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Children and Chores

by Beverley Paine

Chores help children understand that living in a family involves work and that every member shares the responsibility and the benefits. Through chores, children become more responsible and self-reliant; chores build self-esteem. As their confidence blossoms with each new task mastered, children learn necessary life skills and the ability to prioritize, organize, and use time wisely. Chores also help achieve one of our primary goals as parents - to teach children to be responsible and capable adults. A large part of the educational curriculum can be covered through learning and performing chores. Look through this list and think about which 'subjects' are naturally covered while doing or discussing each chore.

Use the following list of chores as an template to create your own Chore Chart. You can make laminated ones to pop on the fridge for each child, with chores appropriate to their individual developmental stages and abilities. Another idea which I thought would work well with younger children is to create a set of Chore Cards with pictures and captions. On the flip side could be a list of steps to follow, once again in pictorial form for younger children. You could select a handful of suitable cards and let your children 'draw a chore'.


Chores for the Whole Family

use good manners

study

set and clear the table

get dressed by self

read to self

help prepare food

make bed

answer the phone

make own snacks

brush teeth

answer front door

bake cakes, biscuits

shower, wash daily

carry in the groceries

wash the dishes

tidy bedroom

put away groceries

empty dishwasher

put toys away

take out the rubbish

put the dishes away

put library books in bag

empty wastebasket

wipe up spills

put away clothes

bring in the mail

clean the sink

say prayers

feed pets

take out the scraps

exercise daily

walk pet

clean fridge

put dirty clothes in laundry basket

clean pet's cage

organise & tidy cupboards

use the washing machine & dryer

emptying the kitty's litter box

reading to younger siblings

hang up the laundry

brushing the dog or cat

sweep the floor

fold the clothes

water pot plants

mop the floor

sort laundry

pull weeds

vacuum the carpet

iron clothes

rake leaves

shakes rugs

repair clothes

keep yard tidy

wash the windows

put away the clothes

pick flowers for table

clean bathroom

clean shoes

sweep front steps

clean toilet

waits on guests

clean away webs

help with dusting

child minding

carry in firewood

shred scrap paper

neighbourhood job

help wash the car

take out recycling

volunteer work

helps siblings

maintain bicycle

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