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Getting Your Children To Do Chores

By Carol Ann
Jun 30, 2009
Is it just me, or do children seem to be born with an anti-work gene? Every time you ask them to do chores, do you they complain, and argue with you to the point where you find yourself in a power struggle? How can you get them to their chores without the screaming and actually want to do them?

They have to want to do the work; they have to take ownership in what they are doing. When they are young it doesn't matter if it is done exactly right, as long as they try and make an effort. As they get older, it becomes more and more important for the work to be done right. It doesn't count if you do something and then have to do it over again because you didn't put your full effort into it.

It is difficult for a child to understand the difference between doing something and doing something right. The concept of doing something right the first time or not doing it at all, is overwhelming to them, and many time makes them not want to attack the task at all. You need to start off small, with chores that they can accomplish and them bring in the more complicated tasks little by little.

Everybody in the family has to help out with jobs and tasks and that means getting everybody in the family to help in the process. Helping each other out is what family is all about, if you cant count on each other, it is hard to build that trust with anyone else.

You also want to make sure that the chore are appropriately given to each child, based on age. Your ten year old may be in charge of taking out the garbage, but this is to much of a task for your five or three year old. Instead assign the five year the task of feeding the dog and dusting the tables, while the three year old has to pick up the toys and put them in the toy bins.

Now it's time for rewards! Although you may feel that a job well done and a feeling of accomplishment is all that they need, but older children may also require some monetary rewards. As your children get older, their allowance should be directly related to the work that they complete. although smaller children do not need money, they still enjoy receiving even the smallest amounts. No matter what the award, however, it she always be accompanied with some form of verbal praise and a thank you for a job well done!
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