Chores and jobs: the road to responsibility

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For adults, the word ‘job’ can have a bad connotation – we may think of cranky bosses and relentless time clocks, deadlines and constant stresses. But for children, a job can be one of the prime keys to the magical world of adults, one that lets them take on grown-up tasks and responsibilities while learning grown-up skills.

For very young children, those tasks and responsibilities – usually chores within their own household – can make them feel like they're competent, contributing members of the family, which in turn is a vital source of self-esteem. For older children, jobs also can be a source of significant income, and can introduce them to the values of the working world, including punctuality, reliability and courtesy.

Which job for which child?

From toddlerhood on up through adolescence, jobs are only positive experiences when they are age appropriate. A job that is too hard for a child is frustrating at best and dangerous at worst (you would not, for instance, want a three-year-old to paint a room or a six-year-old to mow the lawn). It's also wise to consider your child's abilities and interests, as a job is much more fun and fulfilling when it involves an activity she actually enjoys. That also may mean letting a child change jobs from time to time, both as her interests evolve and as a way of rotating chores fairly among family members – variety, after all, is the spice of life, even when it applies to dusting, pulling weeds, walking the dog, etc.

Preparing your child for the work world also is key. Whether you're making a chart for household chores, explaining just how much water each plant on the verandah requires, or helping a teen craft a resumé, you boost her chances of success by teaching her just what a job entails and how it is done correctly.

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