How to Involve a Child in Household Chores
An organized, well run household benefits everyone. Involving your child in the tasks of household chores helps maintain organization and also helps the child develop a sense of responsibility. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Make a plan. Sit down with your child and discuss the chores that need to be done in order to maintain an organized household. Help your child understand that each member of the family contributes and can be responsible for a share of the work that needs to be done.
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Create a list of chores. Together with your child, choose the jobs that are both age appropriate and safe. Keep the list manageable, with enough chores to keep the child involved but not overwhelmed.
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Put it in writing. Create a chore chart or schedule that can be posted in a central location. This will allow the whole family to see which family member is responsible for each task that needs to be done. Make this step fun by allowing the child to decorate his chart. The more active the child is in the process, the more likely that he will follow through with the chore.
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Check in. From time to time, check in with your child and the progress made. Make sure that the chosen chores are still appropriate and what adjustments may be needed. Add additional responsibilities when appropriate or rotate chores to prevent your child from becoming bored too.
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Provide positive reinforcement. Determine an appropriate reward for your child when chores are completed properly and in the time frame agreed upon. Some good ideas include a weekly allowance, special one-on-one time with a parent, an afternoon at the park, or any thing that your child places value on.
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