helping out around the house essay

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Picture Prompts

Household Chores

By Natalie Proulx

• Sept. 20, 2018

Do you think children should do household chores? Or should their time and energy go toward school and extracurricular activities? Why do you think the way you do?

Do you do chores? How does helping out around the house make you feel?

Tell us in the comments, then read the related article to find out what studies say about children who do housework.

Find many more ways to use our Picture Prompt feature in this lesson plan .

Pursuit home

• All sections

Why helping at home is good for kids

There’s strong evidence that feeling useful builds resilience in children, but how much and what sort of work are modern parents asking kids to do?

By Andrew Trounson, University of Melbourne

Next time your child complains about chores, tell them it’s for their own good.

Giving children meaningful household tasks and the autonomy to complete them may be key to making them more resilient and capable in later life. But are we giving them enough opportunities to feel useful or are we leaving them on the shelf, wrapped in cotton wool?

In what promises to be the biggest online survey of what Australian kids are actually doing to help their families, University of Melbourne researchers have teamed with the ABC’s Behind the News program to ask the children themselves what chores they do and how they feel about helping out.

The survey will be based on an expanded version of the program’s 2015 Happiness Survey that attracted almost 20,000 respondents. The results could lead to new recommendations on how parents, teachers and community services can better engage with children in building personal resilience given evidence that “required helpfulness” can foster self-esteem.

“We want to find out whether having jobs to do around the house and family helps children build their self-esteem and resilience by asking the kids what they do, how they feel about doing jobs, whether the chores are directed or self-driven, and what sort of satisfaction they experience from contributing,” says Associate Professor Lisa Gibbs, Director of the University’s Jack Brockhoff Child Health and Wellbeing Program within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health.

“By asking the children themselves we can not only find out what is going on in families, but we can also uncover alternative possibilities based on what children say.”

The value of strength-based parenting

An insight into family resilience.

Professor Gibbs, who has received crucial grant support from the Myer Foundation , says the project could also provide insight into family resilience.

“There is emerging evidence of the contribution children can make to preparedness and recovery in areas affected by disaster. Given the opportunity, children can make a meaningful contribution to family and community resilience.”

The idea that it is important to foster a child’s capacity to help others goes back to groundbreaking research published in the 1970s on the impact of the Great Depression on US families that suggested many kids thrive when the going gets tough.

By analysing longitudinal survey data, US sociologist Glen Elder discovered that among families hit by poverty during the Great Depression, people who were infants at the time, and so wholly dependent on adults, struggled throughout their later lives to overcome their circumstances.

But he found that those children who were aged 9-10 when the Depression hit and threw their families into poverty tended to instead do much better later in life. Importantly, they outperformed their peers whose families had been unscathed by the Depression. Professor Elder theorised that these children benefited from increased self-esteem by having to roll up their sleeves and help out.

US psychologist Emmy Werner’s groundbreaking longitudinal study of 698 infants born in 1955 went further. She tracked her participants through to the age of 40 and found that those who proved to be resilient in the face of hardships in their early lives also tended to be those who has been actively involved in “required helpfulness” during their middle childhood and adolescence.

But if required helpfulness helps build self-esteem and resilience, what then is happening with children now when most enjoy a standard of living that the Depression kids could only have dreamed of? Do we need to be providing more opportunities for children to feel useful and worthwhile? How much responsibility is too much?

Changing times

Child welfare expert and honorary professorial fellow in social work at the University of Melbourne, Professor Dorothy Scott, worries that modern Australian children may be missing out on the self-worth that comes from doing meaningful help for others. She notes that in the past the family was an economic unit in which everyone needed to work and contribute to keep food on the table.

But in the wake of the technological and digital revolutions, she argues that families are now units of “passive consumption”. She suggests modern children may be at risk of losing some of the resilience that appears to come from being useful and helping others.

“The historical shift in families is very clear. When the family was an economic unit, children were an important part of it. But now in our consumer society, children have only a minor role to play in terms of contributing to the household,” says Professor Scott, a former Foundation Chair in Child Protection and the Director of the Australian Centre for Child Protection at the University of South Australia.

“Positive psychology talks of resilience being related to factors like being part of something larger than yourself as an antidote to the passiveness that comes from a consumer society. The hypothesis is that by promoting required helpfulness and contributing to the wellbeing of others we might be able to help children build their own identity.

“That is why we need some contemporary research like this to ask children what they are doing in their daily lives. At the moment we don’t know how contemporary families work in this respect.”

