Encouraging children to complete chores around the house is one of parents' many daily struggles. Kids may feel unmotivated to clean their rooms or do their laundry, especially if their parents are the ones usually attending to it. However, parents can use many strategies to teach them responsibility and encourage hard work at home.
Here are five tips that will make the management of chores more efficient and enjoyable for the whole family.
1. Teach children the value of chores early.
Teaching children the importance of chores early on in their lives will make them more accepting of completing chores when asked. Of course, parents should give them age-appropriate, simple tasks, just to introduce them to a sense of responsibility. As a child, especially at school, when my teachers told my classmates and me to clean up after we were done with something, we would sing the “clean-up song.” This made cleaning up more fun and quicker.
2. Set expectations for the family.
Sometimes children need direction. Not knowing what they need to do will discourage them from completing tasks. It helps to make a chart with duties that must be completed before a certain time, either daily or weekly. For example, on Monday, the laundry must be completed, or on Saturday, the house must be vacuumed. Simply setting this routine will help the entire family keep up with maintenance. Parents can also give a certain family member a specific chore, so it does not feel overwhelming for anyone.
3. Incorporate rewards.
Children can sometimes feel they are completing chores for no reason. Even with clear expectations, they may lose interest after a while since they are not getting anything in return. A reward system can further motivate kids to complete their chores on time. Parents can give all kinds of rewards, from candy to small amounts of money. If parents choose to give some money to their children for completing chores, they can use this opportunity to teach them financial responsibility. There are many different options that parents can choose from that works best with their families.
Aside from material benefits, helping others with chores and other duties is a good way to get closer to Allah (SWT). In Islam, helping others is a form of charity. In a hadith narrated by Salman Bin-Amir, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him said: "Giving charity to a poor person is charity, and (giving) to a relative is two things, charity and upholding the ties of kinship." Simply helping someone with a task is sadaqah, and will not only increase your connection with Allah, but also with the person you are helping.
4. Foster teamwork.
Teamwork, specifically for younger kids, is super important. Parents can have their kids help them with chores to teach them different skills. Teamwork lets children see their efforts actively contributing, which will lighten them up to more chores in the future. Additionally, this gives a lot of opportunities for family quality time and fun activities.
5. Use positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is very helpful when teaching young children the value of chores. Parents should be patient and stay positive even if their child makes a mistake. The language that parents use in a certain situation affects the child’s perception of what is going on. Positive reinforcement will let them know that their efforts are valued and will motivate them to keep going, while negative language will discourage them from attempting or completing tasks in the future. Giving vocal compliments like “good job” and “nice work” can go a long way.
Motivating children to participate in household chores can feel like an impossible task for parents, but it does not have to be this way. By teaching them responsibility for chores early on, keeping the family involved in chores by making visual charts, providing motivation via rewards, using teamwork, and keeping it positive, parents can help their children learn the importance of their tasks and develop good habits that will carry on into adulthood.
Uthman Guadalupe is a Latino Muslim college student with a passion for history and art. He is an assistant Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach and freelance illustrator. He is fluent in Spanish and lives with his family in Maryland where he also enjoys playing video games and binging shows.
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