I’ve been reading about how giving kids regular chores can actually help them develop better social skills, but I’m not totally clear on how this works. Like, I get that they learn responsibility and stuff, but how exactly does doing dishes or cleaning their room translate to better interactions with other people?
My kids are 7 and 10 and I’m trying to figure out if I should be more intentional about assigning them household tasks. Right now they just do basic stuff when I ask, but I’m wondering if there’s more benefit here that I’m missing.
Anyone have experience with this or know more about the connection between chores and social development?
We made laundry folding into a game - my daughter sorts clothes for each family member and started picking up on things like dad’s favorite shirts or when I need work clothes ready. She’s way more tuned into what everyone needs daily. Now she reads social cues better because the chores taught her to actually pay attention to other people’s routines and what they like. Honestly surprised me how well it worked.
From watching my own kids, the social skills come from all the daily negotiations around chores. My 14-year-old got way better at communicating because she had to work with her brother on shared stuff like cleaning the kitchen after dinner. They figured out who does what and when - meant they had to actually talk through fights instead of just storming off.
With my 17-year-old, chores taught him to think about other people’s needs. When he takes out trash without being asked, he’s thinking about how it affects everyone. That mindset totally carries over to school and friendships
The patience from doing boring, repetitive tasks helped them handle frustrating friend situations better. Plus contributing to the household gave them confidence in groups because they knew they could be reliable and helpful.
Your kids at 7 and 10 are perfect for building these habits. Even simple stuff like setting the table together creates chances for them to practice cooperation and thinking about others.
My 5-year-old just started doing simple chores and I’m curious about this too. When we clean up toys together, they’re getting better at taking turns and sharing space. But I’m still figuring out how much to expect at this age. Do the social benefits show up more as they get older, or should I already be seeing changes? I want to make sure I’m setting them up for success with friends and school.
I’ve seen how chores have helped my kids connect with their friends. When my daughter helps clean up after playing, it feels natural to her because she’s used to it at home. My son has learned to suggest compromises with his friends during games, probably from all that practice solving little problems together at home. It’s amazing how these experiences make them feel more confident around their peers and willing to help out. They really take pride in knowing they can contribute to something bigger.
My kids started helping out around that age too. It really improved their teamwork. When cleaning up, they had to split tasks and share tools, which led to fewer arguments.
