Chores have a bad rap among kids, tweens, and teens for a reason: They’re often boring, difficult, and cut into screen or social time. But parents have many good reasons to ignore the complaints. Routine housework can help teach children vital life skills—not just how to vacuum and do laundry, but habits and strengths that will serve them well in the future. Financial planner Gregg Murset, CEO of chores and financial literacy app BusyKid and a father of six, explains five benefits your children will get from chores.
Chores Will Teach Kids Work Ethic
Your child may not have his first job until well into his teens, so chores can actually function as a first job—teaching him about accountability, quality of work, organization, and planning. Paying your child biweekly for chores can also help him understand how paychecks work.
An Appreciation of the Value Money
When kids see parents shopping online, it can look like they are just picking out items that show up at the house. In this increasingly cash-free society, it’s difficult for kids to understand our “invisible” transactions. Murset recommends parents download a chore management app, such as Chore Check, that is linked to a debit-type card that you put money on based on chores completed, to illustrate the concepts of receiving payments and paying for purchases.
The Ability to Budget Effectively
If your child wants a new toy or game, have her save money from chores to make the purchase. When kids are given freedom to spend their earned money, they quickly learn the value of hard work vs. the cost of goods.
Time Management Skills
Kids often aren’t in charge of managing their own busy schedules—school, sports, extracurriculars—so give your child a sense of control by letting him set the schedule for getting his weekly chores done. Incentivize him by paying only for the chores that get done in a timely fashion.
An Entrepreneurial Spirit
Kids who start chores young learn skills—say, pet sitting or lawn care—that they can turn into a neighborhood-wide job. By teaching her that hard work pays, you will inspire her to put down her phone and gaming controller in favor of earning an income.
