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"Learn to do by doing" is not only the 4-H motto - it's also one of the foremost reasons for having kids do chores. Sure it takes more time and effort to teach a child to do something properly than it does to do it yourself, but unless you're prepared to provide chambermaid, waitress, chauffeur, valet, and handyman services indefinitely, you're well advised to start assigning chores as soon as the child is old enough to understand instructions. The more different jobs a child is expected to do, the more SKILLS he will develop.

"You made the mess, you clean it up." It's a lesson that pays big dividends. A child who's held responsible for cleaning up after himself from an early age eventually figures out how to do things without making a mess. Learning to take RESPONSIBILITY for one's actions is a lesson that pays big dividends in every area of life.

"There must be an easier way." Creative PROBLEM-SOLVING is frequently born of laziness. If a child has to get a task done before he can go play, he'll find ways of doing it quickly and well, particularly if you supervise consistently and make him do it over again if he does a sloppy job first time round. If you let him get away with minimal effort, that's all you'll ever get.

"I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine." It doesn't take kids long to recognize that most jobs are easier if somebody helps, so they learn to seek out assistance and to offer it. Being a team player, developing healthy relationships, becoming a good citizen - all require CO-OPERATION.

"Leaders are born, not made." I beg to differ. The child who learns at an early age to DELEGATE, will find himself gravitating to leadership roles in all sorts of situations throughout life. What's he going to delegate if nothing's expected of him? If he has responsibilities, you can bet he'll find ways of recruiting younger siblings or friends to help out.

"Well, what did you expect?" If chores are assigned, there needs to be an expectation that they'll be done, and done properly. If they're not, consequences should follow. Child wants a puppy but repeatedly forgets to feed it; Mom tires of reminding him; puppy gets a new home. CAUSE AND EFFECT is a relationship that has pretty significant implications in the big bad world. Ignore your partner and you're likely to end up alone.

"A stitch in time saves nine." Lots of chores are cumulative - if they're done promptly they're pretty easy, but if neglected they become more difficult and time-consuming. The child who's required to mow the lawn learns that if it's done frequently, he doesn't have to bag the clippings. If he neglects the task until the grass is five inches high it becomes an all-day job with lots of heavy pushing and lifting. Learning to NOT PROCRASTINATE simplifies life both at home and at work. Home repairs done promptly and carefully are much easier and less expensive than if left until you have to hire a skilled trades person to repair the damage. A college paper well-researched and written over a period of time generally elicits a better mark than one done hastily the night before it's due.

The list could go on and on. By doing chores, children learn just about everything they need to know to be successful in life.

Learn more about this author, Roberta Velyn.
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