Professor Scott says it would be interesting, for example, to know whether children are commonly receiving pocket money for doing jobs around the house and whether such pocket money is motivating them, or whether they are deriving satisfaction from simply helping.

Huge online audience

The idea for Behind the News to survey children on their happiness was initially a one-off initiative in 2015 that stemmed from Mental Health Week occurring during the October school holidays when the program wasn’t on air. Rather than just ignore it, the program decided to leverage the online interactivity of its audience to survey them and report on the results. They were inundated.

It takes two to write and laugh

“The idea was to make mental health a positive thing for the kids to talk about because ordinarily mental health is a fairly difficult subject,” says Behind the News host Nathan Bazley. “We’d hoped to get maybe 8000 responses, but we received more than double that and I think that is because the kids were just really excited about giving feedback.”

Among the survey results, over half of respondents reported nearly always feeling happy but a quarter reported being worried all the time about the future and their families. Two-thirds reported having experienced being bullied, and 15 per cent reported often not feeling valued.

The results intrigued Associate Professor Gibbs and her team. They immediately recognised the potential of the huge survey pool Behind the News had generated if only more rigour could be added, such as seeking demographic information from the kids. For example, information such as postcode location can indicate socio-economic status.

When she proposed collaboration, Mr Bazley jumped at the chance to improve the survey and have research support to analyse the results. They are now looking at running an expanded survey every two years with the next one to run this year.

As part of further developing the survey, Professor Gibbs’ team will host workshop sessions with children at participating schools and sporting clubs to involve them as co-researchers by asking them what questions the researchers need to be asking, and getting their help in interpreting the results. There may also be opportunities for them to appear on Behind the News as ‘Rookie Reporters’, filing their own reports on the survey results.

“I’m really excited to see where we can go with the survey and the relationship with the University. Instead of having experts telling kids information, we can now have kids telling experts what they think, and that could be a powerful tool for making policymakers take notice of what kids are saying,” says Mr Bazley.

Professor Gibbs says health researchers can only dream of the kind of response that the Behind the News survey generated. “The level of access they have is extraordinary,” she says.

“The collaboration provides a great opportunity to gain an insight into children’s lives. Children have a unique and valuable perspective that is different from that of adults, but it isn’t often listened to.”

Professor Gibbs remembers researching recently with school children about how they thought childhood had changed compared to previous generations. She was surprised when children complained that their parents paid more attention to their phones, tablets or computers than to their kids.

“As child health researchers we can focus too much on what the kids are doing, rather than asking the kids what the adults are doing. When they told me the parents were always on devices I thought ‘yes, of course’, but it was only when they brought it up that it occurred to me.”

The question now is what kids think of helping out. Their answers may similarly surprise us.

Banner Image: iStock

Essay on Chores At Home

Students are often asked to write an essay on Chores At Home in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Chores At Home

What are chores.

Chores are tasks we do to keep our homes clean and organized. They are like small jobs for every family member. Chores include tidying up, washing dishes, and taking out the trash. Doing these tasks helps everyone share the work at home.

Benefits of Doing Chores

When children help with chores, they learn responsibility and how to take care of themselves. It teaches them to work as a team and to value hard work. Chores also make children feel important because they are contributing to the family.

Types of Chores

There are many kinds of chores. Some are daily, like making your bed or clearing the table. Others happen once a week, like cleaning the floors or doing laundry. Every chore is important to keep the home running smoothly.

Chores and Fun

Chores might not always be fun, but they can be. Families can make chores enjoyable by doing them together or turning them into a game. This way, children can learn and have fun at the same time.

Chores at home are an essential part of family life. They help keep our living spaces neat and teach valuable life skills. By doing chores, children learn to cooperate and take care of their home.

250 Words Essay on Chores At Home

Chores are tasks we do to keep our homes clean and organized. Think of them like helping hands that make our living spaces comfortable and nice. Everyone, from kids to adults, can do chores. They include cleaning, tidying up, and taking care of things around the house.

There are many different chores. Some are done inside, like dusting or vacuuming. Others are outside, like gardening or sweeping the porch. Daily chores are things like making the bed or washing dishes. Weekly chores might be cleaning the bathroom or mopping the floor.

Learning Responsibility

Doing chores teaches us to be responsible. When we have a task, it’s our job to complete it. This helps us learn to take care of our things and manage our time. It also prepares us for life when we’re older because being responsible is a big part of being an adult.

Working Together

Chores can be more fun when we do them with others. Working together with family can make the time pass quickly and the work feel easier. It’s also a great way to spend time with each other and talk about our day.

