Does a child have to help with the household?

Clearing the table, putting the plate in the dishwasher, tidying up toys: many parents think that a child can help with the household. What do you think? We asked with a statement on social media.

A selection of the reactions.

Child must help in the household: yes or no?

• Ankie: “Learned young, done old! My kids always had to help with the dishes, dust and vacuum their own room and change their own bed, nothing wrong with that!”
• Monique: “If I ask and he does. But I chose a child, not a housekeeper…”
• Ellen: “Yes, sure. Clean up your own plate. My 12 and 8 year old help unload and load the dishwasher. Can turn on the washing machine and throw laundry in the dryer. It’s not a problem and it’s not like they have to do that every day. But if we both work and one of them is home for the afternoon, they can do just fine.”
• Kirsten: “Setting and clearing the table, emptying the dishwasher together, tidying up your own things and throwing your clothes in the laundry basket and when it is full, put it by the stairs. It’s little things a child can do just fine. Usually they like to help, but by offering them those tasks, they get it into their system. Learned young is done old and stuff!”
• Suzy: “8-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter both help. Clearing out the dishwasher, clearing your own plate after dinner, putting your own laundry in the closet with some help, setting the table, cleaning up your own toys. Sometimes they want to ‘vacuum’. Just think it’s normal. Belongs.”

Read also: Letting a child help in the kitchen: these are fun (and safe) chores by age

• Anahit: “Definitely! My 3-year-old son knows exactly which task is his (put in the dishwasher tablet, close the dishwasher and turn it on). Not very complicated, but it works.”
• Claudia: “No, not with me. They like to help with cooking. So we often do that together.”
• Kim: “Yes absolutely. They will eventually have to learn things anyway. I’ve had to experience it myself if you don’t get taught. Very nice if you are going to live on your own.”
• Rianne: “I don’t expect them to help as standard, but occasionally I ask them to do something for me because I don’t get around to it or because of work or something like that I can’t make it. They always do that without a murmur. I like being able to fall back on them when the need arises, that is enough for me.”
• Lauren: “Of course! You run a household together and they also learn here that you have to do it together. Helping each other out of love is very important.”

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