{"id":101112,"date":"2016-10-20T09:24:06","date_gmt":"2016-10-20T13:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.oviahealth.com\/guide\/101112\/when-to-start-responsibilities\/"},"modified":"2023-04-04T12:59:14","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T16:59:14","slug":"when-to-start-responsibilities","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/101112\/when-to-start-responsibilities\/","title":{"rendered":"When to start giving responsibilities"},"content":{"rendered":"

You can\u2019t exactly expect Baby<\/span> to start pitching in with the dishes and mowing the lawn until they\u2019s<\/span> a lot older, but when exactly can you start asking them<\/span> to do little chores around the house? Is it best to assign responsibility to teach them<\/span> life lessons, or should you let them<\/span> enjoy being a child while they can<\/span>?<\/p>\n

To chore or not to chore <\/strong><\/h4>\n

Being a kid is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and you probably don\u2019t want all of Baby<\/span>\u2019s childhood memories to be of sweeping the floor. Some parents steer clear of chores early in their children\u2019s lives because they don\u2019t want to put pressure on them too early. They don\u2019t give out little jobs around the house because they think their child\u2019s full-time job is being a child, running around outside, and trying new things. Some parents also don\u2019t like framing things such as putting away toys or clearing the table as chores – they\u2019re just good manners.<\/p>\n

The benefits of responsibility<\/strong><\/h4>\n

However, assigning responsibility is a great way to teach children about independence, dependability, and expectations. Plus, kids and adults alike love a good compliment, and chores allow parents to give concrete praise for a job well done. The U.S. Department of Education says it\u2019s important that children learn that being a part of a family means they need to accept responsibility. It\u2019s up to each parent to decide what that means, but chores are one way to teach children about commitments. As they get older, they\u2019ll hopefully be able and willing to take on more responsibilities and understand the consequences if they can\u2019t keep a promise.<\/p>\n

What kinds of chores?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

So, what kinds of responsibilities should you give a toddler? Some parents like to give children chores that hold them accountable for their own actions, such as cleaning up after themselves at dinner or straightening up their bedrooms. At around 2 years old, you might want to start introducing chores as if they\u2019re games. If you have a play area, you can divide the area into two and see who can finish cleaning up their section first. You can also give Baby<\/span>\u00a0a couple plates to dry while you\u2019re doing the dishes, or you can have them<\/span> folding washcloths and towels as you do laundry. The important thing here is to demonstrate how to finish a task and make sure it\u2019s done well – the actual task doesn\u2019t matter too much.<\/p>\n

In the future<\/strong><\/h4>\n

At 3 or 4, it\u2019s probably best to stick with simple chores like watering plants and feeding the family pet. Once children are around 5, they can probably handle more complicated tasks like putting away dishes or folding some easy laundry (no fitted sheets just yet). By 7 or so, they can take out the garbage and bring in the mail; at around 11 they can do the dishes and do laundry; and once they\u2019re teenagers, they can start babysitting and mowing the lawn.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, you\u2019ll be able to figure out what works best for your family by trying out a variety of things and seeing what you like. What kinds of responsibilities your child has at what age is totally up to you, and every family is different.<\/p>\n

\n
Sources<\/h5>\n
    \n
  • “Part I – The Big Picture: Teaching Responsibility To Your Children.”\u00a0The Center For Parenting Education<\/em>. The Center For Parenting Education, 2006-2016. Web.<\/li>\n
  • “What Does ‘Strong Character’ Mean? II – Helping Your Child Become A Responsible Citizen.”\u00a0U.S. Department of Education<\/em>. U.S. Department of Education, October 8 2003. Web.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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