How to teach children about to involve in daily domestic works ?

It can be difficult to motivate children to do chores around the house. However, it’s important, especially as research says that “children who do chores may exhibit higher self-esteem, be more responsible, and be better equipped to deal with frustration, adversity, and delayed gratification,” as noted by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The “invisible load” of managing a home, meaning tasks like meal planning, scheduling appointments, and organising chores, can remain unseen and unacknowledged. It is crucial for children to understand how this “invisible load," usually carried by parents, keeps a household functioning smoothly.

By exploring this concept with your children, you can help them develop valuable life skills and a greater appreciation for the efforts that go into everyday domestic life.

Here’s how you can help your children understand the “invisible load” and equip them to navigate the mental and emotional demands of managing their own lives and households in the future. Explain the concept of the invisible load

• Start by having a conversation about what the invisible load means. Use examples that are relatable to your children, such as how planning for school supplies, remembering birthday parties, or organising family activities all involve thought and effort that often goes unseen.

• How to explain: “The invisible load is all the thinking, planning, and organising that happens behind the scenes. It’s like having a checklist in your head that no one else sees, but that helps everything run smoothly.”

• One of the best ways to teach kids about the invisible load is to involve them in managing the household. Give them specific tasks, such as setting the table, packing their school bag, or helping with laundry, and explain that these small jobs are part of a bigger system that keeps the home running

• How to involve them: Assign age-appropriate chores and rotate tasks so they understand that everyone has a role in keeping the home functional. For example, younger children can help set the table or sort laundry, while older children can assist with meal planning or grocery shopping.

Teach them about planning and organisation

• Help your kids understand the mental effort involved in managing a home by encouraging them to participate in planning activities, such as making shopping lists, organising family outings, or planning meals. This will teach them that managing a home requires foresight and constant adjustment.

• How to teach planning: Have them plan a family meal or organise a small event, such as a movie night or a family game day. Walk them through the steps of what needs to be done before, during, and after the event (making lists, scheduling, cleaning up afterwards).

• Visual aids like checklists, calendars, or family chore charts can help kids see how many different tasks go into managing a home. These tools can make the invisible load more visible and show them how each family member contributes to the home’s smooth operation

• How to use visuals: Create a family calendar that tracks activities, chores, and events. Let the children be involved in filling it out and updating it, so they understand the mental effort behind planning.