Train up a child…

Children Benefit from Chores

Many parents and grandparents search for ways to “keep kids busy” during the summer. Often the insinuation is that children must constantly be entertained and kept happy and having fun. Often overlooked is the value of having children do chores for at least a few hours each day. If a study were done of adults who did chores when young as opposed to adults who did not do chores when young, I feel confident that the more successful adults are those who had regular chores for which they were responsible as a child.

Often adults think it is much easier to do something themselves than to take the time to help a child learn to do it. This probably is true in the short term, but once a child has learned to do a chore correctly, that child can be a great deal of help. However, the real benefits are for the child rather than for the adult. The list is endless. Here are a few benefits:

• There is no way for a child to develop self-esteem or self-worth without actually being of worth or value. When a child does a task well, that child can honestly feel good about having done something of value.
• Children learn proper procedures for caring for belongings.
• Children learn about the effort that goes into making or growing something. This leads to greater appreciation of the effort others make on their behalf for the things they enjoy.
• Children get exercise when doing physical tasks. A lack of exercise can lead to depression. Physical exercise creates endorphins that fight depression.
• Vocabulary is increased as children learn the names of tools and cleaning agents and words used in giving instructions.
• Children learn that nothing in life is truly free. We each must work to obtain and care for wants and necessities.
• Self-discipline is learned in tasks that may not be the most pleasant and yet must be completed. This self-discipline leads to perseverance.
• Chores keep a child busy doing positive things when the time might otherwise be used doing things that may be harmful.
• When a child learns the proper care of his/her belongings, that child will have more respect for the belongings of others.
• Chores connected to gardening or the out-of-doors help children learn the names of plants and some principles they will later study in science classes dealing with botany.
• Chores related to the care of animals help children learn compassion and understanding that carries over in their relationships with people.
• Children learn to listen and follow instructions—a necessity for job success as an adult.

The list could go on and on. The benefits listed here are enough to justify adults taking the time to teach children how to do chores and to require that they be done. During the school year, children are so busy with school and homework that it is difficult to have children do very many chores. Summer is the best time for parents to concentrate on teaching those things that children need to know to care for their own home in the future. The parent who does not take advantage of this time is missing a real opportunity to shape a child.