Kids doing chores

[LawdAMercy]

I keep hearing about a Harvard study that tracked kids over decades and found that their was a huge predictive factor in their future success and life satisfaction, and that was whether kids regularly did household chores from a young age. Apparently it develops agency, a sense of contributing to the family/household, executive function etc

I would love to implement this in our family and wondering what chores your kids do regularly? What is age appropriate for a 4/6/8 year old?

I sometimes get mine vaccuming, putting things away from the dishwasher, folding laundry and putting it away, helping with cooking, washing windows (they love that one), dusting...it is occasional so not part of any kind of routine and ONLY if they want to do it, I'm not having a battle about it. I like the folding laundry together we do have a bit of chat and banter. My little one also helps with weeding until he gets bored, he loves planting seeds so we do that. I would say these aren't routine so they feel like a bit of a novelty so I'm not sure if that counts or not.

Mine are slightly older but still primary age.

They are asked to help clear the table at the end of a meal and put their plates in the dishwasher. They are also expected to tidy up after themselves, tidy their room and put their clean clothes away.

They also sweep the floor around their pets cage.

The biggest thing for me is that they tidy after themselves, toys are put away, they don’t leave glasses/litter etc in the living room, it’s all taken to the kitchen. They aren’t angels but I very much don’t tidy behind them. If for example they left litter in the living room I’d call them in to deal with it, I wouldn’t just take it to the bin myself if that makes sense.

We talk a lot about being a team and taking responsibility.

I promise we aren’t as dull and rigid as it sounds!

The more you expose them to, the more they should be able to handle - so appropriate varies depending on what exposure children have had.
So you'd have to get a feel for what they can do by asking them to try out a task you have for them.
My two have ALWAYS done chores from the second they were able to walk (but not alone obviously!) So I believe you'd have to start small - give small tasks and see how they manage.

Mine filled the washing machine with clothes and I'd do the chemical part for a long time until recently (almost 9 and 11) I started this when they were probably around 2/3, have their own list in shops and thats their task, vacuum, fold clothes and put away, upkeep their rooms. My youngest voluntarily cleaned the toilet out of the blue a year ago and still does here and there.

Honestly everything, help with cooking. I have expectations that both of them will be fully capable managing in life and I refuse to do it all alone as I feel we are a team in the home. Whatever chore you're doing and you think they can manage to help (even being annoying for now) little by little doing it with you they will learn the ropes and when older be able to do it unsupervised. So start them young!

I can't think of anything they don't do, the 9yo refuses to use my knives but they're a professional set and she's genuinely scared (even though blunt knives are more dangerous!) So she will peel, prep and clean what she can but she is genuinely scared of chopping harder veg that her little serrated knife won't cut through - so I don't force her. But she's been cutting since age 2 or 3? Obviously we started with those asda toddler cutlery and bananas but we were forcing confidence ASAP!

Anything you are doing for the home, is a team effort!

Now I'm able to say 11 go vacuum and 9 go fill the dishwasher and I'm going to walk the dog! Oh I never line up job after job unless there's something happening - like if we are due a party of any sort we do sometimes line up jobs because they see the need and value in working together but they get a good amount of breaks vs me!

Process may be initially hard OP but at some point once they get the hang (especially as the younger ones grow) you should be able to split tasks and things are easier!

That's interesting.

My parents made me and my brother do equal chores around the house from a young age, they actually had a rota. Hated it at the time but it was non negotiable 😅 Was mainly clearing the table, tidying up after ourselves and helping with washing and drying the dishes. Daily things really.

Keeping our bedrooms tidy and clean and picking up after ourselves, putting things away. Didn't do laundry or ironing as my mum loved took control of that.

The only job they don't/won't do is toilets and scrubbing the bath.

3DC age 7-16 cook at least 1 meal a week.
DC3 sweeps, mops, hoovers, wipes sides, cleans windows, wipes skirting boards...most jobs really. He loves to help.
DC2 does all the dog-related jobs, grooming, feeding, garden poo patrol, tooth brushing etc.
DC1 has to do the dishwasher everyday but does any job when asked.

The job all of them are probably worst at is keeping their rooms tidy!

Mine is 2, it’s all play at the moment but it’s consistent:
empties dishwasher of her (plastic) things into her own drawer,
wipes her space at the table after eating,
helps tidy up her toys.

Mine are 12 and 14. They do putting washing away. Hanging wet washing on the drying rack. Setting table and clearing it. Loading/unloading dishwasher. Put the bins out, feed pets. They also help with cooking at times. They don’t do all these jobs all the time but just a case of what needs doing and asking them to pitch in. I don’t clear up after them in the sense that if they leave cups or wrappers around I would call them to tell the to put it in the bin or dishwasher.