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CHORES: HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO HELP AROUND THE HOUSE

Most parents believe that children should participate in chores around the house.  Not only can children make a real dent in the work needed to keep the house and family running smoothly,  but there are also a number of long-term benefits for children who participate in regular chores.  By doing chores, children learn to take responsibility.  It helps them develop life-long habits of order.  They also can develop a sense of pride that they are a contributing member of the family and are helping to make the family work. Also, children are learning valuable real-world skills that they'll need in later life, from cooking and pet care to how to sort laundry.

However, no matter how valuable participation in chores may be, it is not always easy to get children to do so willingly.  Here are some ideas to help make chore-time go smoothly in your house:

Make sure that the chores you are asking for are age-appropriate and that  your child is capable of performing them. Teach her how you want the chore to be done and realize that she will become more proficient with a little practice and supervision.  If there is something that you want done perfectly, that is not a task to assign to a child.

Be specific about what needs to be done.  "Clean your room" can be vague and overwhelming.  "Put the blocks and  books back on the shelves and put your clothes in the hamper" is more specific. 

Put a time limit on the task--"We'll clean up for 15 minutes." 

Have a regular routine that children expect.  One family has a nightly "clean-up time" right before dinner.  All four kids, Mom, and Dad work together to put the house in order before dinner is served. 

Use a chart or schedule as a reminder system.  Charts not only clarify exactly what is expected and when it should be done, but children find it satisfying to indicate when a chore has been accomplished with a checkmark or sticker.  For non-readers, use a system of pictures.

Make chore time fun.  Put on some rousing music and turn up the volume.  Write chores on slips of paper and put them in a "chore jar" for kids to pull out.  Assign jobs that kids enjoy (some kids like to vacuum or polish shoes!) 

Be consistent in the chores you expect your child to accomplish and, if they are not accomplished, there should be consequences. On the other hand, you can make occasional exceptions when your child is excused from chores (but be sure to label it as an exception).

Praise your child when a chore has been accomplished.  "Look at how pretty the table looks with the napkins folded that way" or "It makes me feel good to have the house look so nice before dinner" send the message that you appreciate your child's efforts.