• Home
  • Services
  • About
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Testimonials
  • Temperament Form
  • Workshops
Kerrie LaRosaParent Coach

When is the right time to start chores?

5/19/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
     Parents often ask me when is the right age to start chores and whether to give their children an allowance for doing chores. 

     Did you know that children as young as one can help out around the house. And guess what? They actually want to! It may seem surprising, but children actually want to feel like a contributing member of the household and they thrive when we uphold developmentally appropriate expectations. In fact, children who start chores at age 3 or 4 have better relationships, achieve more academic and career success and are more self sufficient than those that don't, according to Iowa State University. 

So what is the best way to handle chores in your household? 

1. Set realistic developmental expectations. A one year old can clean up their toys, throw something away in the trash and take their spoon to the sink after a meal. A four year old can help make dinner, set the table and make their bed. A seven year old can make their own lunch, help care for pets and sweep the floor. An eleven year old (and older) can help with the laundry, wash the car and mow the lawn. For a more complete list of age appropriate chores click here. 

2. Be consistent with your expectations. Children learn best when things are predictable and consistent. If you expect them to clean their room every day they will eventually do it without any prompting. But, if you expect them to clean it up one day and do it yourself the next day,  they will become confused about their responsibilities. 

3. Making the decision about whether to give an allowance.
I do not think that children need to earn an allowance for chores. Being part of a family or a community means helping care for the family or community and the space in which they live. Picking up after yourself, throwing litter away in the trash, and being respectful of how your noise level effects others is about empathy and respecting people with whom you share space. Modeling and showing them this respect is one of the most effective ways to teach them how to do this. However, I also think that teaching children lessons about earning, spending and saving money is valuable experience.  I recommend that children have to do some chores without receiving compensation. But, you could offer an allowance for doing an extra chore around the house (polishing silver, collecting the leaves, or washing the cars). 

In addition to teaching children about responsibility (and lightening the load for parents), chores children can benefit from chores in the following way:
* developing an in increased interest in keeping the house clean
* aquiring new skills
* spending time away from screens
* learning the value of teamwork
* spending time with family members (doing yardwork, working together on a house project)
* developing new interests (picky eaters might take an interest in cooking)

So, "if you want your child to keep their feet  on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders". (Abigail Buren). You might be surprised how much they enjoy it and how much it can help you out. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    RSS Feed

    Author

    Kerrie LaRosa is a parent coach and a mother of two children. She draws on her professional expertise and personal experience to provide tired parents with some quick tips, resources and fun anecdotes.

    Archives

    June 2018
    February 2018
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    January 2016
    August 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    August 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011

    Categories

    All
    Activities
    Allergies
    Baby
    Behavior
    Birth Order
    Book Review
    Children
    Development
    Discipline
    Doctor
    Gifts
    Halloween
    Holidays
    Language Development
    Learning
    Living In The Moment
    Moving
    Parenting
    Persistence
    Picky Eating
    Play
    Reading
    Resolutions
    Safety
    Sharing
    Sleep
    Speech
    Storm
    Stuttering
    Superstorm Sandy
    Tantrum
    Temperament
    Traditions
    Travel
    Waiting
    Yelling

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from brettneilson, rolands.lakis, koroshiya, beelerspace, kellywoolen, Amy McKenzie, nerissa's ring, surlygirl, Enrico Matteucci ☸, aarongilson, dawnhops, Peter Werkman (www.peterwerkman.nl), jem, National Assembly For Wales / Cynulliad Cymru, erin_everlasting, christine [cbszeto], emrank, imcountingufoz, frotzed2, ebmarquez, rumpleteaser, brewbooks, ToddMorris, nutrition education