Raising productive children in the “modern day world” has posed obvious challenges for parents. Where everything is automated, a click away, or explained in an online search; how do we as parents go about teaching values to children that will shape character and foster positive habits that their children will rely on as adults?
Believe it or not, child development still starts in the home. Despite the ease and convenience technology provides, there are still plenty of manual chores to go around. Teaching children about day-to-day chores and the responsibilities that go into maintaining a home provides a better understanding of the value of hard work. By assigning chores, a child begins to feel a sense of responsibility, and perhaps even duty.
Chores Best Practices
Psychology Today highlights some dos and don’ts about best practices. For example, keeping chores manageable, age appropriate, and routine. Keep in mind, positive praise is better than negative reinforcement. Screaming at and/or punishing the child might create a sense of obligation to the chores, but not the sense of pride and duty that comes with contributing to the household.
Not only will family chores help foster an appreciation for reciprocity, but it also begins to foster a healthy work ethic that the child will take into adulthood. Many young adults struggle with a false sense of entitlement. Recent studies show they suffer for it in the real world. Entrepreneur reports curbing employee entitlement as a common challenge among millennials in the business setting. Teaching your child the value of traditional role behaviors will give them a competitive edge among their peers.
I’d love to hear from you about how you teach your children traditional values in the modern day!
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