Getting Young Kids To Do Chores Is A “Proven Predictor” of Success, According To Science

When you’re a parent raising young children, there’s always that temptation to do the chores by yourself. Instead of asking their help, you often find yourself doing it all because, you know, you want things to get done quickly and perfectly.

This, of course, is a wrong mindset. According to a research, encouraging kids to get involved in home chores helps them develop good values and achieve greater success later in life – and its actually best to get them started really early.

In a Fatherly article, we read:

“The study, which checked in with 84 kids during preschool and then at ages 10, 15 and in their mid-20s, found that the ones who began chores at ages 3 and 4 were more likely to have good relationships, achieve academic success and be self-sufficient than those who started as teens or had none at all.”

Experts likewise pointed out that simple household tasks may even a better way of helping kids develop than filling their schedules with so many extra-curricular activities.

As Richard Rende, developmental psychologist and co-author of the book Raising Can-Do Kids, perfectly explained:

“Parents today want their kids spending time on things that can bring them success, but ironically, we’ve stopped doing one thing that’s actually been a proven predictor of success—and that’s household chores.”

With assigned regular tasks to do at home, children get to develop and appreciate responsibility, self-reliance, and hard work, among many others.

Of course, the key here is for parents to assign tasks that are approproate to their children’s age and ability.

The HappyHousewife website gives us this example of chores for young kids:

Toddler Chores (ages 2 and 3)

• Pick up/ put away toys
• Unload the dishwasher (silverware, plastic cups, tupperware)
• Dust with a feather duster or microfiber rag
• Swiffer the floor
• Put clothes in the dirty clothes hamper
• Collect dirty clothes
• Help get clothes from washer to dryer
• Put clothes away
• Make bed (put pillows and blankets on the bed, not bootcamp style)
• Wipe cabinets
• Wipe baseboards (soapy water)

Preschool Chores (ages 4-5)

• Any toddler chores
• Load the dishwasher
• Vacuum couch/ chairs/ cushions
• Take out recycling
• Set table
• Clear table
• Wash dishes (with supervision)
• Clean windows
• Wipe out bathroom sinks (baby wipes work great for this chore!)
• Match socks
• Fold dish towels
• 
  

Early Elementary (ages 6-8)

• Any toddler and preschool chores
• Meal prep (wash produce, find ingredients, simple cutting with butter knife)
• Wipe bathroom sinks, counters, toilets
• Hang laundry
• Sweep
• Vacuum
• Collect garbage
• Get mail
• Fold/hang laundry
• Clean microwave
• Rake leaves