Can children and young people still be expected to help their parents with chores?

The Convention on the Rights of the Child protects children and young people from economic exploitation and from work that is hazardous to their health or interferes with their education. It does not regulate the day-to-day details of home life, and therefore there is nothing in the Convention which prohibits parents from expecting that their children clean their rooms and help out at home in ways which are safe and appropriate to their age. In fact age-appropriate chores may be helpful in the development of pro-social and cooperative behavior and in improving cognitive skills and strategies such as problem solving and decision-making. At times children's help is desired in running a family farm or business. The Convention requires that the chores children do be safe and suited to the individual child's level of development.

 

Children's work should not jeopardise any of the other rights provided for in the Convention, including the right to education, rest, leisure, play and recreation. Children and young people should be given a voice in what chores they do. Parents or guardians should determine which chores the child could be responsible for and then allow the child to select from among them. It is important to remember that by giving your children choices, they gain experience in making age-appropriate decisions, and learn more about the decision-making process and about responsibility.