Children should contribute to the housework early on. These simple activities help them develop good character and self-esteem
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerousChildren should do simple household chores on a daily basis. This, according to some psychologists and child development experts, guarantees several benefits for their future.
Vera Zimmerman, Psychologist at the Center of reference for childhood and adolescence (CRIA) of Unifesp (San Paolo), underlines how domestic tasks play a fundamental role in the development of children and adolescents, both through motor and perceptual and emotional exercises, in the sense to feel useful and appreciated in the family environment.
Helping at home would stimulate self-esteem, independence and the formation of a citizen capable of being in a network in which people do things for each other. Furthermore, it would create an identification with the parents, as children learn from them.
Of course it is important that the tasks to be performed are suitable for the child's age and are not too complicated to avoid demotivating them.
“Unfortunately, the parents are very busy and it is difficult to have the patience to teach. Taking a chair to show the child how to wash or dry the dishes is hard work and easier to do alone, ”said Zimmermann.
Of the same position it is Deborah Gilboa, pediatrician and child development expert, which has long defended the idea that children should contribute to the housework early on.
The arguments put forward on several occasions by the child development expert are strong and can make us reflect. The Gilboa is in fact convinced that taking care of small chores around the house is an essential basis for the education of children which can also help make them successful adults.
Speaking with a group of wealthy parents, he found that most of them were busy with chores as children, such as cleaning dishes and cooking, washing machines, etc.
However, only 4 of the 1.500 parents considered in this statistic later allowed their children to do the same types of tasks. According to the expert, the parents claimed that the children were already overworked, due to homework, sports and leisure activities, etc.
Gilboa therefore argues that the parents, in fact, they worry too much about "throwing" their children into their academic or sporting careers, leaving out other important things. And to make this concept understood, during a conference on TEDx, he told a fact that concerned her firsthand.
One of his four children years ago took third place at his school's science fair. His parents were obviously happy with the success and that the boy had worked hard and stood out. Soon after, however, they realized that in reality there was something wrong: the son in fact made fun of another student who had presented a bad project.
“When we stressed to our son the importance of doing a great job, he made it our top priority. Unconsciously, the child understood that his success was the only thing we would appreciate, ”he said.
For this Deborah is convinced that you have to take the emphasis off the result and put it on the character of the child or the boy.
A child who does not take out the garbage because he is "too busy" may not understand that "who he is" is more important than "what I get" and that having a good character, empathy and other skills is necessary for knowing how to solve problems that will have to be addressed in the future.
Deborah points out that she does not expect society to reduce its expectations regarding children's academic achievement but hopes that people will understand that all types of results must be taken into account.
When we focus on the character of our children, they have greater opportunities to accomplish meaningful things, find their own path, and move closer to happiness.
Fonti: Parenting Bytes/crescer magazine
Read also:
- At what age can children start doing things on their own?
- Montessori method: chores and housework according to age (INFOGRAPHICS)
