Every parent knows how hard it is to convince their children to help inside the house. Kids get bored cleaning their rooms, and sometimes, they don’t want to move away from their gadgets or toys.
No matter the reason, the question remains: “How do I get my kids to do their chores?” Luckily, there are many ways to make these tasks enjoyable for children. In this article, you’ll find six things you can do to encourage household chores for your kids.
Benefits of Doing Chores for Kids
Like any life skill, it’s best to start young when involving your child in household chores––doing so brings many benefits for your kids.
Doing household chores for kids can:
- Learn necessary life skills such as cleaning, preparing meals, and more
- Build independence and instill a sense of responsibility at a young age
- Help organize their thoughts and belongings
- Give the feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment from completing their tasks
- Boost their self-confidence
Doing Chores for 5-Year-Olds: Tips and Tricks
Lead by Example
Kids often copy what they see from others, especially their parents. And as their primary role models, parents will want to set an excellent example so their children can follow suit.
Having a positive attitude towards chores is key to accomplishing this. If your child sees you having fun while doing chores, it encourages them to follow your lead and help you out.
Assign Age-Appropriate Chores
If your child is doing household chores for the first time, it’s important to assign them tasks that they can handle. Your child’s age, strength, temperament, and other factors are helpful considerations when handing out these tasks.
For example, chores for 5-year-olds can include any of the following:
- Making the bed
- Loading the dishwasher
- Putting away groceries
- Watering plants
- Emptying wastebaskets
Let Them Choose their Tasks
A great alternative to assigning chores for kids is to let them choose what to do. For example, you can create a list of household chores and allow your child to pick what they’ll do for the week.
This practice helps make them feel more involved with household duties, which can encourage them to help out more in the future. Moreover, it enables them to be responsible for the choices they make.
Stick to a Routine
It’s widely known that kids need the structure of routine, so why not incorporate chores into their daily schedule? Consider blocking out a specific time in a day for specific tasks, as your child will find it easier to follow when it’s ingrained in their routine.
For example, they can water the plants in the morning during summer so they can play more in the afternoon. While on school days, your kids can wash the dishes after dinner time.
Set a Timer for Completing Chores
Wondering how to get your kids to do chores? Consider tapping into their competitive side!
One great way to do this is to give them a specific time to focus on their task. For example, you can ask them to finish washing the dishes in 20 minutes. When they accomplish their assigned chore, they can receive an exciting reward.
Reward Their Efforts
Lastly, don’t forget to praise them for doing an excellent job on their chores! Incentives give your child something to look forward to after finishing their duties.
The reward can range from an extra 15 minutes of screen time to an additional scoop of their favorite ice cream flavor. But always remember to use material rewards in moderation, as we don’t want kids to solely rely on them to finish their chores.
Encourage Household Chores for Kids
Convincing children to do chores is no easy feat. There will be days when your kid won’t feel like getting on their feet and finishing their tasks. But pushing them in the right direction begins with you.
So if you’re wondering how to get your kids to do their chores, you can use these tips and tricks to turn these household tasks from a bore to a blast.
Discover more tips to make parenting more manageable in the Rayito de Sol blog.
