” 6 Plus, knowing that they can take responsibility for a chore and get it done right creates a strong sense of self-efficacy. 7 This confidence spills over into academics, sports, jobs, and their social lives.

So, given all these benefits, why are fewer and fewer parents assigning regular chores to children and teens?

Why Are Chores in Decline?

The short answer is that students today are busier than ever. Their schedules are jam-packed, and much of this can be attributed to the fact that college entrance has become increasingly competitive. A 2015 Wall Street Journal article explains:

“Today’s demands for measurable childhood success—from the Common Core to college placement—have chased household chores from the to-do lists of many young people. … With students under pressure to learn Mandarin, run the chess club or get a varsity letter, chores have fallen victim to the imperatives of resume-building.” 1

Speaking from the perspective of worried parents, Lythcott-Haims describes the modern student’s hectic lifestyles as “the checklisted childhood”:

“We keep them safe and sound and fed and watered, and then we want to be sure they go to the right schools, that they’re in the right classes at the right schools, and that they get the right grades in the right classes in the right schools. But not just … the grades and scores, but the accolades and the awards and the sports, the activities, the leadership. We tell our kids, don’t just join a club, start a club, because colleges want to see that. And check the box for community service. I mean, show the colleges you care about others. … It’s as if every piece of homework, every quiz, every activity is a make-or-break moment for this future we have in mind for them, and we absolve them of helping out around the house.” 4

Now, you might be thinking that many of the “resume-building” activities would confer benefits similar to those of chores, and you’d be right. Volunteering, running a club, working for the school newspaper, and even getting a part-time job are all ways to develop work-ethic, self-efficacy, and executive function. These are good things for students to do, but they’re all lacking something. They don’t teach children the importance of being a contributing member of the crew that maintains a household, and they probably don’t teach gratitude or helpfulness as effectively. For these benefits, nothing can replace chores.

Another reason chores are in decline is the use of hired help. Families on the wealthier end of the spectrum often make the totally reasonable choice to spend money in order to save time, hiring landscapers to maintain the yard, maids to clean the house, and a dog-walker to take care of the family pet. There’s nothing wrong with this choice, but it does raise some questions about family priorities. Why are our schedules so packed that we don’t have time to maintain our own households? What does this say about our values? Is short-term convenience more important than long-term skill-building? Just because we can hire someone, does it mean we should?

I can’t answer those questions for you, but I do think they’re worth considering. Finding a healthy balance between household responsibilities, academics, extracurriculars, and play , while maintaining at least some downtime for rest and recovery is no easy task. There’s no perfect mix or one-size-fits-all solution, but we’ll all surely make better choices if we’re at least aware of the tradeoffs involved.

Tips for Successful Chore-Child Relationships

To get the most benefit out of having your children do chores, and to avoid the worst forms of resistance, consider these tips:

• Schedule the chores and keep the schedule as consistent as possible. 1 Surprise labor is worse than expected labor, and the more regular something is the more automatic it feels.
• Make sure some of the child’s chores benefit the whole family, not just the child. 1 Putting your son in charge of cleaning his room is good, but this labor is mostly about Make sure he also has chores like doing dishes, dusting the living room, or helping with yardwork because these benefit the whole family.
• Take their input into account when assigning chores because, even if you don’t assign them exactly what they’ve asked for, they’ll have more “buy-in” because they got to participate in the process of choosing. 1
• Don’t assign chores as punishments. 1 Remember, the goal is to instill a positive value of helping others.
• Don’t tie chores to allowances. Paying children for good behavior sabotages any intrinsic motivation they might have been developing, “turning an altruistic act into a business transaction.” 1
• Instead of taking away an allowance for neglected chores, simply remove some privilege that your child is accustomed to enjoying – a toy, a video game, a cell phone, the freedom to hang out with friends – until such time that the chores are completed.
• Thank your child for “being a helper” rather than for “helping.” 1 People tend to respond well to positive attributions like this; they become more likely to live up to the good identity you’ve assigned them. 8

Stewardship

In his landmark book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People , Stephen Covey described the power of assigning a child “stewardship” over some aspect of the household. This means, for children of adequate age and ability, giving them the responsibility to maintain some subset of the household chores.

