My daughter, who’s 5, used to be eager to help around the house. Now she’s reluctant and even questions if I had her just to do chores. This happens even when I ask her to do something simple, like putting away her markers.
I’ve tried explaining why it’s important to help out, but she still refuses. I’m running out of ways to say ‘I understand how you feel, but we need to do this because…’
What chores do other parents give their young children? And how do you handle it when they don’t want to do them? I’d love to hear some fresh ideas or approaches that have worked for others.
My kid and I have been trying out a ‘task jar’ lately. We write down simple chores on colorful slips and put them in a jar. Each day, my 11-year-old picks one out. It’s become a bit of a game - they never know what they’ll get!
Sometimes, we’ll do the task together or race to see who finishes first. Other days, they prefer to handle it solo. I’ve noticed they’re more willing to help out when it feels like their choice. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely made chores less of a battle in our house.
In our house, we’ve found success with turning chores into fun activities. For the little ones, we started a ‘helper of the day’ system. They get a special badge and choose a small task from a colorful chart.
We also use a sticker chart for regular chores. When they fill a row, they earn a small treat or extra screen time. It’s been great seeing their faces light up when they complete tasks.
Sometimes, we make it a race against a timer or play music while tidying up. This makes it feel less like work and more like a game.
When they’re not in the mood, we don’t push too hard. We just try again later or offer to do it together. It’s a process, but they’re slowly getting more willing to pitch in.
I’ve been trying different things with my 5-year-old too. We made a chart with pictures of tasks like putting toys in the box or helping set the table. Some days it works great and my kid feels proud. Other days it’s a struggle.
I’m curious about how other parents handle the tough days. Do you ever skip chores if your child really doesn’t want to do them? Or do you always insist?
We’ve had some success with making it a game - racing to see who can put away toys fastest. But I worry about relying too much on competition. How do you balance making chores fun while also teaching responsibility?
It’s reassuring to hear others are figuring this out too. Parenting is quite the adventure!
I remember those days with my kids. It’s tough, but it gets better. When mine were little, we made a picture chart of their chores. They loved putting stickers on it when they finished something. It was simple stuff like feeding the dog or putting toys in the basket.
We tried to keep it fun too. Sometimes we’d put on music and have a five-minute tidy-up dance party. They thought it was hilarious when I’d dance badly while picking up socks.
There were still days when they didn’t want to help. I’d usually say something like, ‘I know it’s not fun, but let’s do it together real quick.’ Most of the time, that worked. If not, we’d try again later.
It took time, but they slowly got used to helping out. Now my teenagers do their chores without much fuss. Hang in there - consistency and patience really pay off in the long run.