Rewards of Chores

After chores are done, our home looks nice, which makes us feel good. Sometimes, we might even get a reward like allowance money or extra playtime. But the biggest reward is the proud feeling we get from doing a good job and helping out at home.

500 Words Essay on Chores At Home

Chores are tasks we do to keep our homes clean, organized, and running smoothly. They are like little jobs that everyone, from kids to adults, can do to help out around the house. Doing chores is a part of everyday life. It includes things like washing dishes, cleaning rooms, taking out the trash, and helping with laundry.

Why Chores Matter

You might wonder why you have to do chores when you could be playing or watching your favorite show. Chores are important because they teach you how to take care of your own space and be responsible. When you do chores, you learn skills that you will use when you grow up, like cooking and cleaning. These tasks also show you how to work as a team with your family. Everyone living in the house uses the space, so it’s fair that everyone helps to look after it.

Chores can be different in every home, but some common ones are:

– Tidying Up: This means putting things back where they belong, like toys and books. – Cleaning: Sweeping, mopping, and wiping down surfaces to keep them dust-free. – Laundry: Washing, drying, and folding clothes so they are ready to wear. – Cooking: Helping to prepare meals or snacks for the family. – Gardening: Taking care of plants, weeding, or watering the garden. – Taking Care of Pets: Feeding your pet, walking the dog, or cleaning the fish tank.

Chores for Different Ages

Not all chores are right for all ages. Younger kids might be asked to put away their toys or set the table, while older kids and teenagers might help with cooking or look after their younger siblings. Parents usually give chores that are safe and that you can handle without getting hurt or feeling too stressed.

When you help out with chores, you gain a lot. You learn to manage your time and to do things on your own. Also, when you finish a chore, you can feel proud that you’ve done something useful. It can be fun too! Sometimes, when the whole family is working together, you can talk, laugh, and make the work feel like a game.

Chores and Allowance

Some families give kids an allowance, which is a small amount of money, for doing their chores. This can be a way to learn about saving and spending money wisely. Even if you don’t get an allowance, doing chores is still important because it’s part of being in a family.

Chores at home might not always be fun, but they are a big part of growing up and learning to take care of yourself and your space. Whether it’s making your bed or helping to cook dinner, every chore you do helps your family and teaches you valuable lessons for the future. So next time you’re asked to do a chore, remember that it’s a step towards becoming more responsible and independent.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Environment Advocacy
• Essay on Environment And Health
• Essay on Christmas In The Philippines

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Jump to navigation

• Inside Writing
• Teacher's Guides
• Student Models
• Writing Topics
• Minilessons
• Shopping Cart
• Inside Grammar
• Grammar Adventures
• CCSS Correlations
• Infographics

Get a free Grammar Adventure! Choose a single Adventure and add coupon code ADVENTURE during checkout. (All-Adventure licenses aren’t included.)

Sign up or login to use the bookmarking feature.

Helping out around the house

Writing Topic Print

Teacher Support:

Click to find out more about this resource.

Standards Correlations:

The State Standards provide a way to evaluate your students' performance.

• 110.4.b.11.A
• 110.4.b.11.B
• 110.4.b.12.B
• LAFS.2.W.1.2
• 110.4.b.12.A
• LAFS.2.W.1.3
• 110.5.b.12.B
• LAFS.3.W.1.2
• 110.5.b.12.A
• LAFS.3.W.1.3
• 110.6.b.11.B
• 110.6.b.12.B
• LAFS.4.W.1.2
• 110.6.b.12.A
• LAFS.4.W.1.3

© 2024 Thoughtful Learning. Copying is permitted.

k12.thoughtfullearning.com

Related Resources

All resources.

• Text Structures Revealed
• If I Were President
• Comparing Myself to a President
• If I Were a President's Pet
• Drawing a Life Map
• Practice Test for Reading and Writing Nonfiction
• Writing Narrative Arguments
• Writing Résumés and Cover Letters
• Inquire Online Middle School Classroom Set
• Write Away Teacher's Guide
• Write for College Teacher's Guide
• Write for College
• Write for Business

10 Reasons Why Household Chores Are Important

Whether we like it or not, household chores are a necessary part of everyday life, ensuring that our homes continue to run efficiently, and that our living environments remain organized and clean, thereby promoting good overall health and safety. Involving children in household chores gives them opportunity to become active participant in the house. Kids begin to see themselves as important contributors to the family. Holding children accountable for their chores can increase a sense of themselves as responsible and actually make them more responsible.

