Kids In Household Chores

It helps them pick skills that last lifelong.

- Santosh Pattanaik

Parents often wonder if they should really give their kids domestic chores. After all, isn't it the parents' responsibility to manage the household? And don't kids need an opportunity to 'just be kids' for now, because they have the rest of their lives to worry about chores?

They may feel guilty asking their children to help; after all, children are so busy with all the other demands on them from school, peers and extra-curricular activities that you may be reluctant to add to their pressures.

One of the most frequently cited causes of over-indulgence stems from parents doing too much for their children and not expecting enough of them. Children are selfabsorbed and concerned mainly about themselves and their own needs.

They do not naturally consider the needs and expectations of others. Working at activities that are not immediately gratifying to them is not inherently on their agenda.

As such, giving your child chores may be one of the most important things you'll ever do. The size of the task does not matter; the responsibility associated with it does. A child has to have some responsibilities.

When kids are allowed to participate in something that is larger than their own selves, a sense of life purpose grows. They make them feel needed, helpful and important. We all crave to feel needed and to know that we’re making a contribution - even kids.

Young children naturally want to be a part of the family and want to help. But they can’t feel that way if they don’t have chores and make contributions to the family.

CAPABLE YOUNG ONES