Parenting In The Know: Chores
Chores: When to Start & How To Do Them. (Just in time for summer!)
Chores are an important part of family functioning and summertime can be a good time to rethink them. It’s a good idea to teach children at an early age that all family members must work together to make the household run. Here are some quick tips on children and chores.
Start early and teach the chore to your child. Teach it one step at a time by breaking it down into small parts. Be sure to explain as you go along.
Monitor the chores initially to help make sure your child can do it correctly.
Set up a reward system, such as an allowance or screen time, when chores are completed.
If your child refuses or forgets to complete the chore, don’t immediately complete the chore for them. Provide a logical consequence, such as not earning the designated reward.
Try not to nag or remind too much. If your child is very young they may need help remembering when it is time to do the chore, but as they age, it is important for them to learn the responsibility of doing it.
Change the type of chores as your child grows. You know best what your child can and can’t do. It is good to give additional or more complicated chores as children age.
Praise! Praise can go a long way. Be sure to let your child know when they are doing a good job and thank them.
Allison L. Sallee, LP, LMFT-S