Especially in today’s world, where children are expected to grow up so quickly, many parents are reluctant to do anything that might impinge on the fun and innocence of childhood. Setting a few household chores that a child can easily manage, however, helps to instill a good sense of responsibility and allows them to develop a strong work ethic – and it is much easier to do at a younger age than when they reach their teenage years.
As younger children tend to respond more readily to praise and rewards than their more cynical teenage counterparts, one quick and easy way to encourage them to take responsibility for a few chores is by creating a system whereby they can earn points for each job completed and a reward for achieving a specified number of points. To make the system a fun and stimulating visual experience that the child can relate to, create a brightly decorated chart together that shows:
- The chores for each day of the week
- The number of points for each chore
- The list of rewards for which your child can exchange his or her points (this might include anything from a small toy or ice cream to a trip to the local zoo, but try to keep the rewards small so that they can be more regularly earned). Help your child to mark off the chart every day, and give lots of encouragement and praise.
[Article first appeared in the May 2011 issue of Family Times, produced monthly by Play-a-Round Golf. To receive your own copy of Family Times, please send an email to steve@playaroundgolf.net with your name and full mailing address.]
