How many chores should a kid do? I want to teach my children that they need to “work” without complaining and be responsible with what they have. I do not want to overload them, keep them from having time to play, or stifle their creativity. I believe that kids who come from “messy” houses are more likely to have creative side. I have taken comfort in my messy house for many years because of this information--seeing my clutter as a gift to my children, releasing them to creativity instead of tying them to conformity in a completely orderly home. I don’t want to live in filth but I want to have a nice balance of creativity and orderliness. In my home we divide the chores based on what’s appropriate for their respective ages. There is some choice in the matter; if a kid is particularly annoyed by dishes, that kid can vote to vacuum. Everybody is probably going to have to do something they do not like to do. That is a good lesson for any kid on the planet to learn. Life isn’t always fun; in fact, a lot of the time it isn’t fun. We all need to make time for fun, but the work must be done, too. Some parents like to tie allowance to chores, but I do not subscribe to this view. I think my children have to work to help maintain the home because they are a part of this family, and that, in itself, comes with responsibility. Some parents tie the allowance to the attitude that goes along with the chores: The chores will be required regardless, but the way the chores are done is what the allowance is dependent upon. I can see how that would be a good motivation for the children. In the end, it’s all about teaching my kids to become responsible adults--good wives and husbands, mothers and fathers, employees and employers. Probably the best compliment I can get in this regard is hearing that when my kids are away from home they are dependable, they work hard, and they have good attitudes.
