Sunday Chores are an important part of our weekly routine in Champs des Bois. We strongly believe this is an essential point about kids’ upbringing.

Chores can teach many lessons; these are, we believe, the most significant ones:

Responsibility. Chores teach children that you have an active role in determining how your things are cared for. Parents may give kids responsibility for their rooms, their play areas or their toys.

Natural consequences. Chores teach children that sometimes when you don’t do something, it just doesn’t get done. Natural consequences could include having no clean “cool clothes”, having a favorite pair of jeans dirty when wanted for wear, or having a toy broken from being accidentally stepped on or eaten by the dog.

Organization. Chores teach children that everything has a place. Toys go in the toy room and books go on the bookshelf, for example.

Independence. Chores teach children that they can accomplish some tasks on their own. Assigning age-appropriate chores can foster independence.

The value of teamwork. Chores teach children that sometimes it takes the effort of all to accomplish a task. Everyone needs to pitch in to tidy the house or clear the table before going out or moving on to the next thing.

Value. Chores teach children that things and contributions have value. Assigning chores helps kids to see that their contributions in keeping the home neat are part of a shared family success.

Self-reliance. Chores teach kids that sometimes they can count on themselves. As kids grow older their tasks grow larger and kids can learn to do many household things for themselves.

How to be self-sufficient. Chores teach kids that they can care for their own basic needs. Allowing kids to be responsible for preparing snacks or cleaning their room teaches them that they can take care of themselves.