Many children and teenagers in the UK do not engage in housework.
A large survey of nearly 6,000 parents and children found less than half of British children under the age of 15 help with household chores, The Times reported.
Research by Parentkind has found that children in London appear to be significantly less shy than other areas of the UK. But Jason Elsom, CEO of Parentkind, said the findings “should worry us”.
“Somewhere along the way, gentle parenting has been misread as gentle expectations, and kindness without responsibility sells children short,” he said.
“Jobs are not punishment; they are the first lessons in teamwork, responsibility, and self-reliance. These habits later develop into resilience in school and reliability at work.”
The expert added that if we want confident and capable young adults, “we need to start in the kitchen and hallway with clear roles, age-appropriate tasks, and calm, consistent follow-through.”
While kids might drag their feet when it comes to chores (hey, we’ve all been there! I don’t know any kid who enjoys figuring out and running the dishwasher); research shows that getting involved in chores is good for them.
Benefits of involving children in chores
One 75-year-old study from Harvard found that children who are encouraged to do homework are more likely to be happier as adults, have greater empathy for others, and succeed in their careers.
Another 20-year study from the University of Minnesota found that adding home to a child’s daily schedule is “the best predictor of adult success — especially if it’s started at an earlier age,” according to Tiktok kid doc.
“If your children do small chores, they have a sense of self-worth, and it helps them understand that they are contributing to a larger ecosystem,” the pediatrician said in the video.
“They become more selfless, more willing, and more able to see the needs of other people.
“Stereo also strengthens family bonds with siblings and with parents. And chores help instill a better work ethic, which translates quite well to school and career success.”
How to involve children with homework
According to Go Henry, who has a helpful list of appropriate chores for different age groups, “Most children can start doing simple tasks like putting away toys or setting the table by the age of 3 or 4.” As they get older, they can take on “more challenging chores” like hoovering or washing.
If your child is new to helping around the house, it’s best to start gradually. Sue Atkins, a family parenting expert and author of Parenting Made Easy, encourages parents to “incorporate chores gradually.”
“Start with small, simple tasks and gradually increase the difficulty and complexity so that children can learn new skills and develop a sense of responsibility,” she said.
The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry suggests that the following age groups could help with these tasks:
- 2- to 3-year-olds – Put away toys and go shopping, or get dressed with help.
- 4 to 5 year olds – Help feed the pets, make the beds, help clear the table after dinner.
- 6 to 7 year olds – wipe down tables and counters, put away laundry, sweep floors.
- 7- to 9-year-olds – Load and unload the dishwasher, help prepare meals, pack their own lunches.
- 10-11 year olds – Change their beds, clean the kitchen or bathrooms, help in the garden.
- 12 years old and up – Wash the car and help with younger siblings. Teens can help with shopping and handling transactions.
In a MUMNET thread on this topic, parents widely agreed that it is best for children to have two jobs, one that is expected (e.g. tidying the room and making the bed, etc.) and one that they can earn things, i.e. pocket money, for (e.g. vacuuming the whole house, cleaning the car, etc.).
One parent explained: “Standard things don’t need to be rewarded, they just have to be done. If you want, you can offer rewards for extras. I’ve seen this done with a bulletin board with different jobs and ‘wages’ pinned to it, they can choose as many/few jobs as they like.”
It can also help to make the chores fun (add some music or turn it into a game) to keep the kids on board. Good luck!
