My Kids Hated Doing Chores, Until I Made These 12 Changes to Our Routine

Chores are a necessary evil for many families. Some people embrace them; others feel like they aren't worth the fight with their kids. When it comes to our children, however, teaching them how to do chores is worth the fight. It comes with many benefits. When I began making these changes to our routine, I started hearing less complaining about chores from my kids. Do they love doing chores? Not always, but if you are looking for some tried and true changes to make to your routine, look no further. Below, we will explore 12 changes to your routine that can make a big difference.

Introducing chores to your kids while they are young is very important. Chores teach children a host of important skills; here are several that they will need as they grow into adulthood:

• Accepting responsibility
• Organizational skills
• Time management skills
• Promotes higher self-esteem
• Teaches delayed gratification

One of the areas that parents get hung up on is introducing age-appropriate chores. You don't want to burden a young child with too many chores they can't necessarily do yet. However, making the chore list too easy on older kids isn't very beneficial either.

The AACAP gives examples of age-appropriate chores. For 4 to 5-year-olds, they suggest having your child help feed pets and make their beds. Children between 10 and 11 should be able to help clean bathrooms and do yard work. You can read the rest of the age suggestions here.

The word chores can be offputting to some people. Think of Cinderella having to scrub the floors for her evil stepmother. You can change your family's attitude around chores by changing the wording. This one simple change to your routine can make a big difference.

Instead of calling them chores, change your wording to responsibilities. I use the phrase, we all live in this home, so we all have responsibilities to take care of it. This helps put chores into perspective for kids and even adults.

If you aren't consistent with what you are asking your kids, they will most likely never get on board. Setting up a chore chart but not enforcing a time when your children should do it is not helping anyone. Remember, consistency is key when introducing anything new into your routine.

From the get-go, you need to set clear expectations. What do you expect your children to do? Will there be a chore chart, reward chart, etc? Do you expect your child to do these chores every day, every other day, weekly? When your children know the clear plan, they are less likely to put off doing chores.

Instead of assigning your children their chores, have a family meeting. This is a good way to collaborate on shared responsibilities and invest your children in doing their chores.

Sit down together as a family and list responsibilities that must be done daily and weekly. Then, split them into age-appropriate categories. Ask your children if they have any preferences for what responsibilities they would want to take over. The more collaboration that goes on when deciding where to split the chores, the more your child will likely be on board.

When a child is doing a chore, it doesn't always get done to perfection. This is something that may drive a parent batty. However, it's important to remember that practice makes progress. The more a child does a specific chore, the more they will increase their skills.

However, if you are constantly stepping in and doing this chore for them or fixing how they do it, you send mixed messages to your child. You are telling your child, 'I want you to do this chore, but only this way, and if you don't do it the right way, then I'll come behind you and fix it." This can deflate your child's enthusiasm and zeal.

When introducing chores to your child, be sure to start small. You don't want to bombard your child with overwhelming tasks right away. Start by introducing one specific task they can do for a few weeks to get used to the new routine. Then, once they have tackled this task, add another one. Keep doing this until you have added enough age-appropriate chores for your child. But remember, don't overload them either!

One of the biggest hang-ups when introducing chores to a child is not teaching them the right way to do something. Sometimes, it's easy to assume our children know how to do something correctly. After all, didn't they see us do it over and over? However, this isn't always the case.

Before introducing your child to a new chore, take the time to teach them how to do it. Worry less about doing it perfectly and more with creating the skills to perform the task. You may have to do the chore with your child several times before they catch on. This is especially true with younger kids.

Another way to get kids excited about chores is using a reward system. There are many ways of doing this. Some families use stickers; others use calendars or points. If you are looking for some ideas, take a look here.

Trying to do chores when your child is tired from a long day can lead to frustration for both of you. Instead, split the tasks into manageable bite sizes. Determine when your child is the most refreshed and have them do most of their chores during this time. You could save one or two chores for after dinner but try not to make it too overwhelming by having them complete all their chores in one big chunk.

Things happen, and sometimes life gets in the way. It's unrealistic to think your child will be able to complete their chores every day without fail. However, you can set a minimum standard, so your children know what to expect. Such as making their beds every day. (This is a quick chore that doesn't take much time.) However. for bigger chores, like doing the dishes, you can set the expectation that they can get that chore done at least 3-5 times a week. (Decide what works for your family.)

Everyone thrives on positive feedback. So, when you see your child making an effort with their chores, let them know you see their effort. This boosts their self-confidence and desire to do their best at their tasks.

It's normal to have a love-hate relationship with chores. They are necessary for a family to create smooth days and transitions. However, the chores often fall on the parents' shoulders. While this makes sense, having your child contributes to the family responsibilities is good for everyone. After all, they live in their home too. If you are looking for ways to introduce chores to your children, try adding one or more changes to your family routine. You may find it is exactly what you need as a family.