Children will feel more capable for having met their obligations and completed their tasks. If you let children off the hook for chores because they have too much schoolwork or need to practice a sport, then you are saying, intentionally or not, that their academic or athletic skills are most important. And if your children fail a test or fail to block the winning shot, then they have failed at what you deem to be most important.

They do not have other pillars of competency upon which to rely. By completing household tasks, they may not always be the star student or athlete, but they will know that they can contribute to the family, begin to take care of themselves, and learn skills that they will need as an adult. Here is a list of household chores for kids:

1. Sense of Responsibility

Kids who do chores learn responsibility and gain important life skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. Kids feel competent when they do their chores. Whether they’re making their bed or they’re sweeping the floor, helping out around the house gives them a sense of accomplishment. Doing daily household chores also helps kids feel like they’re part of the team. Pitching in and helping family members is good for them and it encourages them to be good citizens.

Read here a detail blog: Routine helps kids

2. Beneficial to siblings

It is helpful for siblings of kids who have disabilities to see that everyone in the family participates in keeping the family home running, each with responsibilities that are appropriate for his or her unique skill sets and abilities.

Having responsibilities like chores provides one with a sense of both purpose and accomplishment.

4. Preparation for Employment

Learning how to carry out household chore is an important precursor to employment. Chores can serve as an opportunity to explore what your child excels at and could possibly pursue as a job down the road.

5. Make your life easier

Your kids can actually be of help to you! At first, teaching these chores may require more of your time and energy, but in many cases your child will be able to eventually do his or her chores completely independently, ultimately relieving you of certain responsibilities.

6. Chores may make your child more accountable

If your child realizes the consequences of making a mess, he or she may think twice, knowing that being more tidy in the present will help make chores easier.

7. Develop fine and gross motor skills and planning abilities

Tasks like opening a clothes pin, filling and manipulating a watering can and many more actions are like a workout for the body and brain and provide practical ways to flex those muscles!

8. Teach empathy

Helping others out and making their lives easier is a great way to teach empathy. After your daughter completes a chore, you can praise and thank her, stating, “Wow… great job! Because you helped out, now Mommy has one less job to do. I really appreciate that!”

9. Strengthen bonds with pets

There is a growing body of research about how animals can help individuals with special needs. When your child feeds and cares for his pet, it strengthens their bond and makes your pet more likely to gravitate toward your child.

10. Gain an appreciation and understanding of currency

What better way to teach your child the value of a rupee than by having him earn it. After your child finishes his chores,  pay him right away and immediately take him to his favorite toy store where he can buy something he wants.

Book your session now

Recent Posts

• Effects of Psychotherapy on Parental Stress - November 21, 2023
• Couple’s Therapy: Navigating marital issues as a parent - June 9, 2023
• Talk Therapy for stuttering - May 31, 2023

Leave a Comment

(15 Comments)

I love this! This has a lot of awesome information.

Thank you! Glad you like the information.

very well done it is resanoble reasons

cool info it helps me see why chores are important.

Thanks for your kind reply.

This was really helpful for a school debate!

Very helpful article!

My daughter has to speak about a topic which is why and how we should help our parent in household chores and this helped her a lot

Thanks so much for your feedback! All the best to your daughter.

Thnks a lot! the article helped a lot in my assignment and there is very nice information, Thank you!

Thanks, glad you found it useful.

Very nice article…Thank you 🙂

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

Very good article about house chore

This is very helpful for a student like me

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Mental Health
• Multilingual
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech Delay
• Speech Therapy
• Success Stories
• News of the month for March 2024 April 16, 2024
• News of the month for Jan 2024 January 29, 2024
• Shining a Light on the Unseen: The Importance of Syndrome Awareness January 23, 2024
• Celebrating Excellence: Pratiksha Gupta Wins SABLA NARI Award for Best Speech Language Therapist and Audiologist 2023 January 19, 2024
• Speech Beyond Lisps: Celebrating Diversity in Communication January 16, 2024

Don't miss our one of its kind SPEAK EASY PROGRAM for stuttering management. Chat with us to know more! Dismiss

MSU Extension

The benefits of kids doing chores.

Holly Tiret <[email protected]> , Michigan State University Extension and Rebecca Hodges, WMU Child Development Intern - September 29, 2016

The entire family can benefit from kids helping out around the house.

Even though they might complain occasionally, most children are happy and capable of helping out around the house. Establishing a chore routine and assigning chores starting at an early age will be beneficial to both parents and children. Michigan State University Extension suggests children do chores to gain a number of benefits.

