In the past, getting paid to do housework was completely unheard of. Chores were a way for children to contribute to the family and parents would financially reward their children whenever they wanted. Today it is the opposite. Kids expect an allowance, and many parents are all too willing to pay a child for chores they should be doing anyway. You don’t charge your son to cook his dinner, do you? So they shouldn’t charge you to clear the table!
If you haven’t yet integrated required homework as a routine element in your child’s personal development, it’s time to start. Here are some age-appropriate chores that most kids need to do, and do for free.
From five to seven years: Clean the table – Wash the clothes separately – Clean your room. I have heard many people say that a five or six year old is too young to have responsibilities at home. While it’s true you wouldn’t have a five-year-old mop the floor or dust the furniture, he or she can help clear the dishes, separate the clothes into dark and light, and tidy up their own room every day. and each one. night before bed.
Eight to ten years: Clean bathrooms – Vacuum carpets. Between the ages of eight and ten, your child should begin to do tasks of a more meaningful nature. An eight year old can learn to vacuum and a ten year old should be able to clean mirrors and bathroom counters weekly.
Ages ten to twelve: Helps with yard work: takes out the trash. Tasks don’t have to revolve around internal work. A child from ten to twelve years old can also work outside the house. Picking up branches, raking leaves, and shoveling snow are great ways for children to help take pressure off their parents. They can also help by taking out the garbage on garbage day and returning the garbage cans to the house after the garbage has been picked up.
From thirteen to sixteen years old: Floor washing – Help with meals. Between the ages of thirteen and sixteen, your children should really start learning the skills they’ll need when they’re on their own. By giving them homework to do, you will help them learn the things that are not taught in schools. Cleaning the kitchen and scrubbing the floors seems simple, but you have to do it right. By asking them to do this task at home, they will know how to do it when they move on their own.
You can also have a child this age help prepare meals. Have her daughter cut a salad while she makes the pasta or have her son make the corn on the cob while she grills the chicken.
While your kids may not be thrilled with the new responsibilities they’ve been given, it’s actually for their own good. Everyone is part of the family and each person should contribute in a way that is appropriate for their age. As the famous saying goes: “One day they will thank you.”