Just because my kids are cute (and they really, really are) doesn't mean they get out of doing farm kid chores. In fact, their cuteness may even make things worse for them.
Aww! Aren't you darling! I bet you're even look more darling carrying this up to the trash can!
Think I'm joking? I'm not. But hear me out. As much as I believe in childhood and imaginations and playtime and all the beautiful things that come in those early years of life, this new cultural idea that “being a kid” means not being taught skills, making any contribution, or carrying any responsibility is just… well… ridiculous.
Our children are so capable. Chores are an opportunity to grow their character, strengthen their moral fiber, give them skills to carry them through life, and teach them my very favorite lesson of all (repeat it with me now!): The world is not about you.
We are just entering a beautiful new season of parenthood where the oldest children are actually huge contributors. There were many years where we pushed them through their chores simply to get them in the habit of doing them, but I wouldn't say they were exactly helpful. But now? That work payed off. Never did I think I would love to see the day! Hallelujah!
Before I list out some farm kid chores, let me just encourage you if your children are less-than-enthusiastic about their own chore obligations. Much like us, children need to be taught. They need to be encouraged. They need to be pushed and they need to be held accountable. The best way to teach your child to participate in the keeping of your home is to be calm, consistent, and a cheerleader for their efforts. It takes time to form a new habit, so be gentle, yet unwavering. Come alongside them day after day to show them how to do the task well.
They'll be angry at first but before long, they'll begin to take pride in their skills. Hold firm! Grab their little sweet, chubby, cute faces in your Mama hands, kiss their cheeks, and lovingly tell them to get to work, yo.
Farm Kid Chore By Age
Ages 2-5
- Put dirty clothes in dirty clothes hamper
- Help to clean bedroom
- Pick up toys around the house
- Help vacuum
- Put pillows and blankets away
- Hang with Mom & Dad while they feed, milk, or garden
- Help harvest produce
- Pickup trash & toys around house
Ages 6-10 (in addition to chores listed above)
- Wash clothing
- Fold and put away clothing
- Empty dishwasher
- Load dishwasher
- Hand-wash dishes
- Clear table
- Clean bathroom
- Vacuum & sweep floors
- Take out garbage
- Make bed & change sheets
- Help preserve food
- Gather eggs
- Clean the chicken coop
- Care for cats, dogs, etc.
- Water pots of flowers or window boxes
- Wash windows
- Rack leaves
- Clean out the car & wash it
Ages 11-15 (in addition to chores listed above)
- Milk and feed animals
- Fill up animal waters & scrub clean
- Make bread
- Preserve food
- Mow lawn
- Help to weed gardens
- Help meal plan, grocery shop, and cook meals
- Shovel snow
- Help paint as needed
- Help organize the home, barn, or animal pens as needed
These chores that may seem small become much bigger when you're teaching your child to submit to responsibility and to bare the burden of work well. Expect some kick back. And then keep on anyway. In the long haul, we can trust that a strong work ethic will only benefit them.
Be kind. Lead by example. And go clean the chicken coop.
Over and out.
Becky
I could not agree more. Let me add city kids need this SO much. I’ve raised our children and taught them the home skills they needed at age appropriate times and it has served them well. Our daughter is an educator and teaching some of these skills takes up a lot of her time in the classroom. However, it must be done in order fir the class to function. Our society for way too long has expected so little of our children and it’s sad.
Petra
I am also a teacher and focus on life skills. That’s the foundation I build on!
such great advice sis, just sent this to my son who had a baby boy last night God Bless you
good advice hon
Christina
AMEN and amen!!!!
Teri
This is wonderful, getting a well laid out plan of action and permission from your peers is what parents need to execute and raise responsible children.
Shonda Stansbury-Beck
I absolutely agree with ALLLL of this. My 11 and 10 year old do no agree of course. Lol. However, I’ve had them doing most of these things since about the ages of 6 and 7. Our youngest two and 3 and 2 and I think it will be much easier with them since they were born into this homestead lifestyle vs the older two since it was a change for them.
Carolyn
So encouraged to read your post, and good to have you back using the blog; you are an articulate writer. I am encouraged by your desire to train up your children to be responsible and able to not only contribute to the family, but to become skilled, competent citizens. Our sons had chores as soon as they could walk; you are doing what we did, and I am here to tell you that they are now hard working, disciplined adults who are teaching the same values we taught them to their own children. Keep up the good work; this grandma is proud of you and your hard work!
Miley
AMEN Shaye! Children are part of the FAMILY – and as such have a responsibility to help the family thrive! I taught my girls that – and now my grand-sons are not quite 2 yet and and already LOVE to get the mop out or use the vacuum cleaner – I love it!
Donna Wojdacz
Well done, you! I won’t be reading about your children in the paper because they’ve just shot up a restaurant. Good values, good training equals good citizens!
Frances
I was very young when I became a parent and I was not nearly as wise as I am today. Wisdom came with great patience and a lot of personal failure and as is common, it came later than it was needed. I am the mother of two boys who are only 18 months apart in age. I struggled to get them to do anything that might be helpful to me as they somehow had this idea that I should just do everything for them while they continued to play and make an even larger mess across the house each day. It was a real battle. Then one day, someone told my children that doing chores is just something you do when you are part of a family so that no one person is doing it all alone. They began taking pride in the work that they did and they learned that everything gets easier with time as well. I don’t know what I would do without them now, they are such great contributors to our family and our home and this amazingly allows me more time to deal with really important tasks that I wouldn’t have time for otherwise.
Faith
Amen! Well said, as a single mom of a boy. He most definitely had chores early on and as he got older even into high school and after.
When he was still living at home while going to college I left a list on the counter of things that needed to be done with the expectation that they be completed before I got home each day. He was living at home it was expected he contribute to mantaining the home. I’m thankful I stuck to it he is a responsible contributing member of society as an AF reservist and a local county sheriff.
Hayley
Thank you for this post and well done, you! I love every last word. My kids are currently 3 and 5 and some days they love helping, while others my oldest whines “why do I have to do everythiiiiiiiing?!” “Or, I didn’t make that mess!”
I calmly explain that we are all members of this family and they don’t hear me complaining about the things that need to get done to run a household. I am curious what your stance is on allowances. We haven’t done anything like that just yet for them, and see value on both sides (not paying for chores, as well as paying for something they earned). Eldest wants to make money so we’ve done a lemonade stand a few times which was a really educational experience for them.
Kathy Marie Willis
Until I started watching your vlogs..I thought every homestead was a junky mess….
I mean watching meal prep with a background of messiness is a turn off…Thank you for keeping house😚
Brittany Long
This!! I love this and could not agree more. I wish more parents thought/felt the same way, its amazing what a little work can do for a kid. The skills and character it builds, the discipline and structure it requires, things a person is never too young to start on! So enjoy reading your posts.
Andy Mooers
Grew up on and own a Maine farm. The lessons taught to develop work ethic shape a positive, let’s get crackin’ attitude. Industrious households and farmsteads, the rolling up your sleeves keeps things moving and kids occupied. Love your blog!
Nathanael Craig
what about jobs for 16 to 17 year olds
Nathanael Craig
what about jobs 16 to 17 year olds can do