This article is part of the following topics:   Building Responsibility & Independence Early Elementary School Elementary School

Doing Chores Helps Your Child Develop Responsibility

In the past, children had to do their chores. Their work was the only way a family could survive. Today’s kids need chores for other reasons. They learn responsibility. They feel a part of the family. They learn to take pride in what they do.

Here are some tips on ways you can use chores to teach responsibility:

• Let your child have some choices. Allow your child to choose whether to walk the dog or fold the clothes. Offer choices about when chores are done. “Would you like to walk the dog before or after your snack?”
• Do not do anything for your child that she can do for herself.
• Make sure your child picks up after herself. Once she’s had a snack, teach her to rinse her plate and put it away.
• Praise your child for effort. Say, “Good job!” (Not “Good girl!”).
• Break large tasks into small ones. This is a skill to teach your child for homework as well as chores.

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