Is it just me or does every kid complain about having to do chores? Its like every kid is born with an anti-work gene. So how do you get the kids to do the work that they should be doing anyway? Can you yell and scream until they do it? How do you get them to do those things and want to do them without complaining?
They have to want to do the work; they have to take ownership in what they are doing. When they are young it doesn’t matter if it is done exactly right, as long as they try and make an effort. As they get older, it becomes more and more important for the work to be done right. It doesn’t count if you do something and then have to do it over again because you didn’t put your full effort into it.
It is hard to get a child to understand the difference between doing something, and doing something right. It is hard to get a child to understand the concept of doing something right the first time and its not worth doing if you are not going to do it right. So you have to start it off small and work your way up to more complicated and important chores and jobs.
It is important that all member in the family help out with the chores, and the chore process. If someone needs help completed their chores then the rest of the family should lend them a hand. A family is about helping each other out and counting on each other, and that is something that can be learned through the chore process.
Chores should be distributed according to the child’s age. Do not expect your six year old to be able to complete the same chores as your ten year old. A three year old may be given the chore of picking up the toys and putting them in the proper buckets, while your six year old may be in charge of feeding the dog.
Now it’s time for rewards! Although you may feel that a job well done and a feeling of accomplishment is all that they need, but older children may also require some monetary rewards. As your children get older, their allowance should be directly related to the work that they complete. although smaller children do not need money, they still enjoy receiving even the smallest amounts. No matter what the award, however, it she always be accompanied with some form of verbal praise and a thank you for a job well done!
