Encouraging kids to do chores can be challenging, at times. Here are 5 ways to help motivate your kids to do their chores.
As a family of 8, living on a farm, there is ALWAYS something that needs to be done. The animals need to be fed, the eggs need to be gathered, the dog needs to be taken out, the cows need to be let out to pasture, the corral needs to be cleaned, and the list goes on…and on…and on.
So, the question isn’t, do we have enough chores to give out? The question is, how do we motivate children to do their chores. Before I dive in, I will be the first to say that my system isn’t perfect. Kids are still kids. But, I do find that there are some ways that help make it easier and more enjoyable for all involved. Here are five ways we have found to motivate children to do their chores.
5 Ways to motivate children to help with chores
One
Obviously, there is not a one size fits all. Every child has different interest. However, one thing remains the same. It is important for our children to understand what it means to be a part of a team. That is something we talk about often, we call it team Gilbert.
As a part of team Gilbert, all need to help, instead of letting just one or two manage all the work. Each person in the family has something to offer to the team. It helps lighten everyone’s load when we all help.
I believe that when we explain that we are all a part of a team, it lays a foundation for helping with chores. It is no longer just Mommy and Daddy telling them to do chores, but it is much bigger than that. It is about caring for each other.
Two
So we talked about the WHY we do chores, this next one is a more practical motivation.
We have purposely centered chores around meals. For one, it helps my children who can’t tell time yet, to know when chores need to be finished. When I call my children for breakfast, they know that they are not allowed to sit down until their morning chores are complete.
It might sound harsh, but it is a lesson that will stick with them in life (don’t procrastinate!). AND it gives them motivation to do their chores quickly, because everybody is hungry when mealtime comes around. (This is a particular motivator for my boys who are always hungry!)
Three
It is so important that the chores you are giving your child are age appropriate. If not, then it can be very discouraging for them when they struggle to finish their chore. Our goal is to set them up for success!
One of my 4 year olds chores is to take down the laundry. We have a loft, so for him, the easiest way to get the laundry to the main floor, is to toss it over the side and let it fall to the living room floor. From there, he collects the dirty laundry and carries it, little by little, to the laundry room.
Does he miss some items of clothing along the way? Most of the time! However, I’m not so much concerned about him getting all the laundry at this age. For him, it is the discipline of doing a chore, and knowing that he is also a part of the team.
Four
Rewards!
Now this one can be tricky. It is important that our children help out because they are a part of team Gilbert, not for a reward. However, there are times when we want to reward their hard work. (Who doesn’t like to be rewarded for hard work?)
What kind of rewards are we talking about? Well, for us, a reward could be homemade ice cream at the end of the day, a special movie night, or a surprise visit from their friends.
What about allowance? This is another tricky one. At one time, we gave our children an allowance. But, we began to see some unhealthy patterns in our children as they chose to only do their chore for money. Several years ago I asked my son to sweep the kitchen floor. It was not his chore at the time, I just needed help. His response was, “do I get paid for this?”
That was all I needed to hear! From there, my husband and I discussed a system for our family that would be healthy (every family will be different). We chose to have daily chores that the children do each day without pay, because they are a part of team Gilbert. But, there are occasions when we have extra projects. We offer these opportunities to the children if they want to earn some money.
This system has worked well for our family. We have seen our children become better workers and have a much healthier view of what a team looks like and how it should function.
Five
Grace. Lots and lots of grace.
We work hard to teach our children the value of hard work. The value of being a part of a family, a part of team Gilbert. But, there are still days when we have to remind them more than we would like. There are still days where we feel like it is pulling teeth to get them to help.
They are still kids.
Many years ago, kids doing chores was normal. It was expected. Every family did it. This is not so today. My kids feel that. They are aware that we function differently than other families. That can be a challenge sometimes.
On the flip side, this is another good training ground for them. Being different isn’t a bad thing, it can be challenging at times, but not bad.
I encourage you to find a family or two that have a similar perspective on work ethic. We have been blessed to have a few families that have similar views on chores. This has helped our kids tremendously. And if I am honest, it helps us as parents too (it is no walk in the park, we need support too!).
If you can’t find a family, check out some homesteading families on youtube. Just seeing other kids doing what they are doing makes a difference.
Chore Ideas
So what kind of chores are we talking about? Well, we live on a farm, so our chores may look a little different. But, there is always something they can help with! These are some of our daily chores. We have other chores that are more on an as needed basis, but this will give you an idea.
Outside chores
- cleaning out the corral
- letting out the chickens/ducks in the morning (check their water)
- gather eggs
- exercising the dog
- feeding the chickens/ducks
- letting the cows out to pasture
- putting the chickens/ducks up at night
- take out compost
- take out recycles
Inside chores
- unload/load dishwasher
- take down the laundry
- feed the dog/cat
- clear and wipe down the table after meals
- sweep floors after meals
If you have never done chores with your kids before, start small. Give them one job and let them master it well. We slowly started adding chores as our children were able to manage more. There are lots of ways to motivate kids to do chores, but the most important thing is that you are teaching them life lessons.
Get your kids involved in more than just chores! Here are some easy recipes to get them cooking with you in the kitchen!