Having kids participate in household chores starts at different ages for all families. The ages that kids start sometimes have to do with the age that parents began to do chores. It could also have to do with kids asking to help when they see parents doing tasks around the house. But what may come as a surprise to parents is that their child's happiness may depend on the number of chores they have. Making sure to strike the right balance though is the difference between happiness and success and depression and poor educational outcomes.

As much as kids may complain about having to do chores, they truly are a beneficial part of childhood. This is because when kids start their chores young, according to Ladders, they become healthier and happier adults than those who do not do chores as kids. Kids see chores as part of daily life, per the publication, and see doing them as being part of the team. They also become more successful. If the right number of chores are done by kids, they really do thrive.

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Here is why your child's happiness may depend on the number of chores they have.

There Is A Balance That Needs To Be Struck

While chores do make kids more successful and happier than their peers who are not given specific chores to do consistently, there is a balance of how many chores should be done. This is because if too many chores are assigned, kids do not fare as well.

According to a 2013 study, kids who are given too many chores to do during the week are prone to depression. This means that if parents assign chores to kids that lead them to stress out because there simply is not enough time in the week to do chores, school work, after-school activities, and have some downtime, any positives that doing chores provides fall to the wayside.

As such, once age-appropriate chores have been identified, assigning a few of them to be done will bring positive attributes to kids' lives. When this is done, according to a 2016 study, kids feel better about themselves from the time they wake up in the morning. They are also healthier and happier to boot, showing that when the proper number of chores is given per week, there are many positive outcomes for kids.

Age To Start Chores

It may appear to parents that young children are incapable of doing chores. However, that could not be further from the truth. And in fact, the earlier that chores are done by kids, the more successful they are as they reach adulthood.

According to a 2002 study, when kids are started with chores around the ages of three to four years of age, they are more likely to continue to do chores as teenagers. And when teens were doing chores as teenagers, they were more likely to complete their education, have a higher IQ, have better relationships with their family and friends, and be less at risk for using drugs.

However, if parents tried to make teens do chores that had never done so before, there were no positive links found between this population and chores being completed.

Therefore, start kids young on chores. Their futures and relationships will thank their parents for it.

Way To Introduce Chores To Kids

When getting kids involved in chores around the house, it does not have to be complicated. This is especially true if parents get their little ones started during the later stages of toddlerhood.

According to First Five, starting young kids on chores could be simple tasks like putting their toys away in the right places. It could be starting kids off with what parents are working on such as gardening or washing dishes.

Whatever parents choose to start their kids doing, as long as it is age appropriate and not too complicated, they will stick with it. And will lead to happier and more well-rounded kids overall.

Source: Ladders, National Library of Medicine, AIDS Care, University of Minnesota, First Five