I’m going to dip my toes into the big chores debate that is all over the web and in many parents conversations for ages now. Shoot, I’ve had this big debate with my own family members many times over.
The big debate: When is it too young to start kids with helping do chores?
The answer in my book is there is always some type of chores for kids even as a baby. Now my kids are all eager beavers to pitch in and get the chores done in our home. They know the sooner the chores are done the more time we have to play.
I have always made it a golden rule that no one gets to do anything fun until my house is in order. It will NEVER ever (at least while there are kids living in my home) be spic and span like my Mom kept her home. Although, I like the fact of having a super duper clean home, I know with kids running around and actually living in a home it’s not realistic in my world. I personally like to play to much with my kids and spend time with my husband for all the work that would be involved with keeping this house spic and span. (It’s presentable for company a vast majority of the time–there are a few times when I would bury my head in shame if someone would stop by, but those are few and far between. Even then it would only take a very short period of time to get it back in order.)
Anyways, back to my main point…
I see all of these chore chart suggestions starting kids with doing things around the house when they are two or even older. Yet, I’ve always had my kids eagerly wanting to help me as soon as they could start walking. So, guess what folks, I’ve let them. I didn’t push them away or tell them no…
Babies can do so many things.
Since Zeva has been able to walk she has done this long list of things:
-put dirty clothes in the hampers
-dust surfaces (granted it not in any certain method, but it gets done.)
-put her toys away
-helps me make her bed (and mine)
-puts chairs back in their place
-helps me change clothes over from washer to dryer
-and so many more things, but those are the little ways she helps keep this house in order.
My boys have been doing chores of their own for ages now too. My boys do their fair share of independent tasks daily too. Jimmy is even learning how to mow grass and use a weed eater at age 9.
Younger kids are more than willing to learn to do chores. It’s far easier to teach them when they are young than when they are older. I’ve already noticed that Jimmy is filled with the pre-teen attitude, and challenging any direction I give him.
It’s far better for kids to know how to do things on their own!
A child that knows how to do things on their own gains loads of self-esteem and pride. They also yearn to do things they see us do. They want to grow up.
Guess what, doing chores is a part of growing up. It’s a part of life. They are going to need these skills when they move out. A parent isn’t going to be there to do all the things it takes to run a home for them for the rest of their lives.
I completely agree. My daughter is four and she has been helping with chores for years. She like to help move the laundry over from the washer to drier or put away the silverware from the dishwasher. I wish I had done this with my boys.
Thank you for agreeing. I catch heat for it all the time that my kids help out around the house like they do. They WANT to do it. They thrive on it and love it with a passion.
You are right – it really is NEVER too early to start! My kids started helping me with chores at about 18 months!
Glad to know I’m not alone with my thoughts on this issue. 🙂
My children always had chores around the house too, from a very early age. The amount of their responsibility grew as they did. I think our job as mothers is to teach our children how to do for themselves, not to forever do for them. My kids are now in their late 30’s and 40’s and very much appreciate that I taught them how to do things.
I appreciate the fact that my mom taught me to be independent too. If she hadn’t I would have been up creek without a paddle when I was 23 yrs old and a single mother. I would have had a rude awakening for me.
Thanks for commenting.