Getting kids involved in household chores has been a debatable topic. Some believe that it teaches them a lot whereas some strongly feel that we have to let kids be kids as childhood is short and that they have to enjoy this period. Well, moderation is the key. As parents our responsibility lies in ensuring the balance is right between work and play.
1.Learn Skills
The most important reason to get the children involved in doing chores is to expose them to life skills that are involved in running a home. Therefore it is very essential for them to know the basics of cleaning, cooking, budget, grocery shopping and so on. Your home becomes the best training ground for the kids to learn all of these major life skills. Involving the kids in chores right from a younger age makes it just a part of their life.
2.Sense of accomplishment
This is an unbeatable feeling of goodness that the kids will experience while taking part in chores. The very sense of contribution to the family along with the acknowledgement by parents will make them feel that they have accomplished a significant task. Well of course,they have!
3.Responsibility
Entrusting children with chores as per their age will help them connect with the respective things and will help them build a sense of ownership. The sense of being responsible about their belongings and surrounding will be much needed as they grow up.
4.Respect
Any life skill is best learnt when one does it. As children engage themselves in chores,they are able to understand and appreciate the nuances involved in that particular activity. E.x. Setting up the bed, buying vegetables or kneading the dough. As they evolve in the process,they begin to respect the doer(parent) and also values the things involved in it. For instance,when children are engaged in cutting/washing/sorting vegetables,they begin to value food and become hesitant to waste food.
5.Gain confidence
Confidence is a direct product of doing. The more the kids are involved in the team, the more they do and more confident they become.
6.Plan and Organise
Planning and organising are two major life skills that can be well learnt in the house. Thinking ahead about what needs to be done and to manage the consequences of not having done an activity are skills that one has to acquire to make life flow easily. For instance,kids can be taught to check if they have their school uniforms washed for the upcoming days of the week. This will inculcate a sense of preparedness. Arranging the books in the school bag and ensuring they have the required stationary will help them to be organised.
