Complete Guide to Chores for 7 Year-Olds (with FREE Chore Chart)
The idea of assigning chores to kids might seem like a daunting idea. It can take time and effort to teach children how to complete housework and then supervise them to make sure things are done correctly. As a result, parents often just do it all by themselves instead of going through the extra hassle.
But what about the benefits of chores for 7 year-olds? Is it even worth the effort?
Although making a child do housework requires a bit of a commitment, it is a great investment in their future. According to research by La Trobe University, assigning chores to kids can help develop problem-solving skills.
In addition, it is a great way to teach them about responsibility, time management and teamwork.
So if you are wondering how to choose the right chores for your child, or how to simplify the process and increase chances of success, then keep reading.
In this article, we will be sharing a FREE customizable chore chart along with a complete guide to implementing a system for chores for 7 year-olds.
When it comes to assigning chores to your little one, there is no “one size fits all” answer.
As a parent, you know your child’s physical and mental development better than anyone.
Even at young ages, if children are responsive and can understand simple instructions, parents can start by assigning easy tasks like putting their toys away.
Benefits of Giving Chores to Kids
Let’s face it, we all need a helping hand while doing house chores.
The great benefit of assigning housework to kids is getting the work done in no time.
So, if your little one is helping you, pat him on the back and appreciate his efforts.
Certainly, it will take some time and effort to teach your child how to do the chore and follow up to make sure they complete the chore consistently (chore charts can help make this part easier😀).
So, in addition to eventually getting things done more efficiently, here are a few other benefits that can motivate you to work with your family to set up a chore chart system at your house.
1. Helps Teach Life Skills
As parents, we get so busy with managing day to day life that we sometimes forget about preparing our children for the future.
The thing is, time goes fast. Even though they are kids today, they will be adults tomorrow.
Basic life skills like cooking, cleaning and laundry will help them once they move out of the house. Starting with basic skills from childhood will help them learn and practice them more efficiently.
Research shows that sparing kids from house chores can spoil them and their future selves. It makes being on their own and living independently more challenging.
2. Kids Learn Responsibility and Independence
It is not uncommon to hear parents complain about the lack of responsibility in their children.
One basic factor leading to a lack of responsibility is not providing kids with the opportunities to take control over things they are able to manage.
Daily tasks like cleaning their room, sorting laundry and helping set the table make a child more self-reliant and responsible.
As parents, we need to resist the temptation to do everything for our children. Many seven year-olds are more capable than we give them credit for.
Once your child is ready, let them take the lead and do their chores by themselves. It will help create a valuable sense of responsibility and independence.
3. Teaches Teamwork
Household chores are all about teamwork.
Everyone can participate and be a productive family member. It is a way to teach children about efficiently dividing roles among a group of people and responsibly performing their individual duties.
Teamwork teaches children how to work in harmony, respect everyone’s point of view and work through challenges and conflicts together.
When everyone helps out, we also get to celebrate working towards a common goal together.
4. Helps Build a Loving Family Bond
Parents often feel guilt about not spending much time with their children due to their busy work schedules, frequent activities and endless housework.
Remember kids cherish moments of attention more than anything.
Spending time together in the kitchen while making sandwiches or cleaning the room together can be a memorable experience if you choose to make it a playful and enjoyable family activity.
According to research by Barbara Fredrickson, Ph.D and her team positive emotions like happiness, love and joy help children grow to be the better version of themselves.
So, never take these loving family moments for granted and always look for opportunities to bond with your little one.
5. Teaches Time Management and Planning
There is no doubt that time management is a key factor in success.
It is helpful for kids to learn how to juggle between school, house chores and other activities efficiently.
While we don’t necessarily want to overwhelm children with responsibilities at a young age, as they grow older, we can teach them about prioritizing their jobs and doing them promptly.
It will help them utilize their time better and make the most of it by learning to plan ahead.
How to Get Your Kids to do Chores
We have discussed the benefits of house chores and how it positively affects our children’s lives. So let’s dig into a few helpful ways to make it easier to have your 7 year-old complete his duties more responsibly.
Use a Developmentally Appropriate Reward System
Everyone loves to get a reward for their hard work. But rewards don’t have to be prizes or treats.
An enthusiastic hug and a few words of appreciation can be enough to encourage them to want to help out again next time. You can also use a reward system with your kids to ensure they perform house chores but be thoughtful while considering your options.
Age-appropriate rewards like appreciation, hugs and stickers are a good way to go but incentives like candies, chocolates or toys aren’t always necessary, and may even create unintended consequences.
According to research, children tended to take short cuts and cheat more when they were promised a reward after completing their work than those who were not promised a reward.
So, start with praising your little one for her efforts and show your appreciation without spoiling them with unnecessary prizes.
Using a Chore Chart for Reinforcement
When it comes to creating a system for chores for 7 year-olds, having a well-designed chore chart can also be very helpful.
It can teach your kids about planning and managing their daily tasks. Your little one can tick the chores off as he completes them to feel a sense of accomplishment.
