Here’s a thought for the weekend. ‘What must-do tasks should every household aim for kids to do?’
We all have had or still have chores to be done at home. Unless we have help at home. At some point, we had to clean and arrange something at home. Sometimes even cooking or meal prep had to be done. Some of us love doing them sometimes, and others dislike doing chores.
That said, it is essential to teach children to be self-dependent. One of the ways to do this is to instill in them a sense of responsibility and accountability from a young age. Now you can have them as demanding tasks and make them as dull and life-sucking as you can. OR….. You can make it amusing and inclusive. Making anything into an adventure or fun for kids has fantastic, immediate, and long-term results.
Setting up our little stars to become chore champions
A mentor taught me a long time ago always break down my to-do list into sizeable nuggets, get those you are happy to, or most likely to, finish fast out first. Then go for the rest of the ones I find challenging or mundane and boring so that you can treat yourself to easy tasks later. Take the same approach to give chores to your young ones. Start them off on the easy duties. And slowly help them skill up. Whatever the undertaking, please ensure it has some fun or reward element added to encourage the child to engage in the process. Also, doing chores should not be seen by the child as a form of punishment or a way to keep the child from having some child-sized fun.
Classifying tasks by child’s age and capabilities
That is the easiest part! Yes, it is true. Pick a task, any task. Think of your child and their current ability to carry out that chore. And voila! You have your answer. Please, and I repeat this, do not give your kids assignments that are hard for them to do at their current age or capability. It will make them hate or dislike doing chores. Growing up, my parents started by making us do tasks in old school style. But one visit from a family friend who lived in Canada and kaboom. Before you knew it, my brother and I became chore champions. My parents went all guns blazing on setting up a chore chart and a reward system. Guess what? It was fun. My brother and I had fun doing chores. We also got some form of reward, and as we grew, this turned into pocket money. Very useful for two kids with big plans, LOL. But it did work.
Here is a list of everyday chores, and I encourage you to set them and segregate them based on your child’s age and handling capacity.
1. Taking out the trash
2. Making their bed
3. Helping set the table at meal times
4. Help mum or dad make packed meals when needed
5. Mowing the lawn
6. Watering plants in the home garden
7. Taking care of their pets
8. Cleaning their room or study spaces after use
9. Putting their toys away
10. Cleaning up after meals
11. Washing dishes after each meal and keeping them back in its place after finishing each meal when at home
12. Washing the family car
13. Helping mum or dad with the laundry
14. Folding clothes and keeping the wardrobe neat.
The list can go on and on. These are a few examples that I could think of, but there are many more. Now, if you look at what I have listed, you will see most of them can be done by children between the ages of 5 to 18. Why did I say five and not 4? Because you start teaching them from 18 months and keep at it till they are five years old. As mentioned, ensure the chores have a light-sided approach but with a life-skill type of learning. Children learn and grow to become what their parents prepare them. Teach them reasonably. They will turn out well!
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