In fact, if we compare modern kids with us in our childhood, now the variety of options for a child to have a good time and have fun is really impressive, so they really don’t have enough time for doing chores while there are so many interesting things around! And, in the end, cleaning is so boring when a whole unexplored world really lies in front of you!
At the same time, experts are absolutely sure that kids do need and benefit from doing chores. No, not just because it makes the house cleaner, but because it develops many useful social skills. “Research shows that kids who have household responsibilities are more likely to step up and help others outside the home,” Psychology Today quotes Laura Markham Ph.D., “My theory is that these kids are accustomed to helping, and they see their contributions. Responsibility at home really does make kids better citizens." This is entirely correct, and in this way, children develop at least a sense of responsibility.
But what to do if your kids flatly refuse to help you around the house? Various interesting tricks come to the rescue, in particular, gamification - since children find chores so boring. So, Laura Markham advises parents try the following:
- Make it about fun and mastery;
- Make it about connection and appreciation;
- Change your attitude about why kids are doing chores;
- Teach;
- Cede control;
- Focus on the positive.
After all, loading the dishwasher is always more interesting if you imagine that it is, for example, a spaceship (this is what I convince myself to do, because in our household it’s usually me who does it, and I actually hate doing it...) Damn it, gamification works for adults too!
Be that as it may, what kids cannot be denied is a completely unique and inimitable sense of humor, when they know how to say something with an absolutely innocent look, which makes us look completely awkward and silly with all our 'wise' attempts to work out useful skills for them. So please just scroll this list to its very end now, and maybe add your own 'kids versus chores' tales in the comments under this post as well.