In the example he used in the book, Covey gave his son stewardship over keeping the lawn healthy and trim. This entailed watering it when needed, pulling weeds, and mowing it regularly. After teaching him how to do all the tasks involved, Covey told his son that he’d be happy to help with the work and would provide any tools or materials he needed, but Covey also made it clear that help would not be volunteered – the boy had to ask . And Covey told his son that no one was going to remind him to maintain the lawn. Remembering to do the work was the boy’s responsibility. 3

At first, the program was a colossal failure: The boy neglected his work until he felt overwhelmed by the task and ashamed at the state of the lawn. Covey bit his tongue, ignored his neighbors’ disapproving looks, and waited. Eventually, the boy, tail between his legs, came to his father and asked for help. Covey happily helped him return the lawn to a presentable form and, because the boy had asked for help, gave him some coaching on how to do better in the future. Thereafter, the boy needed no help at all, and the lawn always looked fantastic. 3

Stewardship is where chores intersect with executive function . Having responsibility over some area of the household forces you to learn time management and organization. You have to self-motivate. You have to monitor your own progress and effectiveness. When you’re in charge of something, your brain has to figure how to be in charge of it.

Many children first encounter the concept of stewardship when they ask for a pet. “We can get a dog, but only if you promise to be in charge of taking it for walks, cleaning up after it, and making sure it has food and water,” parents often reply. Caring for a pet is an excellent chore, and a fun way to develop executive function.

Another good example is meal-preparation. An older child or teenager who would like to contribute can be given responsibility for planning and cooking one meal for the family each week. This entails many executive function skills: planning ahead, making sure you have the resources you need, collecting necessary information, asking for help when you need it, and managing your time so that the meal is ready when it’s supposed to be.

Parents can model having a positive attitude about chores, and this might help children feel better about them. You can demonstrate how to do chores without complaining, maybe even with a smile on your face. You can play music to make the job more enjoyable.

But I wouldn’t recommend faking it. If you pretend to enjoy chores that you really dislike, you run the risk of convincing your children that either A) Their parents are inhuman weirdos who love housework, or B) Normal people like doing housework, so it’s us kids who are weird and broken because we don’t enjoy it. Instead, consider using chores as an opportunity to be real with your kids.

Don’t pretend to love doing chores you hate. Don’t pretend you want to do them when you’d rather do something fun. Own those feelings. Make them public. And then demonstrate doing the work anyway. Don’t wallow or whine, but don’t shy away from being honest about your complete lack of desire to clean the garage. It’s important for your children to view you as human. Humans don’t like doing chores, but they do them anyway.

As always, lead by example , and don’t try to be perfect .

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Chris Loper has been working as a tutor and academic coach since 2014, racking up over 10,000 hours of experience supporting students.

Along with Greg Smith, Chris is the cocreator of Parenting for Academic Success (and Parental Sanity) – a five-part course offered every summer.

Chris writes the popular self-improvement blog Becoming Better , where he also offers habit coaching , helping busy adults with habit formation and productivity.

Chris’s most recent endeavor combines his academic and habit-formation expertise to help students thrive in college. Visit SmartCollegeHabits.com to learn more.

In 2021, he published a humorous memoir titled Wood Floats and Other Brilliant Observations , a book that blends crazy stories with practical life lessons,  available on Amazon and through most local bookstores.

He lives in Issaquah, WA where he is the owner of South Cove Tutoring .

1 Wallace, Jennifer Breheny. “Why Children Need Chores: Doing household chores has many benefits—academically, emotionally and even professionally.” The Wall Street Journal. March 13, 2015.

2 Harding, Sharon. “14 Ways Chores Will Benefit Your Children.” Rediscovered Families: Parenting From The Heart. March 9, 2015.

3 Covey, Stephen R. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Fireside, 1990.

4 Lythcott-Haims, Julie. “How to raise successful kids without overparenting.” TED Talks Live. November 2015.

5 Darling, Nancy, Ph.D. “Chores Are Good for Kids: Chores teach kids something unexpected – gratitude.” Psychology Today . February 15, 2011.

6 Dellner, Alexia. “6 Reasons Why You Should Give Your Kids Chores.” PureWow. June 29, 2017.

7 Tiret, Holly and Rebecca Hodges. “The benefits of kids doing chores: The entire family can benefit from kids helping out around the house.” Michigan State University Extension. September 29, 2016.

8 Carnegie, Dale. How to Win Friends and Influence People: The Only Book You Need to Lead You to Success. Simon and Schuster, 1936. Share this: