As a parent, you can train your children to be responsible and disciplined by giving your children daily chores at home. What your children will get is not only a sense of responsibility, but also life skills needed when they grow up.
Of course, chores at home will be able to shape the children away from being spoiled. Also, it can shape the children to build their independence. The important thing to note, parents must give daily tasks according to their children’s age. The children have limitations to do home tasks which are still complicated.
The Importance of Implementing Children’s Obligations at Home
Applying the children’s duties and obligations at home can have a positive impact, of course, if done in the right way. Basically, humans need to feel needed. Children are no exception. They will like it if they know that they can contribute. So, what are the benefits of implementing children’s obligations at home?
1. Children’s obligations at home can teach survival skills
In fact, opportunities to develop basic survival skills often come from home life. Cooking, washing, tidying up are some of the skills that children will need in the future, when their parents are no longer around or when they finally move away. In school, these basic skills are not fully taught, but they are abilities that humans need to have in order to survive.
2. Chores at home teach responsibility and independence
Giving children regular chores as part of their obligations at home will be able to teach them responsibility. Also, asking the children to fulfill their own needs, such as washing their own clothes, cleaning their bedroom, or preparing their own utensils can build independence. Of course, this will be a plus when the children must live on their own.
3. Children’s obligations at home will teach teamwork
Involving the children in chores around the house will train them to be productive team members. Need to note that the family is a team that must help each other to be solid. Giving the tasks and obligations at home can develop strong teamwork skills that can be used when the children become part of a wider group, such as school or workplace.
4. Chores at home can hone communication skills
Also, assigning chores or obligations at home will give children the opportunity to develop their communication skills. This is because engaging in shared tasks will be able to encourage children to communicate clearly, negotiate, and work as a team. Keep in mind that these skills are expensive skills that will make it easier for the children to live their lives as adults.
5. Children’s obligations at home can build a strong work ethic
Surely, passion for work is a trait which is highly valued by the teachers at school or bosses in the office. To build a strong work ethic, parents can give tasks and ask the children to complete their own obligations at home, such as tidying up the bed, organizing clothes in the cupboard, and so on.
6. Children’s obligations at home can improve time management skills
Giving children the tasks and obligations at home can improve their time management skills. The children will experience how if they are faced with domestic tasks in addition to the obligation to complete school assignments on time. If this becomes a habit, then their ability to manage time will continue to improve. Of course, this will help them learn to prioritize, which is a skill that will be useful in the working world.
7. Children’s duties at home can be a means of bonding between family members
Asking the children to help with homework can be a means of strengthening bonding between family members. Surely, these tasks can create special moments between the children and their parents. Parents with a quiet type may become more active when faced with a shared task. The same goes for the introverted children, they will open more when doing work with other family members. Also, the young children are naturally happy to be asked to help with chores because it makes them feel important and boosts their self-esteem.
How to Implement Children’s Obligations at Home?
Of course, implementing children’s obligations at home must be done appropriately.
1. Adjust domestic tasks to the child’s age
The first way to implement children’s obligations at home is to adjust children’s obligations to their age. The tasks which are too difficult for the children can frustrate them. Conversely, work which is too easy can be very boring for them. Please ask the children to do tasks which are appropriate for their age. Also, it can adjust to their interests at that time. For example, toddlers who like to collect toys can be invited to put dirty clothes in the washing machine.
2. Involve your child in chores that concern the interests of many people
Not to only ask your child to do tasks which are in their own interest, such as clean up their bad room, wash their clothes, or tidy up their books. Also, involve your child in chores such as preparing dinner, sweeping the yard, washing the car, baking cookies, and many others. Chores like these surely can build a sense of responsibility and participation in children.
3. Invite the children to discuss domestic work
For older children, try to engage them in discussions about domestic work. Also, encourage them to give their opinion. This activity can be a great way to exchange ideas and opinions about which tasks are suitable for them to do and which ones might be difficult to do. In addition, give children the opportunity to give solutions.
4. Do the task together
Usually, children will refuse to do their chores because they do not want to do it themselves. Or it could be because they do not know how to start. If your child seems reluctant to do domestic work, please try to get your child to finish it together. Also, you can give examples or steps that the child needs to do so that the work can be completed faster.
Tips for Getting Children to Do Their Obligations at Home
Usually, children have many reasons for not completing their obligations at home. Parents need some special tips so that the children want to do these tasks.
Here are some tips for getting children to do their obligations at home:
1. Don’t be a perfectionist
As a parent, you may have your own standards regarding neatness or cleanliness, but do not expect your children to reach those standards. Please let them do their job regardless of the outcome. It is better to focus on the process, not the result.
2. Don’t procrastinate
Probably, many parents think that their children are too young to do homework. But children may be more capable than the parents think. Delaying giving your children the tasks can make it more difficult for them to adopt the habit.
3. Don’t hesitate to give praise
As a parent, you do not hesitate to give your children praise. There is no need to wait for the task to be completed first to be able to give them praise. You should give your children praise and encourage them when they are trying to complete their tasks. Just create positive momentum so that your children are always excited when it is time to do homework.
4. Be consistent
Be a consistent parent, including in implementing the children’s obligations at home. Usually, children who are not encouraged to keep doing their chores will start to put them off in the hope that someone else will do it for them. will do it for them. Also, you can make a daily schedule and stick it on the refrigerator door to make it easier for the children to remember.
Examples of Children’s Obligations at Home Based on Age
Apparently, there are many examples of children’s obligations at home that the parents can apply. Of course, all of this must be adjusted to the age of the child, the size of the home, the type of furniture, and many others. Besides having obligations, the children also have rights that the parents must fulfill.
Here are the example of rights and obligations of the children at home:
1. Children’s obligations at home: toddlers (2-3 years old)
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- Clean up the toys and put them in their place after use.
- Put the books on the shelf.
- Put dirty clothes in the basket.
- Defecate on their own (toilet training).
2. Children’s obligations at home: preschool (4-5 years old)
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- Cleaning up what they drop after eating.
- Brushing their own teeth.
- Undressing themselves and getting dressed with help.
- Setting the table for meals.
- Helps prepare food under supervision.
- Helping put clean clothes into the cupboard.
- Helping to shop for groceries and put them away.
3. Children’s obligations at home: school age (6-11 years old)
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- Watering the garden.
- Helping with washing clothes, drying, and folding them.
- Taking out the garbage.
- Helping with food selection and shopping.
- Help prepare and serve meals under supervision.
- Sweeping and mopping the floor.
- Making the bed room.
- Cleaning sinks, wiping chairs and tables.
- Storing crockery and cutlery.
4. Children’s obligations at home: teenagers (12-18 years old)
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- Discuss bedtime, curfew, and screen time with the parents.
- Responsible for preparing meals for the family.
- Help wash the car.
- Help looks after younger siblings.
- Mow the lawn and organize the garden.
- Helping to look after the shop if the parents own a shop.
- Painting the walls.
