Chores for Children

Taking the time to teach your children to do chores as part of your homeschool does at least three things: 1) helps you keep your sanity, 2) helps them learn valuable skills for life, 3) gives them a sense of accomplishment and confidence. Let's consider...

Keeping your sanity

Homeschooling is not for the faint of heart... and when your family is home making learning messes, eating several meals and snacks, and using the bathroom throughout each day, there is that much more mess to stay on top of! I had a friend once share with me, "As homeschooling moms, we all have three major areas of responsibility: educating our children, cleaning and maintaining the house, and planning and preparing meals. By ourselves, we can only ever do two of those things well simultaneously." I thought she was joking at the time, but I've learned over many years, that there really is truth in that idea. Therefore, part of the reason why I invest time in training my children to do chores, is because I can't do it all without their help. Involving them in some of the cooking and cleaning each day helps me to keep my sanity.

Learning life skills

Have you ever met someone who is incapable of starting a load of laundry, who can only cook a couple simple meals, or who leaves dishes just as dirty as they were before being washed? I sure hope my children will enter into adulthood with the skills needed to simply get along in life, and I realize that it won't just magically happen. It will only happen if they are taught these life skills at home. But more than just learning to do chores around the house, they will also learn discipline, hard work, and attention to detail. These are some of the most marketable skills that every employer desires of their workforce today.

Gaining confidence

Although my children often bemoan the chore chart, the reality is that they DO enjoy the feeling that accompanies knowing they make valuable contributions to our family and home. As we press on through the hard work of attending to the daily work that needs to be done, we can collectively breath a happy sigh of teamwork and accomplishment at the end of each day. We nourished our bodies, maintained a clean, healthy home, and cared for all our needs... together. I can smile at each of my children as they learn and grow in these ways and say, "Thank you for being part of that! I'm so proud of you!"

So, what chores should my children do?

There are many age-appropriate chore lists and systems available. Here's one that I like and find very agreeable:

I like to start with a list like this one, and consider how each of my children can contribute to our family. I also give thought to which chores need to be done daily, weekly, or occasionally. Finally, I will lay out a plan for daily chores in the Beautiful Family Homeschool Planner. Right after our morning time, and before they begin their individual assignments, my children will each do a couple chores to keep our home a happy, healthy place to be.

Blessings,

Beth