Getting kids to pitch in with chores is essential for their development, even if it can be like herding cats! When I was a kid, I would do everything I could think of to get out of them- lock myself in the bathroom, fake like I was sick, or straight up just hide somewhere in the house or yard. My parents tried their hardest to get me to do dishes and laundry, but I flat out refused (and was grounded a lot). Then, when I moved out on my own, my dorm room was a complete disaster. I didn’t know how to cook and ate out every meal (and gained 40 pounds in a year) I never did dishes or laundry, and when I moved out, it took almost a week of cleaning (not packing and moving) to get it in a presentable shape. Since then, I’ve made my own chore/cleaning schedule and stick to it religiously. DON’T let your kids learn the hard way like I did! Get them started helping with chores as early as possible! With that said, I love this post by Angela at Together With Family– it has a nice list of chores that 9-12 year old’s are capable of doing:
-Make simple meals
-Take out garbage
-Wash and dry clothes (fold, put away)
-Wash and dry dishes (and put away)
-Keep rooms picked up and clean
-Clean toilets, sinks, bathrooms.