Being a cooperative and productive member of the family, making a contribution to the whole, is an expected part of life.
Raising children according to a constructive value system is foundational to preparing children for a good, happy, healthy, successful life.
Values:
- Clean up after your self
- Pitch in
- Be cooperative
- Be helpful
- Be respectful of self, others, property.
If kids want more money, they can help themselves and the family by earning it outside the family.
Paying children to help out at home does not teach a valuable life lesson. Children come pre-wired to be good workers and you will teach them budgeting and purchasing skills as they are growing up. The vast majority of young children want to help out at home; they want to load the dishwasher and washing machine, move laundry from washer to dryer, run the vacuum cleaner, etc. If they don't naturally want to help out, for whatever reason, it's your job to teach them gradually and progressively across time these important values.
Too many parents shoo children away from helping while they are young. This is counter-productive. Accept their help gladly and make it fun, even if it takes longer. Think about it? Is your priority to get the laundry done or to teach your children all of the skills and values they will need to have a good life?
If you shoo your children away from helping when they are young, do not expect them to help willingly when they are teens.
Kenneth H. Little, MA / 135 Lee Brook Road / Thornton, NH 03285 / 603-726-1006 / Achieve-ES.com / KenLittle-NH.com
