May
27
Children and Chores
Filed Under Quick Tips | Leave a Comment
Quick Tip:
Getting kids to do chores: This is for any age group. Too many parents back off of asking their children to do chores or clean up their room because they remember fights with their own parents over the same issues. Seeking to avoid bitter argument, they simply do these things themselves rather than enlist the aid of the children. They are confusing the message — taking responsibility for oneself and one’s surrounding — with the the messenger — usually their mother. You are not raising children, your job is to raise competent adults — part of that entails them learning at an early age how to accept small disappointments (I’d rather play with my friends instead of mowing the lawn) so that later in life they can survive bigger disappointments. Be prepared to accept a job that isn’t done exactly perfectly. The point is to teach the child to contribute to their level of ability. Being an exacting taskmaster will only lead to the arguments you are seeking to avoid. If the child argues, don’t argue, sit down and explain why everyone has to contribute to family life. It may take a while, but in the end, you will raise happier, well adjusted adults who will be ready to take their rightful place in the world.