In the past in America, children were valuable workers. For example, they
helped on the arm or in the family business in order to bring in money. Just a
couple of generations later, attitudes have changed. Now children are hardly
expected to work at all. Modern children often don’t even do chores. This is
sad, because I think that they are missing something if they don’t help out at
home. Sharing in household tasks benefits children of all ages.
First of all, household tasks build skills. Very young children learn motor
skills and classification skills when they pick up their toys and put them away.
Talking about how to do things helps them learn to analyze situations. Older
children learn skills they’ll need as an adult. Cleaning and cooking may seem
dull, but knowing how to do them well makes life a lot easier. How many young
adults leave for college unable to do their own laundry or cook anything besides
a frozen microwave dinner? It’s amazingly common.
When everyone in a family helps out, the family is happier. Nowadays it’s
common for both parents to work . when they come home, they have more work to
do. Life is stressful and there’s no time for fun. By sharing household tasks,
everyone gains. Children can help their parents with simple tasks such as
picking up their own rooms, putting away their own laundry, starting dinner
occasionally, or taking care of younger siblings. Then the family can relax
together, and parent won’t feel like servants to their “couch potato”
offspring.
The most important thing children learn from helping with household tasks
is responsibility. Handling everyday tasks teaches organization and time
management skills. Children learn that chores have to be completed before they
can play, or before they get their allowances. Children who understand that
effort pays off will be more successful later in life.
Kids should not work all the time. A happy life needs balance. But if they
can successfully handle tasks at home, they will handle life better too. They
will know the satisfaction of doing a good job, be involved in family life, and
become more confident and responsible adults.
