Everyday household chores to teach your child responsibility

An international study shows that only 47% of young Brits say that they help with household chores. But giving your children responsibility at home can teach them how to manage responsibility throughout life, and prepare them for the real world. And it's never too young to start! Luckily for parents, responsibility can be found everywhere, such as in the garden, the bedroom, the pets, and more.

Getting your little ones to take on everyday responsibilities at home can oftentimes be quite the challenge - especially if the task at hand isn’t as fun as their favourite videogames or playing with their dolls. Putting a fun twist on the chores or rewarding them with incentives along the way can be a big help in introducing responsibilities to your children.

Age-appropriate tasks
It goes without saying that the amount of responsibility you should give to your child should depend on their age. Younger children can begin to take on chores like feeding the family cat or dog, but you probably wouldn’t want a five-year-old to walk a dog that’s bigger than they are. Starting them out with one or two small everyday tasks is a great way to introduce responsibility to them. On the other hand, older children can handle a bit more, such as preparing a simple meal, sweeping, cleaning, and putting away their clothes. It’s important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t overload your child with too much responsibility, as it can quickly lead to stress and frustration.

Your pets are a great learning tool
Taking care of a household pet or two can be a great introduction to taking on a little more responsibility for your child - after all, who doesn’t love Fido? It’s no secret that dogs and other pets can be a major undertaking, so starting your child off with simple tasks like feeding your pup daily can be a great start. If you brush your pets regularly, it can also be a good idea to let your child take that routine over as well.

If you don’t have pets, then getting one is a great way to teach your kid responsibility. First of all, they’ll be overjoyed at the fact that they can get their own pet, but it’s important for them to realize that they are in charge of it. Low maintenance pets like fish are a great choice, as your child won’t have to do a whole lot of upkeep, yet will still learn the principles of daily feeding and the occasional changing of the water.

Cleaning is a responsibility, too
Cleaning and housework are both tasks that any child can take on, from picking up their toys to making their bed and more. Teaching your little one to pick up after playing is a great way for them to take responsibility for their actions - if they make a mess, they have to clean it up. It won’t only keep things tidier but can prevent toys from being strewn all over the house and the inevitable tripping over them. For the older children, bigger tasks like cleaning the floor, dusting, organising, and putting away clothing are all good ways for them to help out around the house and can lead to clean habits and organisation later in life, as well as other benefits.

Offering Sensible Rewards
Introducing a reward system is a great idea for children who are less than thrilled with the idea of taking on responsibility, and there are many ways to implement one. If your child completes their chores, perhaps a trip to get ice cream at the end of the week is in order. Other systems like DIY chore charts or fun stickers are an excellent way to motivate your child as well.

Responsibility Throughout Life
When all is said and done, getting your children introduced to the concept of chores early on can help them easily adapt to helping out. Giving your child responsibility can help them better manage responsibilities throughout adulthood, and make their lives a bit easier in the long run.