by Ann Johnson

Created on: October 07, 2008

Make your bed, clean your room- two things most of us get our kids to do from an early age, but do we include them in what we call chores? What designates a chore? Is it only a chore if you get paid for it, or are chores anything done around the family home? Helping out in the family structure should be just the norm. Do they call cooking dinner for the family every night a chore? If they don't, they should, according to some peoples interpretation of the word chores! Chores are definitely the right way to teach our children about life. We are really just preparing them for the future, and after all, isn't that our jobs as parents? Chores prepare our children for so many aspects of life, one of which is the fact that there are lots of things in life we dislike doing, but must do anyway!

Chores educate our kids in a life of healthy living, order and discipline. We tell them to shower daily because that's what we do in society so we can present ourselves to others without offending odours, or looking like we just crawled out of a miners shaft. We tell them to brush their teeth, not only so they can keep their teeth in their heads for as much of their lives as possible, but so they can speak to someone up close without making them sick!

We tell them to make their beds and clean their rooms, not only so it doesn't look like a bomb site, but to keep dust and dirt from their mattress, and vermin from eating left over lunches tossed under beds and in cupboards.

Although our children think life sucks because they have to do a few minor chores, those chores usually relate to a way of life we, as parents, wish for our children. A clean, healthy, orderly life.

Washing dishes is a major learning curve for kids. It is best taught at a very early age, so they at least are aware of what washing or rinsing a plate or cup is all about. They quickly realise when they pick up an unwashed item to use that it is dirty, so must be cleaned. This is good for their future health. It's a pity they take to long to perfect this chore, sometimes years! A good idea is to set the table with the unwashed knifes or forks found in the drawer, give them to whoever did the dishes, and they will quickly get up to get another clean set of utensils to put into their mouths, and will usually be more careful when washing up in future.

Teaching kids to cook prepares them for when they move out, and gives us some hope that when they leave they may actually put their knowledge into practise instead of buying

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