5 ways to motivate our kids to get their chores done
12 October, 2022
Household chores have beneficial effects on our children, so let it be known! They help develop independence, boost children's confidence in themselves and their abilities, and also build their sense of belonging to the family. Some researchers even go so far as to claim that children's participation in household upkeep has a big influence on their personal and professional success. Watering the plants, feeding the dog, emptying the dishwasher, tidying their room… As parents, we're often well aware of all this, but becoming the conductor and organizing the household so that everyone pitches in can seem hard!
How do we motivate children to take part in household chores?
Some children see chores as a punishment. In that situation, it's hard to give them the motivation needed to get them done! How can we motivate kids to do their share without too much fuss? Here are 5 tips from Les Belles Combines!
1. Delegate chores gradually
Delegate only one chore at a time. If that seems too hard, break the chore down and ask your child to do just part of it to start: emptying only the top rack of the dishwasher, or putting away only half of the groceries. Gradually increase the level of difficulty. The goal is to give them successes so that the motivation sticks around.
2. Set up routines with a pictogram system
Visual support turns out to be a powerful tool for helping children build reference points. It will help the youngest as much as the oldest, as well as often being a very effective tool for children with special needs. Pictograms let kids quickly place themselves in time, speak more to children and put images to words. Find here our magnetic pictogram system of Little Missions, compatible with both our monthly and weekly planners and our various chore charts! 3. Do the chore with your child several times
Give them clear instructions and do the chore with them several times. When you feel they're ready, let them do the chore without expecting a particular result. Then check the work done and encourage your child to do better next time. Expecting flawless work will only put extra pressure on them and risks discouraging them. Above all, if you do it for them while saying they're not doing it properly, they may quickly figure out that they just need to not put in any effort so they don't have to do their job. With time and practice, results will appear.
4. Turn chores into something fun
At Les Belles Combines, we use the term “Little Mission” instead of “chore.” That's already funnier and sounds less like a punishment or a laborious job. Also, don't hesitate to use a positive reinforcement system that will appeal to your kids. In that spirit, the General Store is a great and very effective tool: assign a number of tokens for each chore completed! By collecting these tokens, your child will be able to buy rewards or privileges from the store box that you run. Fun, isn't it?
5. Pair new responsibilities with new privileges
Growing up means having new responsibilities, but it also means getting new privileges. When you assign new chores to your child, also think about granting them new privileges (staying up 5 minutes later, having their bike-riding range widen, letting them have friends sleep over, being able to shower or bathe on their own, etc.) If your child refuses to do their chores, you can go along with their wishes by taking away the privileges that come with them. They're likely to change their mind very quickly! Our pictograms, Les Magnétos (chore magnets), also come with a little diploma to mark your child's change of level by granting them new privileges.
To discover a multitude of other tools that will certainly make managing household upkeep easier, check out our downloadable printables!
Put these tips into practice
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