The Importance of Household Chores for Children

Today's child has a lot of things: a lot of toys and material possessions, a lot of schoolwork, and a lot of extracurricular activities. Yet one thing that many children today don't have is chores. Although household chores have historically been a part of childhood, many families no longer assign chores to their children. Some parents feel that children don't need to do chores when their days are already so busy with school and activities. Other parents resented doing chores as children, and want their own children to have an easier life. And still others employ household help to do many of the chores that often traditionally fell to children.

Chores should be an important part of childhood. They teach responsibility and respect, and they allow your child to see herself as both an individual and part of a family. Young children love to feel important when they help out, and chores (even simple ones) let them contribute to the family on a regular basis. Something as easy as placing the napkins on the dinner table helps a small child participate in meal preparations. It also shows him that everyone needs to help get dinner ready, rather than teaching him the idea that, when he is hungry, a meal is simply prepared for him.

One of the questions parents often have concerning chores is whether the latter should be linked to an allowance or monetary reward. This is a matter of personal opinion and preference. Some parents feel that an allowance gives the child a reward or benefit for doing her chores. The weekly allowance (often 50 cents to $1 for every year of age) may be given when the chores are successfully completed. A child can also earn additional money by doing extra chores.

Other parents do not believe in tying the chores to any sort of allowance or reward. They may give their children a weekly allowance, but it is not a benefit of doing chores. Their philosophy is that the child should do regular chores simply because he is a part of the household, not because he is being paid to do so. One of the risks of connecting the chores to an allowance is having the child decide that she doesn't want the money, so she doesn't need to do the chores.

Whether or not you use a money incentive for chores, the most important thing is to assign weekly, age-appropriate responsibilities. Young children can help sort laundry or put it away, help set the table and keep their rooms clean. Elementary-school-age children can help wash the dishes, vacuum, dust and make their beds. Start when your children are young, and chores will be a normal part of life for your family.