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Home › Articles › Parenting Preschoolers › A Job Well Done!

A Job Well Done!

The Art of Delegating Chores to Your Children

By Gwen Morrison

Pages:  1  2  3  4  

  • Be specific. Before you begin assigning chores, have a meeting with the kids to let them know what you expect from them and what they will receive in return. Outline in very clear detail all that is required for each job.
  • Keep it fun and interesting! Have a job jar where the child can choose a chore to do. If they choose a certain job out of the jar that has a reward pictured on the back of the paper, they get that reward.
    • Motivation
    Some parents use money as a motivator to get children to do their chores, but this is a personal choice. Each child will be unique in what works for him. The important thing to remember is that you are trying to teach them responsibility, not bribe them. Children respond well to reward systems of some kind and a great deal of praise. Don't forget to tell them what a wonderful job they are doing.

    "When my kids were at home, they were assigned chores on a weekly basis. I used a wipe-off board to keep track," says Dee Bibb, a mom from Inverness, Miss. "They did things like wash dishes, fold towels, sweep, vacuum and even cleaning the bathrooms. They were also responsible for their bedroom and making sure all their clothes were put away."

    Here are some ideas of age-appropriate chores to begin: