Chores…A Necessary Evil?

It’s Not Fun, but necessary……..teaching your children how to do chores.

I am afraid in our fast paced society, in homes where both the momma and dad have to work, and even places where parents would simply rather not take the time…it is not always being done.

But, we should always teach them how to do chores.

Take the time to teach them how to do simple things when they are 3 or 4 years old…
1.) help dry dishes
2.) dust tables
3.) pick up toys

A five to ten year old…..
1.) wash the dishes
2.) empty the dishwasher
3.) fold clothes

Preteen/teen….
1.) load the dishwasher
2.) sweep or vacuum
3.) sort and do laundry

Ironing, mopping the floor, cleaning the bathroom….you complete the list.

“Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 11:9

Children need to learn how to do these things, and be made to do them. In our home we did not give an allowance for “doing chores” because we believed that was just being a part of the family and helping out. They were given a certain amount of money and if they did not do their work, money was taken away. That was just our system.

Let them learn. Take time. Don’t go back over their work and do it again, so turn lose of some of your “perfection”. I had to learn to do that over and over. There were times that I know I went back over something one of the boys had done and totally took away any pride that they had in the completion of the chore.

Trust me when I say that they will be off living on their own sometime. I have seen many young adults living alone unable to do many basic things because they were not taught how to do so or /and it was always done for them.

Friends, we owe our children instruction in many areas, just do not forget those simple chores…who knows you might be developing a really nice work ethic!

~Be Blessed

ETSA