Community Chat

[Topaz Gem]

This makes sense. I find it telling that parents that grew up having to do chores aren't requiring the same of their children. No one likes chores, but they do teach valuable lessons, IMO.

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The key to raising successful children could be making sure they help out around the house, according to a new article by the Wall Street Journal.

A recent survey found that 82 percent of parents did chores growing up, but only 28 percent require their kids to help out around the house.

One reason for the shift may be an emphasis on extracurricular activities, which may have caused making the bed to fall by the way side.

But chores may still be one of the most important predictors of future success, teaching self-reliance and responsibility, as well as empathy, according to the report.

The Wall Street Journal article suggests parents wanting to give their children certain tasks can make a game of it, propose small allowances and make sure to thank their children for helping them.

[skuggles]

Not sure about this. Surveys are based on self report and are not necessarily representative of the majority. It may be true, but I know many from wealthy families who had no chores growing up, and they are more successful than most. I think chores are extremely valuable, but there is more to it than that. More studies needed. How do you measure success?

[deepwaterdotter]

My parents referred to them as "responsibilities", and mine were folding everybody's laundry and changing all the bed linens.

[Topaz Gem]

I know very few parents that actually require their kids to do chores. They tell the kids that they have to do them, but they don't enforce it. Kids learn real fast to say "yes" then to do as they please.

Friends of mine told their lazy 20-something son to find another place to live, so he moved in with friends temporarily. After 2 weeks, he called home crying and begged to come home and the condition was for him to do his responsibilities which weren't exactly overwhelming. Take out the trash and a couple of other things. After just a few days, he was back to his old tricks and wasn't doing anything around the house. I see that scenario more often than not these days.

[nun ya]

I had chores, my daughter did not.

Her responsibility was school work and has done pretty well for herself.

[Topaz Gem]

On 3/16/2015 nunya said:

I had chores, my daughter did not.

Her responsibility was school work and has done pretty well for herself.

That's not a bad responsibility to give a child. It sounds like she took it seriously.

[Justina rae]

That's just such an obvious thing to me and should begin as soon as the child is physically able no matter how small the chore. Other than compassion and empathy I don't think there is anything more important than instilling responsibility and good work ethic in a child. The only thing I would disagree with in the OP is giving small allowances. IMO teaching these things should not be money driven because that in and of itself does not teach a good lesson.

[MickD]

I'm sure it depends on a number of things....I had a talk with my son yesterday about ""helping out at home"". He expected to get paid....I said no way as there are chores that are just family responsibilities.....

[scotttie]

Chores are important for kids to do.

[nun ya]

On 3/16/2015 Topaz Gem said:

On 3/16/2015 nunya said:

I had chores, my daughter did not.

Her responsibility was school work and has done pretty well for herself.

That's not a bad responsibility to give a child. It sounds like she took it seriously.

Thanks. She has worked since she was 15, all through high school and college. She has 2 months left of college, but landed a job last May when she interned and they hired her full time. So this year she has shuffled college and a full time career.

Now if she were 22 and sitting on the couch playing video games, that would be an entirely different story.