When your child refuses to participate in household chores, it can be tempting to get angry or punish him.
- When a child refuses to participate in household chores, it is essential to know the reasons for his refusal.
- He must be made to understand the importance of his participation in the life of the family.
- A word of advice: never do for him the tasks he refuses to do!
If your child is resistant to doing chores, it’s important to take a different approach to solving the problem. By understanding the reasons for his refusal and using appropriate techniques, it is possible to motivate his child to get involved and help him develop the values of responsibility and collaboration.
Start by communicating respectfully
One of the first reflexes when your child refuses to do a household chore is to punish him, yell or blame him. On the contrary, it is better to calmly insist that the task be accomplished by, for example, granting him a reasonable period of time to carry it out and, of course, valuing his efforts if he achieves it.
Also take the time to explain to him the importance of his participation for the proper functioning of family life in order to help him to cooperate voluntarily.
Use humor and play
This includes, for example, asking him to become your “assistant” when you prepare meals, by dressing him with an apron or a hat to mix the ingredients or wash the vegetables. You can also give him small tasks like folding towels or picking up scattered toys.
To tidy up his room in a playful way, offer him to play “detective” by asking him to find all the toys that are out of their hiding place, you can also organize a contest to see who can tidy up the fastest.
Don’t hesitate to put on lively music and invite your child to dance to make the activity more fun and enjoyable. It is also possible to sing, tell jokes or funny stories while you work together.
Encourage him without doing it for him
Even if you are tempted, it is essential not to do the tasks for your child. You would then send him the message that his participation is not essential. Instead, offer your help as encouraging support and praise him when he actively engages with you.
You can also enlist the help of another child, such as a sibling or friend, to complete the tasks together. Working in a team will give them the energy they need to carry out their responsibilities while strengthening their sense of belonging and their ability to collaborate.
Learn more: “Raising Without Yelling: A Complete Practical Guide to Raising Happier, More Confident Children by Replacing Anger and Punishment with Positive Discipline” by Sophie Fontaine
