Today's parents like to be hands-on with their children, especially with smaller kids who still cannot do many things independently. However, parenting experts agree that moms and dads need to do one thing for their children early on to avoid raising spoiled kids.
According to psychologist and parenting author Bethany Cook, it's important for young children to learn life skills by letting them help out around the house and do basic chores. Fellow psychologist Stephanie O'Leary also believes in the benefits of allowing children to make their bed or clean their room because it will teach them valuable concepts of teamwork, connection, and "chipping in."
Giving children small jobs to do at home will also build their confidence and self-esteem because they know that they made a contribution to the family. In one extensive study from experts at the University of Minnesota, children who started doing chores around 3 or 4 four years old had healthier relationships with themselves, their families, and friends when they reached young adulthood. On the other hand, the children who were not made to help around the house until they were teenagers were not as well-rounded and successful in their 20s.
It Takes Some Time
Clinical social worker Amy Morin said that teaching children how to do household chores takes some time and many examples from their parents. She said that it's not enough for parents to simply tell their kids what to do because they will best learn by osmosis.
O'Leary added that parents must also explain why they assign tasks to children by emphasizing the importance of helping other people. So, it will be helpful to give them chores that don't directly benefit them, like picking up their toys. Instead, they have to learn to help around the house, such as sweeping the backyard, a place used by the whole family, or cleaning up after eating in the dining room, another communal space.
However, some kids may complain about household chores, but parents have to be consistent and carry on even if their children don't want to do it. Having chores also establishes responsibility in young kids. Parenting expert Aliza Pressman said that this is the best antidote for not raising spoiled children.
Children Do Want To Help
A survey from Braun Research shows the disparity of kids doing household chores in the last few decades. The numbers showed that 80 percent of today's parents helped out around the house when they were growing up. However, only 30 percent of these parents said they make their children contribute to the family chores.
Yet, there have been documented studies showing that children actually want to help out at home, regardless of their culture, race, or family background. Being helpful is a natural trait observed in many children between the ages of 2 to 18 years old.
As they grow older, kids who are used to doing chores become more competent because they can handle more complex tasks. They also develop an initiative to pre-empt what their family needs, so they don't have to be instructed by their parents. These are the children who will stand out from the bossy, entitled, and spoiled kids.
