Do you think that kids should have chores to do? I had to do my chores as a kid, and my kid will do the same thing. We were raised to respect others, especially elders, and we weren’t allowed to play outside if out chores weren’t done.

Things are really different today. There are five-year-olds who can’t even put on clothes without the help of their parents. Well, young, inexperienced parents are making a big mistake. They are raising an army of lazy kids who won’t be able to do anything later in their life.

Kids and chores

Braun Research conducted a poll, and the results were shocking. About 82% of all American parents did chores as kids. Only 28% percent asked their kids to do chores. Where did it all go wrong?

Kids these days are forced to take part in a lot of school activities and sports. When they come home, they do their homework, have dinner and go to bed. That’s all. No parent would ever ask their kids to do chores after a busy day at school. But, kids need to do chores.

The benefits of chores

A 20-year study conducted by the University of Minnesota found that our success is linked to the chores we did at 3 or 4. Children need to learn the work ethic, because it helps them get ready for a bright career.

According to this study, participants who started doing chores at an early age worked better in teams. Chores build strong foundation, and that’s really helpful later in life. Teach your kids that chores bring awards, and they will value their effort even more.

What do kids learn?

Chores shouldn’t be considered a punishment. It’s your way of teaching your kids how to become responsible adults. Chores can bring an entire family together, and they definitely improve one’s communication and creativity. Do chores with your kids to spend more time together, especially if your days are long and busy.

Chores bring a lot of benefits, and your kids learn a lot of new things:

• Responsibility
• Discipline
• Bonds with family members
• Work ethic
• Teamwork
• A lesson of failure and success
• Problem-solving skills
• Extra teachable moments
• Purpose
• Contribution to the family
• Pride

It’s time to create more teachable moments with your kids. It’s one of the ways to ease your workload and bring your family together at the same time. You will make a lot of memories, and your home will always be neat. What’s better than that?

Sources:
www.housebeautiful.com
www.wsj.com
www.bostonglobe.com