Prepare Your Child for Adulthood by Having Them Do Chores

One of our top priorities in parenthood is raising responsible, mature adults, but how do we help our rambunctious toddler or moody teenager grow into an adult with a strong work ethic? It begins by having children do chores at home. By helping out, children learn to take pride in their home while realizing that all members of a family unit must work together to keep a nice home.

2-5 Years Old

It might seem silly for a bouncing toddler or preschooler to help out around the house, but if given simple tasks, young children can begin to learn the lesson of chores at an early age. It is much harder to fight with a preteen about doing chores when they have never had to do them before. Making chores a routine is a necessary part of young children learning to help out. Keep the tasks simple by having them pick up their own toys, place blankets on beds and put books on bookshelves. Young children also seem to always have fun throwing clothes in hampers. You can also have them help you while you’re cooking in the kitchen so they can learn valuable food preparation skills.

6-11 Years Old

Children this age can really start to become an asset around the house. Instead of just putting clothes in hampers, youth this age can begin separating and putting their own clothes away and eventually doing their own laundry. Floors are a great responsibility for older children, who now have the ability to sweep and mop. Many people don’t realize that dirty floors can affect the health of those frequently walking on them. At this age, they should be responsible for keeping their own rooms tidy and organized. Dusting is a great option for your growing child, and having them help out with grocery shopping and carrying the items into the house is the perfect way to make your child feel needed.

12-18 Years Old

By the time a child reaches their teen years, they can really begin to carry a part of the workload around the home, which in turn is great preparation for when they will enter the real world. A child is now old enough to do chores requiring care for safety, like using a vacuum cleaner or mowing the lawn. Outdoor chores are a great option for teaching responsibility during the teenage years, and your teenager can get to those chores that are often forgotten. Cleaning gutters is a commonly overlooked chore that causes significant home damage, so assigning this responsibility to your teenager is a good way to get the job done as well as teach them valuable adult skills.

Giving your child chores that are appropriate for their age is the perfect way to teach them discipline while also making the child feel important and needed around the home. These are all skills sure to carry your child over into adulthood