How to Teach Children Good Work Ethics
What makes one child a hard worker and another an intolerable wretch at chore time? Work ethic. With the right attitudes and routines, you can help teach your child a work ethic that will benefit him continually throughout his life, and, with a bit of luck, you won't find yourself taking care of some twenty- or thirty-something in your sunset years.
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Instructions
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Consider your own attitude as it relates to work and chores. Do you model that chores are something to be dreaded or avoided? This might be affecting your children. Maintain a positive attitude about the work that is required to sustain yourself and your home, and you will be well on the way to instilling a good work ethic in your kids.
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Establish consistent routines. If you set everyone's chores in advance, there will be no question about what needs to be done. Routines will help you and your children complete tasks, and the regularity will help establish a good work ethic in your kids.
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Allow for natural consequences. If your children fall behind in their share of chores due to a project or another "need," be prepared to enforce natural consequences. Natural consequences might include something like, "I can't take you to basketball practice tonight, because I have to wash the dishes. If you had washed the dishes, I would have been free to take you to basketball practice."
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Work alongside of your children. Instead of simply telling them to complete a task, work with them at it, especially if they are younger. When your children feel that work is something that the entire family participates in, and it is their responsibility as members of the family to help, you will help establish a lifelong work ethic.
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