Three cheers for chores!

I was raised being assigned chores, but never being taught how to do them properly. then my mother, who has a bit of OCD would come in and do it herself anyway or re-do it, EVERY time. The result: I got married and knew how to do almost nothing in the house. I had to learn it all from scrathc, cooking, cleaning, and laundry. I definitely agree that it is very important to teach and assign chores to children. My girls are 4 and 6 years old (also have a 6 month old, but she is still too young) and have been doing chores since the time they were very young. When I was placed on bedrest during my pregnancy, my older girls were able to help keep up with the house and care for themselves.

I agree with you here zandi, my children have small chores to do around the house and I think it is good for them to feel they are contributing to the work of the household! As they grow and can cope with more they are given extra chores but never too many! xxx

I grew up doing all the chores for the animals on the farm, even my brothers animals. My brother had no chores to do. I went to work full time at 16 and still had all the animals to care for, bought my own car and didn't get any money except gifts from my parents the day my first check came in. My brother is 25 just started working last year, had his car bought for him, gets money from my dad every 2 weeks and still lives at home. My 3 year old son feeds all the animals with our help and makes his own bed every day. For that he gets $2 a week from his dad. We think he is not only learning to be responsible for his pets and help out around the house but is learning the value of working for his money. It is his money to spend as he wishes and he earned it. Most weeks he blows it on silly kid things but he wants a special toy right now and has been saving for 3 weeks to get it, another 2 weeks and we are going to go and get it for him with his money (and ours as it would take him a year to save up enough).

this is so true ! Now just to get a 2 year old to put away toys lol

Great information as my daughter has her chores.

Indeed. Instilling good habits that last a lifetime is a primary responsibility of parents. Teaching youngsters to do things they don't want to because it is part of belonging to a team (the team called family) will pay dividends in adulthood concerning when they have their own families and also how well they do in their work life when cooperation is crucial. It's not our responsibilty to shirk the hard stuff, either. Riding herd on the kids to see that chores get done is part of the parenting job description.

it also will benefit them as adults so they will know how to take care of themselves !

Yes,I am a firm believer in children having chores. It teaches them resonsibility and really makes them feel better about themselves. If they don't have chores then they will find something else to occupy thier time whether it be good or bad.

Oh my, you reminded me of my first husband! His family was old fashioned...dad worked and mom did everything around the house. After we got married, he would stop by his mom's house on the way to work because she was still making him his lunches!! What an insult! I agree about making chores madatory, but what a chore it is for me trying to instill this in my 5 year old! She wants to help with the dusting and dishes, but she absolutely refuses to pick up her own mess! She empties out her toybox and the only way she'll pick them up is if I help her. Maybe I'm too soft, but I'm pulling my hair out trying to get her to pick up after herself!