by Rhonda Gail Tremaine

Created on: December 28, 2009   Last Updated: June 09, 2010

Doing the laundry not only teaches children that there are different ways of doing things, it also gives them a sense of accomplishment and gives them a glimpse into the science of housework. When I was training in corporate America, a supervisory class was conducted and the facilitator passed a tee shirt around. The only instruction we were given was to fold the shirt. In the end, we went around the room, only to learn that everyone does it just a little differently. The lesson: there is more than one way to do anything.

 But laundry has another lesson. It teaches children that there is a rhyme and reason to doing things in a certain order, and that there is an end to household tasks after all. Housework often seems endless. The old adage that a "woman's work is never done" appears to be true when the children witness their mother racing around all day. Take sweeping the floor with a broom for example: You sweep and later, you sweep again. The dust particles collect so quickly, hardly any time elapses before you find another dreaded dust particle. There is never a time when you are truly satisfied because dust and dirty dishes accumulate so rapidly. But unlike other mundane tasks that you might ask your child to perform, doing the laundry gives back. The smell and feel of freshly laundered clothing does provide a sense of satisfaction. It is true that the clothing will eventually need to be cleaned again, but for quite awhile the child can revel in his completed task.

The fact that laundry has to be done in sequence also teaches children that while there is individuality and different ways to do things, logic must be employed. Indeed, laundry must be done in a certain order. You cannot dry the clothes before they are washed. You cannot fold the laundry while it is still wet. Questions may arise as to why you put in fabric softener or bleach and these questions demand scientific explanation. Indeed, the art of doing laundry is a science experiment of sorts. Just ask anyone who has inadvertently threw a brand new red shirt into the white wash.

So what does doing the laundry teach children? It teaches them a lot of things from organization to individuality to the way that fabric behaves. Should children be encouraged to do their own laundry? Absolutely. When they are very young they will not complain too loudly and they will learn a great deal about life and all the tasks it includes. 

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