Every parent has experienced the problem of asking her child to do
a chore, but then he never completes the task. Some parents stop asking
children to do their chores because it is less time consuming to just
do it themselves.
“The goal is to ensure that teen-agers perform the chore and not
to exhaust the parents by having them make the teens do so on a regular
basis,” says Rochelle Harris, PhD, clinical psychologist at Children’s
Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. “Chores teach children vital survival
skills. They teach self-reliance, self-confidence, and self-
discipline.”
Dr. Harris suggests the following chores for teenagers:
Eating and food preparation- making up weekly meal plans, going
grocery shopping, preparation of the meals and clean-up after meals.
House cleaning- cleaning their own room, as well as other common
areas in the house that the teen uses. Also, straightening up the room
after using it along with periodic cleaning like vacuuming, dusting,
etc.
Laundry- completing their own laundry without shrinking or
damaging their clothes in any way, folding and putting away their
clothes in a timely manner.
House maintenance- yard work, simple home repairs, and car
maintenance (washing and waxing, changing tires, etc.)
Dr. Harris says following a schedule set for the whole family,
including the parents, should help teens remember their chores without
constant reminders from parents. Parents should also use positive
reinforcement of a job well done, so teenagers will see positive
rewards for doing their chores.
