Should Children Have Chores?

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CLEVELAND - Whether it’s cleaning, doing laundry or grocery shopping, most of us can agree that chores are just a part of life as an adult. 

But, what about when it comes to kids? 

Should they have chores? And if so, what kind? 

“I think it depends on a lot of things including the child's age and development, and then things that are going on in your life at the time. So, even for toddlers, helping clean up the toys, putting them in the toy basket, or putting books back on the bookshelf is very appropriate, versus a later teenager who could be responsible for things like taking the garbage cans to the curb or mowing the lawn,” explained Kate Eshleman, PsyD, psychologist for Cleveland Clinic Children’s.

Dr. Eshleman said chores can offer many benefits for kids. 

For example, it can teach them life skills – like understanding that sometimes we have to take care of responsibilities before we can go play. 

It can also help them learn about time management. 

She said while chores are important, parents should be flexible with expectations. 

There may be situations where the child can’t get something done because they need to do their homework or leave for practice. 

So, what about allowances? Should kids get paid for doing their chores? 

“Sometimes people call it bribery, we often call it reinforcement, and that's up to the family. Sometimes it's just expected that the kids are going to do these things without question, and other families do provide positive reinforcement,” said Dr. Eshleman. “Kids are not going to be internally motivated to do these chores, so sometimes it can help to apply some external motivation to get it done.”

Dr. Eshleman also encourages parents to model good behavior. 

If your child sees you doing chores around the house, they’ll be more likely to do them as well.