Chores are inescapable in an adult’s life. Yet we often see them as a necessary evil rather than as a way to serve others. We put off doing them until the tasks are so overwhelming that we grudgingly complete them or delegate them to other family members who in turn dislike doing them. Our ‘honey do’ list eventually becomes so long that it takes a full day to complete it.

Homeschooling is a far-reaching task with many goals. One is so that the children will be able to manage their homelife successfully. Another is to be able to serve others and a third is to be responsible adults. Parents are the best teachers because they understand their offspring and can fit the chores to their children. When children are taught early how to complete chores well, there will be less friction as they grow up when more complex chores are added. It is imperative that they understand that each job is important and that the the family depends upon successful completion of the jobs in a timely manner. Conversely, it is important that they see the results of not doing the chore. For instance, having the family wait patiently while Bobbie washes the silverware so dinner can be eaten is a good lesson in preparedness. It also teaches patience to other members who may instead prefer to ridicule and express disgust.

Children as young as two years old enjoy helping Mommy, Daddy, or siblings when they are doing the same job. Make a game of the activity when you are working with your little child. Sing songs, talk about colors, tell stories about the objects as you put them away. This teaches your child that you enjoy being with her, that ‘many hands make a work light’, and that no chore has to be onerous. It is not a good idea to reward the child with a prize after completing the daily chore because she will come to expect it. A big thank-you and hug are better.

Choose appropriate activities based upon your child’s size. Don’t expect a little one to be able to wield an adult-sized broom. Instead purchase a toy broom that can be handled easily. Give Junior a child-sized job so he will be able to accomplish it. Discouragement makes a job tedious and may result in its not being completed.

The child’s mental ability must be also considered. Ask yourself if your daughter is old enough to remember to perform the same task daily. To help instill a habit, put a job chart on the refrigerator. Paste a picture of the daily jobs to be done and have stickers nearby so that each time the job is completed, she can sticker it. Monotonous activities are not fun and can become the cause of arguments, so switch jobs every week. Any sooner than that makes it difficult for it to become a daily habit and harder to remember.

Physical ability is another consideration. Is your son coordinated enough to lift up the wastebasket to empty it into another container? Perhaps it would be better to give him a plastic bag to drag around the house to dump the trash. He can then drag it to the kitchen so that a parent can take it to the trash outside. If she is not strong enough to carry the laundry basket down to the laundry room, perhaps she could drop the laundry onto a sheet and leave it in a corner of the bathroom for a parent or older sibling to pick up.

The work ethic begins in the home and is best taught by the parents. The act of learning to do chores well is a training ground for adulthood and performing any job well.