Chores and More
Jun 19 '00
Chores are an inevitable part of life for all adults, and I believe they should be a part of life for children as well. There are many lessons that even small children can learn from small tasks.
Children who are assigned chores are usually more disciplined, motivated, and responsible. They learn the meaning of a good work ethic, and that hard work does have rewards.
We as parents have the responsibility to teach our children how to be productive, respectful citizens. By assigning our children chores, starting when they are small, we are fostering the attitudes of self-reliance, obedience, and accountability. We are also teaching them how to maintain a household of their own someday.
It is often very easy for parents to think, "I will just do it myself", as this is truly much easier for us most of the time. Yet, we must remember that when we provide tasks for our children, we are teaching them important values and ethics, as well as how to share the responsibility that managing a household entails.
Here are a few key factors that parents may want to focus on while trying to teach children the importance of chores:
• Children learn by example. Both parents must also have chores to do, and must complete them without complaining.
• Be patient with your child. He is learning.
• Encourage your child, and praise him for a job well done.
• Assign chores that correspond to the child's age. Do not give chores that the child finds truly difficult to do.
• If at all possible, let the child choose which chores he would like to do.
• Be consistent. This is very important. Many of us assign chores in anger, then forget about them within a few days, and end up not enforcing our own rules.
• If you will be rewarding your children for completed tasks, discuss this in advance with them. If you will be penalizing your children for uncompleted tasks, discuss this in advance with them.
• Set a time limit for chores to be completed. Adhere to it.
• Try to include the entire family during "chore time". It is difficult to be the only one that is working while everyone else is relaxing or watching television.
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Once you decide to implement family chores into your household, you will need to determine how everyone will know what their jobs are. Try using Chore Charts. These are very helpful, and leave everyone without excuse.
A central chart can be placed where everyone can view it, or an individual copy can be made for each member of the family.
A chart can be utilized whether you choose to give rewards for jobs done well, or penalize for jobs not done or half done. Just be sure to include instructions and specifications for these on the chart.
A chore chart can easily be made on your computer or you can draw one by hand. On your computer, use a word processing program for neat tables and clean graphics, and then print as many copies as you need. If you save the format you can reuse it week after week.
List times (days of week) and names at the top, and chores on the left side. Alternately, you can list the chore and frequency on the left side, and who and when at the top. The format does not matter, so long as everyone understands it.
If you would rather use a pre-made chore chart, there are many available for purchase online and offline. However, I found some online that you can print out for free!
Try one of these:
http://www.organizedhome.com
http://family.disney.go.com/Features/family_0000_02/dony/Chores0698
http://www.tipztime.com/chorecharts/freechorecharts.html
http://members.ficom.net/tazz4/chorechart.html
http://www.christianadhd.com/freeresources.html
Also available online are software programs. Some are free, some are not.
Here are links to one free download and one shareware download:
http://www.choresandrewards.com/ - Free Download
http://www.halcyon.com/toml/tko/children.htm - Shareware Download
Remember, you can instill important values by assigning chores. Check out various chore charts and begin using them as soon as possible. Your children will someday thank you.
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