How To Get Kids To Do Chores At Home Easily

Giving children household tasks is a great way to teach them some essential life skills. Parents should not feel guilty about assigning their children some basic chores. This will not only help kids become more responsible but also make them feel more confident by giving them a sense of accomplishment. Jobs can be as simple as watering the plants or setting the table, but the important question is how to get kids to do chores without much hassle?

To help you, here is an in-depth article that teaches the art of getting things done from your kids with ease. So, let’s get started…

Research has proven that kids who run errands from a young age turn out to be more independent in their adult life.

9 Easy Ways To Get Kids To Do Chores

If you are a parent who is facing challenges in this front, read on further to learn how to get kids to do chores at home easily.

1 Reward Them Mindfully. Children tend to show more interest in an activity when there is a reward offered. Sometimes, giving kids an allowance or pocket money will help them learn the relationship between work and pay. This will also help them comprehend that if they want something, they will have to put an effort towards the same.

However, a reward should not be the only reason for the child to do a chore; if the prize is not given, they may refuse to do the task. This is why it is important to create “intrinsic motivation”, meaning that the child should do a job because he/she enjoys it and finds it amusing.

2 Start Training Them Young. One of the best ways to get your kids to do chores is by preparing them from a very young age. Often, children like to imitate adults doing chores. For example, if your child sees you watering the plants, he/she might walk up to you and ask to do the same. Or, the child may even imitate this act while playing. Take good advantage of such opportunities when they are young to build the habit. It will be easier to teach a child than a teenager.

Children like to imitate adults doing chores. Engage them from a young age.

3 Praising Them Will Truly Help. Here is another simple trick to get kids to do their chores on a regular basis – motivate them with some praise. Children like to be appreciated in front of other people because it makes them feel good about themselves. They want to be acknowledged because it builds their self-esteem. Do not scold a child or push the child to do something. Instead, the emphasis should be on constructively motivating the child.

Keep it Fun!

4 Keep It Fun And Interesting. It makes sense to make chores interesting for kids. Make daily errands more enjoyable by involving games into a regular household task. Include it as a part of their playtime. For example, you can play some music and ask your child to dance around the room while tidying it up. You can also include role-playing. For instance, ask your child to dress up as a chef and set the table.

5 Assign Age-Appropriate Chores. It is essential to give chores according to their age. You cannot ask a child below three years of age to fold laundry. For a child aged around 4 to 5, the ideal chore would be to organize toys, pick weeds in the garden or water plants. Children above eight years but less than 11 years, can walk their pets, help load the washing machine or dishwasher, or change sheets. So, before you give your child something to do, see if he/she is old enough to do it.

Also, it is crucial to ensure that you are not assigning an older child extremely simple tasks. If you are unaware as to what tasks to give for your kid’s age, S’moresUp app can help. It not only lists different age-based tasks for kids but also helps you manage them on whole. Overall, it is a complete package that a parent might badly need.

6 Keep It Simple. The more complicated a chore is, the less likely it is that a child will do it. So, keep things simple. Ask your child to do a bunch of simple chores like folding the clothes, walking the dog, watering the plants, etc. Difficult tasks will seem boring.

7 Work With Them. Do not assign a task and expect a child to do it alone. Work as a team and teach your child how to go about a particular task at hand. For example, if you want the child to dust a table, first do the job and then ask the child to repeat after you or do it with you. It may take some time and practice for a child to take up a task independently. It is also a great idea to include the whole family and do chores together.

Work with them, make it a family thing and show them how it is done

8 Make It Part Of A Routine. Building a routine will make it more comfortable and easier for a child to adapt. For example, after breakfast, make it a habit for your children to wash their dishes or at least put it in the sink. Instruct them to put their toys back after playing or make the bed after they wake up. Eventually, these tasks will become a part of their daily routine, and they will do it out of practice every day. This way, you will not have to assign these tasks after a certain period.

9 Be A Role Model. Do not forget that your kids are always learning from you and watching your every action. If parents brood and complain while doing their chores, children will do the same. On the other hand, if parents approach chores positively and manage them well, so will the kids. This why it matters to set good examples by doing chores. Having a positive approach to it at all times also helps.

To Sum Up Things…

Psychologists say that children who continuously engage in activities such as doing chores around the house tend to develop better life skills. These kids will be smarter and perform better at their academics. Besides this, assigning different chores will help keep your children on their toes. It will also help them stay away from gadgets. So, the next time you see your child hooked on to that electronic device, go ahead and assign a chore.