by April Knight

Created on: February 24, 2009   Last Updated: February 25, 2009

Quick! Get in your car, drive to your closest Wal-mart store, and buy a dry erase board and dry erase marker. Do not think twice about getting your money back! Trust me you will not be sorry! Drive home, and go straight to your art room. Now you are ready to create a chore chart. Ready, Set, now draw!

You might be thinking, "she's crazy why in the world would I ask my children to help with chores? It is like pulling teeth!"

Children are born of habit, and they enjoy being able to help around the house. In addition to children striving to be helpful there are valuable lessons that can be learned by doing chores. Parents develop patience through all the arguing and complaining, and children develop a sense of accomplishment which increases self-esteem. Parents and children alike are learning and building a stronger bond by completing tasks around the house.

If this is true why aren't parents enforcing their children to do chores? And why are children becoming too reliant and dependent on mom? After all, mom already has responsibilities, it is time to transfer some responsibility to the child.

To make moms load lighter, and nurture a valuable life skill; known as responsibility, chores must be delegated fairly with age appropriate tasks in mind.

I mention age appropriate because if a task is too difficult for a child, the lack of accomplishment will only build frustration, and the children will then develop low-self esteem.

Examples of age appropriate chores

A two year old is old enough to place napkins on the table, and pick up toys.

A three-four year old can dust using socks, and help clean his/her room.

A four-six year old can put away laundry, set the table, dust, and help prepare meals.

Each child is capable of helping around the house, it will take will-power and patience to enforce a chore chart. However, by enforcing a delegated chore chart, parents teach:

Responsibility- reliant and dependability.

Time management- teaches children to make the most of there time.

Pride is a great feeling to have. Encourage your children to feel self-respect and personal worth by delegating a task they can take ownership of.

Honesty- teaches children integrity and truthfulness through chores.

Life-skills- chores teach necessary skills for successful living.

Children learn by repetition. Help your children become ready for the real world. Chores are a simple way of teaching life-skills that are valuable lessons that everyone should take with them whereever there paths direct them to go. Now, allow your children to work with their hands and get a taste of what the real world revolves around. Experience is a valuable lesson. Have you created your chore chart yet?

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