Chores hit differently when you’re a parent; it’s more involved than just running the dishwasher and lightly dusting around the house when there are hundreds of tiny pieces of laundry to fold and toys to put away. But with a slightly different mindset and a few more mini helpers, can chores be…dare I say it..a little bit fun?

Depending on the age(s) of your child(ren), cleaning up and helping out around the house can go from boring to a seamless part of the family routine in which everyone can take part. Plus, there are psychological benefits for kids who do chores; household tasks give them a sense of responsibility, time management skills, organizational skills, and more. Kids as young as preschool age can be introduced to simple chores, but truthfully, it’s never too late to introduce good habits.

So, how can you get your son or daughter to pull their weight at home? The answer is age-dependent, of course, but consider these expert tips if you want to make it happen without a fight (almost) every time: 

1. Make the alternative to cleaning boring, not fun. If your kid has the choice to finish his Lego set or to bring his plate to the kitchen, which do you think he’ll choose? The key here, experts note, is to make sure that kids get their chores done before they do what they want to do. Get rid of all distractions such as screens, get the chores done, and then allow him to move onto his activity of choice.

2. Offer specific steps and instructions. Instead of providing kids with the general “go clean your room,” give them specific calls to action, such as “make your bed,” “put your laundry in the hamper,” or “put the blocks in the bin.”  Breaking it into steps ensures your child knows exactly what’s expected of them, plus it makes it easier for those with learning differences or special needs to understand, the Child Mind Institute notes. You may need to teach the child how to do what you’re asking of them, depending on age and skill level, but they should catch on rather quickly.

3. Incorporate the tasks into your daily routine. Kids thrive on schedules, so if you choose a specific time of day to get the chores done, they’re more likely to follow through (that’s the goal, at least). It makes sense to have them make their bed before they head out for the day, take out trash after dinner and…well, you get it.

4. Assign chores that are age-appropriate. You can start introducing chores as early as ages 3-4; preschoolers can put away their toys or bring their plates to the kitchen sink. Through elementary school, middle school and high school, they’ll have worked their way up to taking out the trash, running the dishwasher, and walking the dog. Check out this chart of kids chores by age for guidance.

5. Encourage kids to help with positive reinforcement. Rewarding little ones for completing chores can help teach them responsibility and accomplishment, as well as motivate them to keep going. For younger kids, try enforcing a sticker or star chart, where they’ll earn for each task accomplished that they can save up and cash in for special prizes. Older kids may benefit from a monetary allowance or a little friendly competition between siblings; first one to do XYZ wins some extra screen time or a later bedtime. Eventually, the goal is your child will intrinsically want to help out around the home, and not do it just for rewards or prizes.

Tried all the above but your kiddo is still resistant to completing their assigned tasks? Experts suggest positioning the activity as a “big boy” or “big girl” job. Preschoolers and elementary schoolers will feel more mature knowing they’re in charge of these “important” tasks, whereas tweens and teens might feel more accomplished if you tell them doing these things now prepares them for being independent adults in the future. Godspeed!

What worked to get your child to do chores at home?

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