SEVEN WAYS TO GET CHILDREN TO DO CHORES AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

Children will make a mess and think it will get cleaned on its own. You can’t always do the house chores on your own or depend on your help. What happens when your nanny calls in sick one day or you are just too tired?  You need to get your kids involved in some tasks at home. This builds a sense of responsibility in them, even when you are not around or they are away at boarding school, they can take care of themselves.

We all agree that house chores are tasking and boring, even some adults don’t like them. You don’t want your kids grumbling or nagging when you need to get some work done.

If you feel like you’re constantly nagging your kids to do their household chores, here are six practical steps you can take.

 

Consider how you do your chores: you are your kids’ role model and they will always like to try everything you do. If you take your chores very important and you do your cleaning every morning, wash the dishes after every meal, they will understand how mummy likes a clean house.

 

End the Distractions for Your Child: if it’s a cartoon causing the distractions or their phones, take it away for some time and instruct them to get their tasks done. Your kids shouldn’t play all day and expect magic to happen. Turn off the TV, lock their phones up in a box and instruct they get them back when every task is done. Try to help out with tasks or ask them to do their chores when you are doing yours so they don’t see you relaxing while they are working.

Set a Time Limit for Chores: in most homes, Saturday mornings are the days for general cleaning of the house. But some little tasks in between the week can also be fixed.  You could ask them to lay their beds before going to school, wash their socks when they are back from school and set a timer to make sure these tasks are done. Time limits are a good way to get your kids to do their tasks. Set up a time to get tasks done and reward them for it. ‌

 Don’t Use Chores as a Punishment: in as much as chores are the easiest punishment because you don’t want to go around spanking your child, it might be causing more damage at times. You want to train your child that a chore is an expected responsibility for everyone and not a punishment. You want your child to be aware of an unclean environment and have the mindset of cleanliness. For example, asking your older child to wash the dishes when it’s the turn of the younger child. This could create rivalry between your kids.

Don't Expect Perfection: Your kids won’t learn how to sweep the floor sparkling clean or lay their beds neatly in one day. If you are expecting perfection from your kids, trust me you will get heartbroken a million times before you remember they are just kids. Also, there are chores your kids will be good at and will prefer, ensure you give room for options.
Express appreciation, even if it wasn’t perfect: you don’t need to yell every time a task isn’t done right, you are slowly killing the confidence of your child without knowing it. Show appreciation first before criticizing or making corrections. Give words of encouragement, tell them they did a good job before giving comments on how to do it better.

Communicate why cleaning is important on a hygiene level

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness” should be taught from home and at a tender age. Your kids should know dirt causes germs and germs causes diseases that can make them sick. Let them know they won’t be able to play with their friends and watch their favourite cartoon. The fear of always hearing these will keep your house clean.

School is important and homework is also important. Chores shouldn’t get in the way of these things. Too many chores and responsibilities after school can get your child stressed and this can affect your child. You don’t want your child’s teacher saying your kid sleeps during class.  

 

Try these steps in getting your kids to pitch in at home and let us know how it goes.

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