Children do not learn how a house runs until they are in their late teens. There are a lot of intricate details to running a home that they are ignorant of. But this may not really be good for his development. It is important that your child should be as independent as possible at the earliest. The more he understands household chores and how a home functions, the better it is for both you and him.
Being responsible for certain tasks around the house also makes him more mature and responsible. It also makes him understand that the family must divide work equally to function well. Let's see how you can get your child more involved in your home.
Why House Work is good for your Child
Involving children in the house work is something that would probably appall most parents. Firstly because they do not want their child to get down and dirty, and secondly because they think the child will not be able to do it properly. Well, both reasons can be harmful for your child. The first one is harmful because everyone must learn what hard work really is. The second reason is harmful because it makes your child dependent and unsure of his own capabilities.
Now house work does not mean that you have to convert your little wonder into a child labourer! You must give him small duties at the beginning, so that he understands that it takes a lot of effort to keep the house running. As he gets more involved, he not only learns more about running a home, but also starts taking initiative in doing things around the house. Children, who learn about hard work and responsibility early on, turn out to be rather successful individuals.
How to Involve Him in House Work
There are many ways to involve your child with tasks around the house. You must remember to start slowly as children usually have an aversion to responsibilities and hard work. Tasks mean getting away from playtime, so make sure you make the initial tasks really simple! Here is a list of tasks for different age groups that you could assign to your child.
5 - 8 years old:
1) Putting the toys back
2) Deciding when to do homework
3) Deciding when to study
4) Keeping his clothes clean at playtime
9 - 14 years old:
1) Keeping his room tidy
2) Do the laundry
3) Washing the family car/ his own cycle
4) Helping out with grocery shopping
5) Clear the dining table/ do the dishes occasionally
6) Studying and finishing homework on time
7) Understanding some of the expenses around the house
8) Understanding minor banking functions, etc.
15 - 20 years old:
1) Handling most of the bill payments, grocery shopping, etc.
2) Keeping things in order around the house
3) Better understanding of household finances, expenses etc.
4) Better understanding of household paper work, documentation, etc.
5) Taking care of tasks like car maintenance, banking, license renewals, etc.
Thus, by these minor tasks, you can teach your child how to become a more responsible person, and also learn discipline and how to be proactive in the process. So go ahead and get your child more involved in the house work today. And do not forget to reward him occasionally for a job well done!
Does your child keep his room tidy? Does he do different household chores around the house? Should children do these tasks? To share your tips views and experiences, click here.
