Is Work Good for Children?

Sometimes we adults forget how important work is for children.  Even worse, we forget they are capable of work, real work, and if given a chance they enjoy it and take satisfaction from it. In an effort to keep our lives uncomplicated and keep our children happy, we often rob them of the lessons learned from a job well done.

 

On Friday, we hauled in two loads of gravel for the playground.  Many school age children helped shovel and rake the small rocks.  Some of the children helped for a little bit of time while others helped from the time the first shovel full came off the truck until the last rock was raked into place.  They could have chosen free time in the gym, as many children did, but instead some of the children chose to work.  As you know, shoveling and spreading gravel is no sissy job. The children worked hard . . . very, very hard.  

Later in the day I overheard Miss Faye explaining to her school age bunch, “we’re going to  be cleaning up early because we have to do a really, really good job of cleaning tonight.”  Later, as I walked through their classroom I noticed children scrubbing the tables, washing art supplies in the sink and others involved in a variety of cleaning duties.  They were working like busy little bees.

Just like the children working on the playground, the children in the classroom were happy and eager helpers.  Why?  Children do enjoy work (they just don’t want us to know it).  Listed below are a few tips to encourage children to join in the “fun” of work.

• Children are more apt to work when they can work side by side with an adult.
• A clear goal gives children incentive to work until the job is complete.
• Work which involves physical exercise meets children’s need to move.  Consider offering tasks which challenge them, but which they can also experience success.
• Children need to know their work is good enough for you – ask them to stick with the task until it is done completely to your satisfaction.  Don’t re-do or complete their work because that sends a message to your child that you don’t have confidence in their skills.

Children will still balk at work, but as parents and care-givers we owe it to our children to involve them in the duties of caring for our school and home.  Children need to feel invested and needed.  It is important to provide them with opportunities to choose work (at least choices of tasks) and not always make each chore an adult-mandated task. 

Work can be fun . . . well at least rewarding!  Our children deserve to experience the self-satisfaction which comes from a job well done.   And this true story proves it . . . one of the youngsters hauling rock from start to finish, confided to Miss Diane, “I think I’m getting buff.”