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In today’s conversation, we will discuss delegating your to-do list to your kids. If we want to raise our kids to be thriving adults, we must start teaching them key responsibilities. And chores can be a perfect way to do it.
Teaching kids responsibility through chores helps them develop essential life skills but also helps them feel like a valuable part of the family. Here are some key points you might want to explore in your conversation:
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Don’t expect perfection, it’s “practice makes perfect”
• Chores: Assign tasks based on the child’s age and abilities, ensuring they feel successful and capable. For example:
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- Toddlers: Putting toys away.
- Preschoolers: Setting the table.
- School-age: Folding laundry, sweeping floors.
- Teens: Preparing simple meals and doing laundry.
- Creating a Chore System: Implement a visual chart or checklist to clarify expectations and help kids track their progress.
- Consistency is Key: Establish a routine where chores become a regular part of the day or week, reinforcing responsibility.
- Life Skills Development: Explain how chores teach essential life skills [3] such as time management, accountability, and self-sufficiency.
- Encouragement over Perfection: Focus on effort and progress rather than perfection. Positive reinforcement helps build confidence and motivation.
- Tying Chores to Family Contribution: Frame chores as a way to contribute to the family’s well-being rather than as a punishment.
- Reward Systems (Optional): Depending on your parenting style, you could explore non-monetary rewards [4] like extra playtime or family outings.
TIP: Remember to do the following when you teach your children to do chores:
- What exactly does the chore entail
- Demonstrate how to do it
- The proper steps to follow
- How to tell when the chore is done
Remind them (and yourself) that they won’t be good at it the first time, but as they keep doing it they’ll get better with practice.
In Conclusion: Final Message
So, when you’re successfully delegating and teaching your kids key responsibilities they can do for themselves, you are helping them to thrive and be independent adults and taking tasks off of your to-do list!!
Dr. G’s challenge
I want to pass on Dr. Gibola’s challenge to each of you: Pick one thing you do for your child and teach them how to do it for themselves.
Links mentioned in this episode:
Positive Parenting Conference [5]
Why chores are good for your kids — And how to get them to do them? [7]
This post contains affiliate links, which means Parenting Special Needs LLC, could receive a commission if you purchase using this link. We appreciate your support.
Helpful Articles
- Helping Children Succeed at Things They’d Rather Not Do [8]
- Ask Special Parents: Learning from Chores [9]
- The Benefits of Delegating Your to-do List to Your Kids [10]
- A Complete Guide on Positive Behavior Support for Children With Special Needs [11]
- Reinforcement: Improving Behavior One Interaction at a Time [12]
- Do You Set High Expectations for Your Child with Special Needs? [13]
- What to Expect when Establishing Expectations [14]
- Making Learning Fun: Teaching Pivotal Skills [15]
- Break It Down Tech Tools for Task Analysis [16]