The Importance of Chores / Jobs for our Children
May 2025
Chores are routine but necessary tasks, such as washing the dishes or folding laundry. Research suggests there are benefits to including chores in a child's routine as early as age 3.
Children who do chores may exhibit higher self-esteem, be more responsible, and be better equipped to deal with frustration, adversity, and delayed gratification. These skills can lead to greater success in school, work, and relationships.
Attitudes toward chores vary considerably. Some children are eager to help, while others are not. However, there are many benefits from involving your child in age appropriate chores including:
Learning time management skills
Developing organizational skills
Accepting responsibility in the family
Providing an opportunity for success (especially for a child struggling in other ways)
Learning to balance work and play from a young age
Setting a good foundation for functioning independently
Set clear and reasonable expectations. Let your child know exactly what needs to be done. For example, "please take your plate to the kitchen after breakfast, and put it in the dishwasher."
Establish regular routines. For example, "Clean up before dinner."
Be consistent. Changing rules and expectations can create confusion and frustration.
For younger children, focus on small, manageable tasks. Make longer jobs fun and cooperative. Use songs or games if you can.
Be a good role model. Children will more easily learn to pick things up and keep their rooms neat if they see others in the family doing the same.
Don't forget to give positive feedback and reinforcement and join in a child's pride when a chore is done. For example, "Great job on the toys!"
Pick your battles. At the end of the day, a messy room is not the end of the world.
Remember these are skills and may require a learning process. It may seem faster to do the chores yourself, however, helping your child to learn these will be helpful in the long run. If you need to loop back to help them complete a task correctly, it may mean they are still learning. Picking a chore that is appropriate for your child will increase likelihood of success.
Sometimes it can be challenging to get your child to do chores. If your child is unable or unwilling to do chores, it can be frustrating. Try to understand the reasons why, and support them in working through these.
