For example, children who regularly cook a meal or pull weeds are more likely to excel in school and have better problem-solving skills.
Housekeeping is a comprehensive task that never really ends. Are you a parent who takes care of the entire household? Then read on. Because your child can really lend you a hand – and no, that is not child labour. In fact, children who regularly do chores around the house only benefit from it.
Study
In a new study researchers analyzed 207 children, ages 5 to 13. The parents/guardians were asked to fill in a questionnaire about the number of chores their children do on a daily basis and how involved the children are in the household.
Preparing meals and weeding
The researchers found that it can be particularly beneficial if children regularly perform chores – for example, preparing a meal or weeding in the garden. “Children who do this regularly are more likely to excel in other aspects of life,” said study researcher Deanna Tepper. “For example, they are often better at school and have better problem-solving skills.”
Cognitive development
Helping children in the household therefore not only stimulates their independence. It even has a positive influence on their cognitive development. For example, the chance of a better working memory is greater and they have a better brake (the ability to think before acting).
Declaration
The researchers can also explain that doing chores around the house promotes brain function. “We hypothesize that most of the tasks the children perform require a degree of self-regulation,” Tepper explains. “In addition, they have to hold their attention, plan and be able to switch between tasks. All of this promotes the development of executive functioning.”
The term executive functioning refers to the thinking functions that you need to be able to function successfully in daily life, with all the challenges or changes that this daily life entails. Executive functions are actually a set of cognitive skills necessary for controlling and self-regulating your behavior. Executive functioning includes the ability to remember and use newly acquired knowledge, inhibit automatic reactions, concentrate on a particular task and switch between different tasks.
By involving your child in the household, you give them an important push that they can use well later in life. “Deteriorations or delays in the development of executive functioning can lead to difficulties in self-regulation, planning, or problem solving in adulthood,” Tepper said. “In addition, it could have implications for their reading performance and math skills. It may also be an important predictor of their overall school performance in later childhood.”
Executive functioning
It means that as a parent you can come up with chores for your child – which, of course, are well suited to his or her age and skills – in order to stimulate the development of executive functioning. “Research shows that it is possible to improve executive functions by developing personalized learning activities and routines,” Tepper said.
In short, don’t feel guilty if you put that ladle or hoe in your child’s hand. Because it really doesn’t hurt to involve your child in the household from an early age and to give it responsibility. Dividing tasks not only ensures that you are less busy yourself, performing chores really promotes your child’s brain function. It is now scientifically proven.