Teaching Our Kids to Work

I am a firm believer in teaching our kids to work at an early age. Teaching our kids to work requires patience, diligence, and instruction, both from the parents and the kids 🙂

I am a firm believer in teaching our kids to work at an early age. Since my kids were old enough to talk they were able to help around the house. A toddler can learn to throw his garbage away, and a school ager can learn to sort and wash laundry. In our home, Even my youngest throws his garbage away and puts his cup in the sink. Every day the girls help me set the table at meal time and clear it off afterward. Teaching our kids to work has required patience, diligence, and instruction, both from the parents and the kids 🙂

 

 The Importance of Work

The girls have had a chore chart in the hallway since they were probably 3 and 5. When we first started this we used pictures and short simple words. At the beginning of each school year we reevaluate the chore chart.   I choose new chores from the Happy Housewife’s Printable Chore Chart based on their age and experience.

At the bottom of their chore chart is this verse:

“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” Colossians 3:23 .

This verse is fitting because, as a family we do our best to teach the kids that their work is a reflection of themselves, and they are a reflection of Christ. Even if your family is not Christians it is important to teach children to do their work to the best of their ability.

There are many great benefits to teaching our kids to work at a young age:

•  They learn responsibility
• They experience the feeling of finishing a task.
• Doing chores can help a child’s self esteem because they feel like they are doing something that truly benefits others.
• It sets them up with the habit of working.
• They learn that as a family everyone must work together to keep things running smoothly.

Yes, We Pay!

Many families give an allowance to their children each week. We do as well. Although, really we call it a paycheck. They only get the money if they have completed their chores throughout the week. They also get to earn extra money through the week for completing chores on time, or sometimes I reward them for doing extra work. When they get their money they automatically put 10% in their save jar, and 10% in their give jar. This is teaching them at an early age to not only give to others, but to save for their future.

Letting the girls have their own money has been a great thing. When they go to the store, they rarely ask for anything. They know if they want something they have to pay for it. They also have learned that nothing is free. It is a blessing to see them buy things they have saved for, and pay for it with money they have earned. For us, paying our children for chores is important because it allows us to teach them financial responsibility at a young age!

Do your kids have chores and if so, do your children get paid for them?    Do you think teaching our kids to work is important?

Want to teach your kids life skills AND how to work? Try Skill Trek! A great program that helps fill in all those gaps you may forget to teach 🙂