It can also provide a reminder and make him accountable for missing his tasks or not completing them on time.
Here is a helpful FREE chore chart for your home!
Focus On Intrinsic Motivation
A child is intrinsically motivated when he wants to perform a task for its own sake and derives pleasure from it.
Some parents choose to focus on developing intrinsic motivation in their children when it comes to doing chores. They skip the reward system because it doesn’t promote the connection between completing chores and the satisfaction they feel by finishing a task on their own and contributing to the household.
The downside of having a reward system: once a child gets the bonus, they may lose enthusiasm and motivation for the chore.
Intrinsically motivated kids like to work hard and try again and again until they master a task. They look at failure as a chance to learn and grow rather than those children who are in it for the reward.
Children that lack intrinsic motivation are more likely to feel discouraged and give up on challenges when they become too difficult.
The Benefits of a Reward System
There are reasons both for and against using rewards as a motivator to complete chores and it’s up to each parent whether or not they want to utilize a reward system for chores in their household.
Using a reward system can help introduce the concept working towards long-term goals (such as saving up money for something they want), as well as cause and effect.
Children begin to make the connection “If I complete my chores, I will then be able to have my reward.” This can help motivate them to complete their chores.
Keep in mind that rewards don’t have to be tangible objects; they can be experiences too!
Some developmentally appropriate rewards for a 7 year-old include, but are not limited to:
- extra minutes of screen time
- family movie night
- ice cream date with a parent
- a treat of some kind (up to the discretion of the parent)
- money
- a small toy
- and more
It’s really up to personal preference (and what you think will be a good motivator for your 7 year-old) when it comes to creating a reward system that is going to work for you and your family.
Don’t underestimate the value of positive affirmation and praise. Positive feedback on a job well done is incredibly valuable, and is a reward in and of itself. Positive messages increase a child’s self-esteem and helps children feel empowered to master valuable life skills.
Do Not Use Chores As Punishment
Parents sometimes fall into a habit of using chores as a punishment for their children.
While threatening unpleasant chores can sometimes motivate children to listen to directions and follow rules, it can also create a negative association with chores.
Creating a positive association with chores is a more effective strategy in the long run. It helps when parents make housework an interesting activity for kids, something they enjoy doing rather than dreading it.
How to Choose Age Appropriate Chores for 7 Year-Olds
When children are young, they may need support and guidance when carrying our their chores, but with time you will notice your child will become more capable and will be able to handle more complicated tasks.
For example, your child can start with setting and clearing the kitchen table and work up to helping prepare snacks or packing their lunch for school.
One factor to help improve chances of success is to keeping your expectations reasonably low at first.
Expecting too much from your child can lead to frustration if things go wrong. Showing disappointment can create a negative association with chores and may discourage your child from wanting to work through challenges they face.
Ideas for Chores for 7 Year-olds
If you have not been having your child help out with chores, here are some ideas to get started:
Ideas for Chores for children ages 4 and older
- Make their bed
- Help wipe up messes
- Empty wastebaskets
- Put own clothes in laundry basket
- Bring in mail or newspaper
- Help carry in light groceries
- Clear table
- Pull weeds, if you have a garden
- Use hand-held vacuum to pick up crumbs
- Water flowers
- Wash plastic dishes at sink
- Pour a bowl of cereal
Ideas for chores for 7 year-olds
- Sort laundry
- Sweep floors (kitchen, hallway, etc.)
- Set and clear table
- Wipe down table
- Help make and pack snacks or lunches
- Weed and rake leaves
- Keep bedroom organized
Tips to Keep in Mind
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescence Psychiatry, here are a few helpful guidelines to get started:
- Set clear and manageable expectations.
- Make a routine for children, like cleaning up toys every night before bed.
- Consistency is key. Setting rules and then constantly changing them creates confusion and may lead to frustration and a loss of motivation.
- Using a chore chart can help create a visual reminder of tasks to complete. Using stickers can be a fun way to monitor progress.
- Lead by example. Children will learn to keep the house tidy if they see the adults doing it as well.
- Show appreciation to your child whenever he or she does helps with housework. Praise can go along way to increase motivation.
- If your child struggles with a chore or refuses to help, be understanding and try to find the root cause.
The Positive Impact of Doing Chores on Later Life
According to a survey, 82% of adults reported doing house chores as a kid, but only 28% were asking their kids to do house chores.
These are disappointing numbers since we now know there are significant benefits for children in terms of physical and mental development.
Several pieces of research and studies demonstrate the positive impact of house chores on children in their later life.
For example, according to a study conducted at the University of Minnesota, performing house chores in childhood was related to the development of self-competence, self-sufficiency and independence in later years.
Final Thoughts on Chores for 7 Year-olds
“It is not what you do for your children, but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings.” – Ann Landers
Teaching little ones about house chores is a good practice that will also be useful in their future. Chores can help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and with focus and attention span. You can start with easy tasks and let your child empowered to do more and more. Over time, you will notice how everyone in the family will help you clean up, making it easier for you to maintain your home and free up time to do more fun things as a family.
