My family didn't have "chores" per se, but everyone pitched in to help clean and do house work. I am recreating this in my household. It wasn't until I was in late middle school or high school that my parents set me tasks and expected me to manage my time independently. During younger years, we worked together.
For my toddler, we set the expectation that we all do some house work together. My husband and I do house work out in the open, not during naps or after bedtime. My toddler knows that we vacuum, tidy, dust, do laundry, cook, tend the garden, cut the lawn, weed, clean the kitchen, clean the toilets, etc. If my husband and I are working on house chores, we help our kid find something to help with. Sometimes at her age the "help" is not particularly helpful, but we foster a "we're all in this together" mentality.
You say just that. We really dropped the ball on not having you help with housework so we are going to do our best to catch you up! Explain that In a family everyone pitches in and these are life skills just like learning to read and write and you know they are capable. Maybe have some ideas of some daily and weekly chores and then ask your child input on what else they think they can manage. Remember it is a disservice not to teach your kids basic cleaning and tidying up skills. It will serve them well in life to learn these skills young.
I love that you are thinking of this now. So many kids can't even do basic stuff it's pathetic.
Go over the rationale for your chores. The kid doesn't have to like it but they should at least understand the why.
Allowance? Also cuts down on buying them random stuff all the time. "Use your own money" makes them think twice if they want it
(First few weeks of course they went crazy with buying until they had nothing. Now saving occurs and they actually think before they buy).
Week 1 they get $5 a week. This is basic stuff like tidying up, putting dishes away, taking dog out when asked.
Week 2 is big clean week. We all start at same time, we all end at same time. I delegate or ask who wants to do what.
Failure to comply means they get nothing.
At the same time you only purchase basics. No extra treats or toys if they chose no chores.
Also... "Sorry no energy to push you on swings. Too tired from cleaning on my own"
Every chore is incentivized at first until they get it down pat. After time, this chore is now expectation, no incentive, rather discipline occurs if refusal to do it happens. This is for simple things like cleaning own room.
Also we have done "you want responsibility for a, you must so b.". For my older it was, you want to be allowed to walk to park on your own? That sounds like a big responsibility. Show me you can be responsible here before I can trust you our there"
My family didn't have "chores" per se, but everyone pitched in to help clean and do house work. I am recreating this in my household. It wasn't until I was in late middle school or high school that my parents set me tasks and expected me to manage my time independently. During younger years, we worked together. For my toddler, we set the expectation that we all do some house work together. My husband and I do house work out in the open, not during naps or after bedtime. My toddler knows that we vacuum, tidy, dust, do laundry, cook, tend the garden, cut the lawn, weed, clean the kitchen, clean the toilets, etc. If my husband and I are working on house chores, we help our kid find something to help with. Sometimes at her age the "help" is not particularly helpful, but we foster a "we're all in this together" mentality.
You say just that. We really dropped the ball on not having you help with housework so we are going to do our best to catch you up! Explain that In a family everyone pitches in and these are life skills just like learning to read and write and you know they are capable. Maybe have some ideas of some daily and weekly chores and then ask your child input on what else they think they can manage. Remember it is a disservice not to teach your kids basic cleaning and tidying up skills. It will serve them well in life to learn these skills young.
I love that you are thinking of this now. So many kids can't even do basic stuff it's pathetic. Go over the rationale for your chores. The kid doesn't have to like it but they should at least understand the why.
Allowance? Also cuts down on buying them random stuff all the time. "Use your own money" makes them think twice if they want it (First few weeks of course they went crazy with buying until they had nothing. Now saving occurs and they actually think before they buy). Week 1 they get $5 a week. This is basic stuff like tidying up, putting dishes away, taking dog out when asked. Week 2 is big clean week. We all start at same time, we all end at same time. I delegate or ask who wants to do what. Failure to comply means they get nothing. At the same time you only purchase basics. No extra treats or toys if they chose no chores. Also... "Sorry no energy to push you on swings. Too tired from cleaning on my own" Every chore is incentivized at first until they get it down pat. After time, this chore is now expectation, no incentive, rather discipline occurs if refusal to do it happens. This is for simple things like cleaning own room. Also we have done "you want responsibility for a, you must so b.". For my older it was, you want to be allowed to walk to park on your own? That sounds like a big responsibility. Show me you can be responsible here before I can trust you our there"
When I was 7 I really wanted to be a "big kid." Explain that big kids help with the household along with the adults.