There’s a pattern in American households that’s been emerging and it’s harmful for kids. Kids have essentially gone from being contributors to
household, to being waited on hand and foot. Too many moms see household duties as being outside realm of their child’s responsibilities – and their ability. It’s not only sad, it’s also untrue. In fact, if kids are fully capable of contributing to mess of a house, why can’t they be expected to contribute to its cleaning? The problem rests with moms. As mothers we often look at housework as old saw “if you want it done right, you’ll have to do it yourself.” But, that’s defeating for everybody.
Kids quickly learn that “auto-mom” will handle all messes, laundry, cooking, cleaning, and other household jobs if they can prove their incompetence. And Moms get something out of “being only one” who cleans toilet right, or folds towels like they do in department stores. But this has to stop. Otherwise, trying to keep home and hearth together will be a 24-hour-a-day job and we’ll end up with children who’ll leave home one day and not have vaguest clue about how to handle household duties.
Have expectation that kids will do jobs you’ve assigned them One of things that can undermine process of kids helping out around house is a parent’s expectation that they won’t do it. Expect that they will do jobs, check on their progress, and assign appropriate rewards and consequences to job, and it’s amazing how well kids will perform.
Parents have to realign their minds that kids are fully capable -- and often willing -- to participate in running of household and housekeeping that goes with it. As an example, if you asked your son to take out trash before dinner, remove videogame privilege until it’s done. Yes, it is easier to just do it ourselves, but that’s not practical and it sets a bad example, showing kids that in real world, there’s someone there to clean up after you. As anyone will tell you, real world demands that you pick up after yourself. However, not all kids are ready for every household task.
