“I like hugs and I like kisses, but what I really love help with the dishes”- Unknown.
When I surveyed around 250 parents to find out whether parents should involve children in household chores? Few of the responses were:-
- It’s not their job. It’s a parent’s responsibility to take care of the house.
- They don’t have time. They are busy in their curricular and extracurricular activities.
- Why start so early? They have an entire life to agonize about errands.
- Their studies might get affected. Let them only focus on one task at a time.
- Teaching them is the toughest part. It's better we do it ourselves. We will save our time and energy.
- They will resist, refuse or give up.
- I am sure they will procrastinate or make excuses. They hate household work.
Have we ever thought whether they make all these excuses or we have our own preconceived beliefs? A study by Harvard Research reveals that kids who have done chores fared better later in life. Kids feel content when they do their chores and hence chores were the best predictor of which kids were more likely to become happy, healthy, independent adults.
In addition to this, there are six imperative benefits of involving kids in domestic chores. They are:-
- They become independent and responsible from an early age.
- You can spend time with your child by performing the chores together and bond with them in a better way.
- It will promote their self-confidence and self-esteem. They take pride in doing odd jobs which gives them a sense of accomplishment on completion of the task.
- They understand that performing everyday jobs is a family task rather than individual work
- They learn the true meaning of participating and helping in household work.
- It teaches them to deal with failures and frustrations.
Some activities they will enjoy, some maybe not as much but that's ok You are enabling them with skills that will help them later. Get them involved in activities like
- Making their beds (sometimes yours too)
- Cleaning their room
- Watering the plants and other gardening activities
- Helping you in kitchen/ in meal preparation
- Sweeping the floor
- Setting and cleaning the dining table
- Dusting
- Assisting you in the laundry work like folding the washed clothes
Remember that they will get irritated or annoyed in the beginning but your duty as a parent is not to always make them happy but raise an independent child for which it is indispensable to teach them life skills. These will not only make them responsible but also disciplined, self-reliant, a team player and organized individual who contributes to domestic activities.
So don’t wait for the right time, start from today, even a small step now will give an immense reward in the future. (Tip: – Assign them task according to their age, ability, and interest).
Mansi Zaveri
Rati Ramadas Girish
Neha Savla
Rushita Sheth
