It seems that there are far too many adults out there, both men and women, who lack basic household skills. We’re talking about 22-year-olds who have never done their own laundry, cleaned out a fridge, or even know when to swap out their sheets. This is a crisis, folks, and it all begins at home—your home.
For the love of all things practical, teach your kids how to handle chores, and start early. My little ones, ages 3 and 4, are already tackling household tasks. They know how to put away their laundry into the right drawers and match their socks. If they make a mess, they clean it up. Sure, I guide them and lend a hand now and then, but I’m committed to raising self-sufficient adults because there just aren’t enough of them out there.
I get it; it can be excruciating to watch your child struggle to clean up. They might not do it perfectly, take their sweet time, or even spill the dustpan contents on their way to the trash. But we have to endure this process. It’s essential that they learn these skills, and believe me, the meltdowns are much less frequent when you start them young.
Just the other day, I set up a sensory play activity for my kids using a cake pan filled with salt. They were having a blast while I sipped my coffee. But then my 3-year-old son spilled some salt on the table. Did he freak out? Nope! He calmly said, “Uh oh, Mom. I made a mess. Can you get the vacuum so I can clean it up?” You bet I can, kiddo.
I plugged in the vacuum, handed him the hose, and he cleaned up the mess. At just 3 years old, he demonstrated initiative that some adults still lack. And that’s the kind of mindset we need to cultivate.
When our kids grow up, their cleaning habits will impact everyone around them: roommates, partners, spouses, children—you name it. I certainly don’t want to raise a kid who leaves dirty dishes lying around or shoves their clothes into a pile instead of the hamper.
I’m not a neat freak, and I don’t expect perfection from my kids, but I do want them to develop good habits early on. It’s the key to ensuring they carry these skills into adulthood. There are countless age-appropriate chore charts available online—find one that suits your family. Kids are capable of so much more than we often give them credit for. When they grow up in an environment where chores are expected, it’ll be less of a struggle later on.
It’s our responsibility to nurture self-reliant, productive members of society, and that begins in our homes when they’re little. So let’s raise a generation that knows how to load the dishwasher without a second thought!
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In summary, teaching your kids how to do chores is vital for their growth into responsible adults. Starting them young not only helps them become self-sufficient but also reduces the likelihood of them becoming the dreaded “messy roommate” in the future.