|Make a Difference.....|
Here are tips for making chores a natural part of your family's routine.
Start early. Your 2-year-old can put clothes in the hamper or "dust." By age 3 or 4, children can take on certain routine tasks: setting the table, picking up toys and helping make their beds. If older children are new to chores, begin gradually, adding a small task to their to-do list each month.
Work together. When possible, make it a family effort. Dedicate a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon to chores. Work side-by-side to clean the bathroom, rake the yard or tidy the dining room. Let your kids help choose the jobs they want to do.
Make it a habit. A set routine helps children remember their to-dos. For example, feed the dog every morning before school, clear the dishes every night after dinner, help with laundry every Saturday morning.
Leave money out of it. An allowance can help kids learn to manage money, but don't connect it to chores. Parents who pay their kids for routine household chores create the expectation that every contribution should be rewarded, when in fact chores are simply the price each person pays for being a member of the family.
Make chores age-appropriate and manageable
. You are the expert on what chores are doable (but perhaps slightly challenging) for your child. But if you're curious about expectations, check out this list of chores by age.
Be encouraging. Show your child how to do the task, and work with them until they can manage it on their own. Then provide support, not criticism. Even word choice matters. Encouraging them to "be a helper" (rather than asking them to help) and saying "Let's do our chores" (implying you're in it together) make children more likely to comply.