5 ways to motivate our children to do their chores
12 October, 2022
Household chores have beneficial effects on our children, let's be clear about that! They allow for the development of autonomy, stimulate their self-confidence and confidence in their abilities, as well as their sense of belonging to the family. Some researchers even go so far as to claim that children's participation in household chores has a great influence on their personal and professional success. Watering plants, feeding the dog, emptying the dishwasher, tidying their room… As parents, we are often well aware of all this, but becoming the conductor and organizing the household so that everyone participates can seem difficult!
How to motivate children to participate in household chores?
Some children see household chores as punishment. In such a situation, it's hard to give them the motivation they need to complete them! How can you motivate children to do their part without too much fuss? Here are 5 tips from Les Belles Combines!
1- Delegate tasks gradually
Delegate only one task at a time. If that seems too difficult, break down the task and ask your child to do only a part of it to start: only empty the top rack of the dishwasher or only put away half of the groceries. Gradually increase the level of difficulty. The goal is to help them experience success so that they stay motivated.
2- Establish routines using a pictogram system
Visual support proves to be a powerful tool to help children build their bearings. It will help younger and older children alike, in addition to being an often very effective tool for children with special needs. Pictograms allow children to quickly orient themselves in time, speak more to children, and put images to words. Find our Petites missions magnetic pictogram system here, compatible with our monthly and weekly planners as well as our various task charts! 3-Do the task several times with your child
Give them clear instructions and perform the task several times with them. When you feel they are ready, let them perform the task without expectation of the result. Then check the work done and encourage your child to do better next time. Expecting impeccable work will only put extra pressure on them and risk discouraging them. Above all, if you do it for them, saying they are not doing it adequately, they may quickly understand that they don't have to make an effort to avoid doing their work. With time and practice, results will appear.
4- Turn household chores into something fun
At Les Belles Combines, we use the word "Petite Mission" (Little Mission) rather than "tâche ménagère" (household chore). It's already funnier and less like a punishment or laborious work. Also, don't hesitate to use a positive reinforcement system that will appeal to your children. In this sense, The General Store proves to be a brilliant and very effective tool: assign a number of tokens for each task performed! By accumulating these tokens, your child can buy rewards or privileges in the store box where you are the manager. Fun, isn't it?
5- Accompany new responsibilities with new privileges
Growing up means having new responsibilities, but it also means gaining new privileges. When you assign new tasks to your child, also consider granting them new privileges (staying up 5 minutes later, expanding their cycling range, allowing them to invite friends for a sleepover, being able to shower or bathe alone, etc.) If your child refuses to do their tasks, you can grant their request by removing the privileges that accompany them. They are likely to change their mind very quickly! Our Les Magnétos pictograms are also accompanied by a small diploma allowing you to highlight your child's level change by granting them new privileges.
To discover a multitude of other tools that will certainly facilitate household maintenance management, discover our downloadable little tricks!