Kids and chores

If you’re a parent then you’ve likely experienced a power battle with your kids when it comes to enforcing chores. Well, it doesn’t have to be so stressful...

Childhood behaviour expert Laura Kiln joins the show to advise parents on how to get those mischievous munchkins to pull their weight around the house.

Encouraging kids to do chores

1) Make a schedule – clearly outline each family member's responsibilities, and post it in a well-used area. Acknowledge good work! This provides encouragement.

2) Keep it fun – Your attitude towards chores will greatly impact your children’s approach. If you complain about the work you need to do around the house your kids will adopt this same negative perspective. Turn up the music and get scrubbing!

3) Reward them - Laura says it's all about finding their currency. She suggests getting some tokens or buttons and sitting down with the kids to work out how many tokens/buttons a certain reward is worth. Children are really good at working out what's fair and it teaches children they have to work towards something to get it.

Why kids benefit from doing chores

Help to build skills
Build a sense of responsibility
Build self-esteem in feeling competent, helpful and capable.
Teach children that helping others is as important as being helped
Teach children that life includes some unpleasant (or just mandatory) tasks
Teach children that belonging to a group - whether it's the family, a workplace, or a community - involves making some contributions.

Laura recommends the following tasks for the following age groups:

2-4 years old

Help dust
Put napkins on table
Put away toys
Put laundry in hamper
Help feed pet

4-7 years old

"Help" is the important word at this age. Many of the chores will be done as a helper and slowly kids can graduate to doing them independently!
Help set and clear the table
Help feed pets
Help make bed
Help put dishes in dishwasher
Water plants

8-10 years old