Make your bed

It's good for you!

From M, winter 2003

You can make a big difference in your child's future by asking him or her to help take out the trash, do the laundry, wash the dishes, make the beds, and put away the toys. Marty Rossmann, U of M associate professor of family education, determined that the best predictor of success for young adults in their mid-20s was that they participated in household tasks when they were three or four years old. University research shows that involving children in daily chores gives them a sense of responsibility, competence, self-reliance, and self-worth that stays with them throughout their lives.

How the tasks are presented also influences children's ability to become well-adjusted adults. The tasks should not be too overwhelming; parents should present the tasks in a way that fits the child's preferred learning style; and children should be involved in determining the tasks they will complete, through family meetings and methods such as a weekly chore chart. They should not be made to do the tasks for an allowance. The earlier parents begin getting children to take an active role in the household, the easier it will be to keep them involved as teens.