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BLOGS: Here's why you should make your children do chores

As a parent, there is nothing more frustrating than trying to get my children to do their chores. While assigning the tasks takes little effort, the struggle lies in the follow through.
children, housework, stock photo
Whatever your child's age, there's a chore that they can accomplish.

As a parent, there is nothing more frustrating than trying to get my children to do their chores. While assigning the tasks takes little effort, the struggle lies in the follow through.

Kids will protest and procrastinate until our patience runs out, and for many parents, it just seems easier to give in and do it themselves. The problem, though, is that when parents intervene too quickly when a child complains, the child learns that they don’t need to help out at home, and an important lesson is lost.

For me, the benefits outweigh the battles when it comes to my children and chores, but to some parents, chores are not meant for children at all.

A friend recently shared a photo on Instagram of her daughter vacuuming the house, with the caption, “How awesome is it when your 10-year-old can finally tackle one of your most disliked household tasks?” In response, many envious followers replied with comments such as, “This is why we have kids!” and “Can’t wait until my kids can vacuum for me!”

But for one commenter, the post was no laughing matter. “Making a kid do something that you hate is using and exploiting the kid unless the kid wanted to do it. The work of childhood is play and schoolwork/education not the housework. If they want to help we let them but we do not make/force them to do our housework. We teach them life skills but we do not make those skills their jobs,” the disgruntled reader quipped.

I agree that children should focus on learning, but the lessons that are most important for their development are those that happen outside of the classroom walls. Education will get them the jobs they need to support themselves financially, but life skills, like learning how to take care of themselves, will help them to live as independent adults.

The mistake that some parents make is thinking that children are too young for chores, or that chores can be cancelled out by sports or homework. But it’s the ability to balance both worlds that will be the most valuable lesson learned. Giving your kids even the smallest of tasks to do around the house, and encouraging them to complete those tasks, will teach them how to be competent, caring and considerate individuals, providing them with skills that they can take through their lives.

I believe that if children can use the TV remote or play a game on a device, then they can use the washing machine and sweep the floors. Kids are never too young to start chipping in - there’s a chore fit for every age.

Don’t give into their delay tactics, and remember that while they may not like doing chores now, they’ll enjoy the benefits of learning important life skills later in life.

Bianca Bujan is a mom of three, writer, editor and marketing consultant. Find her online at @bitsofbee.