Getting your kids to do chores can be a pain sometimes but unless you want to be the one doing everything all the time it’s a great routine to get into.
This is a huge gift to you and your kids. Really! Kids need chores.
When you allow kids to do chores they learn responsibility for themselves, service to others, and get to watch you allow yourself to receive, which is good self-care.
If they learn these skills early they will be more likely to understand how important those qualities are to being a healthy adult.
Obviously, age-appropriate chores make the most sense, but they’re capable earlier than you think.
I have two tweens and a teen now, but even when they were only two or three they could take their plates into the kitchen, scrape them and add them to the dishwasher or to me for rinsing.
Laundry is another easy starter. From sorting the dirty clothes to putting them away, we started this one early too.
Sometimes I think I got them to do more then than they do now. Although I guess they certainly were more willing back then when it was fun as toddlers rather than just an annoyance as tweens.
So back to why kids need chores and how it can have such an impact on your life and theirs.
This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission at no additional charge to you if you make a purchase using my links. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.
#1 Kids need chores to show the importance of responsibility.
This one is pretty obvious.
Get them to pick up after themselves. Have a routine. Know how to do certain tasks that are part of everyday life.
It also makes them realize how much goes into running a household.
This will serve them over and over again.
The older they get you can begin to add layers, drive the skill level deeper.
For example, maybe they have advanced from sorting laundry all the way up to doing the laundry.
But how about showing them how to shut off the water to the house in case of an emergency.
Not just the how, but the when, where, and how to do it all safely.
I can’t believe how many people can’t do tasks that are part of being an adult. I recently talked to a 65-year-old woman who is now alone and she had no idea how to do this!
Get a FREE Printable Chore Chart
#2 Kids need chores to value service to others.
When kids learn how to help others whether as part of a family, as a friend, or as part of a community they begin to realize that the world is bigger than just themselves.
Because more layering comes in, it adds that work ethic goes beyond just personal gain as happens with being responsible for your own stuff, like above.
Kids learn there is satisfaction in doing for others. They become more grateful and less entitled. They begin to recognize others in need of help.
#3 Kids need chores to learn the importance of self-care.
Huh? Yup, here’s how.
When kids learn step two, service for others, it will most likely start at home. That means it’s helping you.
When you allow them to help you, to watch you delegate tasks off your plate and receive that help graciously, you teach them self-care through modeling it.
Every time you take time for yourself while others in your house begin to do all those tasks you once heaped on your plate, you reinforce how much you value yourself.
Saying no to doing more for them, when they can do it themselves teaches this also.
It requires a lot of letting go of control. Letting go of perfectionism in how things are done.
If it’s done, no matter if it isn’t the way you’d do it, it’s off your plate.
For all the complaining us moms do that no one helps us and we’re overtired and overwhelmed, we must learn to loosen up and let go of most of it.
If you let them help, you will begin to feel better, have more time for yourself.
You will feel less resentful, more grateful, and happier.
That will begin to impact every other area of your life.
It can make a dramatic difference.
Don’t think so?
If you, not them you, changed the most because of it.
If you had less to do, you wouldn’t be as overwhelmed.
You’d be less resentful and more relaxed. So your morning and evening routines would be smoother.
That means you’d probably yell less and thank people more, so the kids would be more likely to help out even more.
You’d be less tired and have more time for yourself and your spouse.
He’d be happier because he sees everyone else happier and calmer.
Overwhelmed with all life is throwing you? Check out these worksheets. Subscribers can find them in The Vault. Not a subscriber? Click here.
Can you just imagine if it really worked?
I know it’s a pain to get them helping out…especially if they’re older.
And how hard it is to look the other way when it’s not the way we would do it.
But it’s so worth it.
It’s like anything else. You need to create a habit.
Like flexing a muscle it will get stronger and become easier to keep it going.
>> Need a bit of motivation?….use this 30 D.I.Y Challenge Sheet (instant download)
Give your tweens these chores and see what happens.
Want to know what happened when we tried this household task experiment over the summer?
It’s blank so use it for anything you want…30 days of self-care, exercise, chore routine, or even a marriage boost since you’ll have all that freed up time. (and energy).
I know that people think self-care is talked about too much or we don’t have time to deal with it. I’ve even seen people getting mad about it.
But I can tell you unless you want very bad things to begin to happen, you might want to reconsider.
Think I’m exaggerating?
Read this post on its impact on my marriage….and this one on my health. Just sayin’ 😳😬
