You have a chore to do around the house, and your kids want to help out. You know it might be nice for them to help, but you're feeling a bit impatient. And you know it might turn into a two hour project, with a big mess to clean up. A mess that could be avoided if you did it yourself.
We've all been there, haven't we?
It can be so much easier to do the household chores and projects without the assistance from your little friends. After all, who's got the time in today's world to make a project longer than it needs to be?
You do.
Why is it important to include your kids in household tasks?
Once in a while, there's some research that unveils something so important and relevant that it screams for parents to hear it.
Researcher Marty Rossman, at the University of Minnesota, studied a group of young adults from the time they were young children. The startling results of the study were that the young adults who'd participated in household chores when they were age 3 and 4, were more successful as adults than those who didn't.
Specifically, these young adults were more likely to complete their education, get a good start on a career, develop adult relationships, and avoid the use of drugs. The early participation in household chores was deemed more important in their success than any other factor, including IQ.
On the other hand, if children didn't begin participating in household chores until they were teenagers, the experience seemed to backfire, and had a negative effect on their success as young adults, using those same measures.
What does this really mean?
When your young kids feel as though their dad (or mom) believes they're capable of handling simple chores around the house, it's an incredibly powerful message to them.
Dad believes I can do it!
If your kids believe that's how you feel about them as they go through life, you'll also be the parent of confident, responsible, and happy kids. That's what's created when you choose to see your kids as capable, and you show them you believe in them.
But it's not as easy as just seeing them as capable. You also have to show patience when they tackle these chores. You can't take over for them when they struggle, or "correct" what they did. Often, it's what you don't do that communicates you believe in them.
Imagine the difference you can make with your kids by allowing their participation in the family chores. Imagine the difference in your kids esteem when they feel like a productive participant in the family from a young age.
You do have time to include your kids in chores and projects at home. Tell every other father and mother you know that they have time, too.
It's too important not to.
Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC, coaches busy parents by phone to balance their life and improve their family relationships. For a FREE twenty minute sample session by phone; a FREE ecourse, ebooks, courses, articles, and a FREE newsletter, go to http://www.markbrandenburg.com or email him at http://www.markbrandenburg.com.
Olympia Fields cheap limo service .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareAs parents and teachers, sometimes we want to praise, at... Read More
Mealtimes together deserve an important place in any family. Around... Read More
In June, elementary school children across North America cheered as... Read More
Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character... Read More
Voices!So many voices crying out for adherence and so many... Read More
"How many times do I have to tell you to... Read More
There are so many learning labels floating around these days... Read More
Your child's teacher says that you need to find out... Read More
The back-to-school shopping is done. Brand new pencils, colored markers,... Read More
The advances in science over the past century have been... Read More
Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak... Read More
The Real Dangers to Kids Online and How to Avoid... Read More
When my oldest daughter was born, I walked the floor... Read More
This can be a very complicated issue, so I don't... Read More
Here's the scene of communication with your child: your three-year-old... Read More
If You're Having Twins..is it double the headache, or double... Read More
Who Can Register A Birth? The child's mother... Read More
Saturday mornings. Cold cereal and Scooby Doo. How many parents... Read More
Most of our Founding Fathers, including Ben Franklin, Sam Adams,... Read More
Many people still think that the game of chess is... Read More
It was the homework that did it. Each night became... Read More
Family decision-making is an intriguing phenomenon. Many factors become part... Read More
"I don't know and I don't care."I've heard those words... Read More
How to Get Your Child to Love Reading was conceived... Read More
One reason public schools get away with educational failure, year... Read More
prom limo Belle Rive ..Not so long ago a dad-to-be would pace up and... Read More
Here are some tips that I have picked up from... Read More
At first I thought of titling this article "The Lazy... Read More
Q. We are getting to the stage with our kids... Read More
Every school year parents and students dutifully trudge through the... Read More
Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only... Read More
Are you worried about your child's reading habits? Perhaps you... Read More
How would you like to have more time? Of course... Read More
Although many parents become frustrated as they try to maintain... Read More
Family decision-making is an intriguing phenomenon. Many factors become part... Read More
Parental example, whether for good or for bad, is undoubtedly... Read More
What Children Look for in a Friend?Is this child fun... Read More
The school holidays are a great time for the kids,... Read More
Teri was 5. As younger siblings do, she looked up... Read More
Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you choose... Read More
Maryann is so focused she's blind. She's slipped over the... Read More
Imagine a child who lacks ownership of his own life,... Read More
When it comes to exams, or indeed any academic work,... Read More
The 'phone conversation had nothing at all to do with... Read More
Goal setting is essential for building a successful life. However,... Read More
For many years underparenting was perhaps the biggest problem facing... Read More
Have you ever wondered why toys for babies tend to... Read More
I've learned numerous, important lessons on life, motherhood and men... Read More
Most people have more training before they receive their driver's... Read More
I am writing this from the beautiful mountains of Western... Read More
Parenting |