Raising Helpful Kids: 10 Great Tasks for Tweens and Teens
From tweens to teens, the rigors of daily schedules increase, leaving less time at home to help with household chores. While it is important not to overwhelm your teenager with too much, he or she should not be completely free from responsibility when it comes to helping around the house. Here are 10 great tasks for your preteen or teen:
- Observe younger siblings from time to time
- Help with laundry (load washer and dryer, fold clothes, put clothes away)
- Take out the trash and organize the recycled products.
- Cook a simple meal
- Do yard work (pruning, weeding, etc.)
- Make your bed and spruce up your room
- Handle post-dinner cleanup (rinse dishes and place in dishwasher)
- Vacuum cleaner
- Clean the windows
- Sweep your driveway, garage, deck, or patio
When introducing your teen or teenager to a new assignment, be sure to:
- Explain. For example, explain why clothes should be sorted by color before washing and what it means to load the washing machine evenly. Nothing is too basic to explain. Remember not to talk dismissively with your preteen or teen – teach him, don’t lecture.
- Show. Show your preteen or teen that “vacuuming the living room” means vacuuming the carpet, removing the sofa cushions to vacuum up crumbs, replacing the cushions, and then swapping out the vacuum fixtures for the joinery. Show them where cleaning supplies are kept.
- To congratulate. Praise your preteen or teen regularly and often to encourage them to do continued great work.
A preteen or teen who can do household chores will be better equipped to handle a job when the time comes. The tasks you are responsible for at this age will prepare you for life on your own. All family members should have the responsibility to help out at the front of the home every day. Involve your children to help run the household so that all family members get the benefits.