Kids get more out of chores than you might think

Children who help out around the house with family chores will grow as a person. Confidence and self-efficacy can improve as your child learns and uses their abilities to achieve a chore goal. Additionally, children can learn to feel pride in their work when they are reminded that their chores help everyone in the family. Work around the house and tackling new chores also teaches children life-skills that will help them stay on task and be productive for the rest of their lives.

When children take part of the family chore load, there are benefits for everyone. If chores are divided evenly, there will be more time for parents and children to spend time together once everyone’s tasks are completed. Structure and routine can also help parents build their child’s self-control and, in turn, reduces power struggles with parents. Children will begin feeling more successful and confident as they master new chores, and everyone will feel proud of the work that’s done.

The University of Arkansas System created an age appropriate chore chart for children ages 2 to early teenage years. This has good examples of chores that can help inform your choices when assigning chores to your kids.

Age appropriate chore ideas:

• 2- to 3-year-olds can put toys away, dress themselves and help put clean dishes away by sorting silverware.  
• 4- to 5-year-olds can help feed pets, make their beds (maybe not perfectly) and help clear the table after dinner.
• 6- to 7-year-olds can wipe tables and counters, put laundry away and vacuum floors.
• 7- to 9-year-olds can load and unload the dishwasher, help prepare meals and make their own lunch.
• 10- to 11-year-olds can change their bedding, clean kitchen or bathrooms and mow the lawn.
• Children aged 12 and above can wash the car, babysit younger siblings and help shop for groceries with a list.

It's important to keep a few things in mind when assigning chores to your kids. First and foremost, keep chores age and developmentally appropriate and be specific with instructions when working with younger children. Consistency and patience helps children take on new chore responsibilities, so stick with the family plan!

Chores benefit children and parents alike. They are an important way for you to help children feel like they are contributing members of the family household. This, in turn, helps them to learn a sense of belonging and the value of being a contributing member of a group. This value can grow as they do. So, whether through a school project, neighborhood cleanup, showing up to soccer practice on time, or serving lunch at the local soup kitchen, all of us benefit from children taking part in chores. 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension . For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu . To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters . To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts , or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Did you find this article useful?

Early childhood development resources for early childhood professionals.

new - method size: 3 - Random key: 0, method: tagSpecific - key: 0

You Might Also Be Interested In

Ep. 38: Land Acknowledgement with Emily Proctor

Published on April 21, 2021

MSU Hop Podcast

Published on April 8, 2021

Flushing phosphorus down the drain: tile lines and disoloved phosphorus

Published on November 12, 2020

MSU Dairy Virtual Coffee Break: Fresh Research on Milk fever

Published on April 7, 2021

MI Community Minutes: Sustainability Efforts in Local Government with City of Holland's Dan Broersma

Published on January 24, 2022

MSU Dairy Virtual Coffee Break: Feed management 101

• child & family development
• early childhood development
• food & health
• healthy relationships
• msu extension
• physical development and health
• social and emotional development
• child & family development,
• early childhood development,
• food & health,
• healthy relationships,
• msu extension,
• physical development and health,

• Trying to Conceive
• Signs & Symptoms
• Pregnancy Tests
• Fertility Testing
• Fertility Treatment
• Weeks & Trimesters
• Staying Healthy
• Preparing for Baby
• Complications & Concerns
• Pregnancy Loss
• Breastfeeding
• School-Aged Kids
• Raising Kids
• Personal Stories
• Everyday Wellness
• Safety & First Aid
• Immunizations
• Food & Nutrition
• Active Play
• Pregnancy Products
• Nursery & Sleep Products
• Nursing & Feeding Products
• Clothing & Accessories
• Toys & Gifts
• Ovulation Calculator
• Pregnancy Due Date Calculator
• How to Talk About Postpartum Depression
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board

Giving Kids Chores for Self-Esteem and Responsibility

Chris Amaral / Photodisc / Getty Images

Why Chores Are Important

How to assign chores.

• Focus on the Journey

Rewarding a Job Well Done

What if there was a way you could get some extra help around the house all while building your preschooler's self-esteem and sense of responsibility? There is — simple household chores.

By assigning your kids chores like feeding pets and sweeping the floor, you are sending them an important message: that they are a contributing member of the family. Here's why chores aren't really a chore for your child and the best ways to assign them.

Giving your child chores to do has a number of benefits, not only to your household but to their personal development. When kids do chores, they sense that they are contributing something important to the family.

After your preschooler sets the table and then everyone sits down to eat, she can make the connection that she played a significant role in the mealtime preparation. When he sorts out the socks and then daddy wears a pair, your child learns that his helping is important.

As your child learns to be responsible and take pride in their work by doing chores, it will soon become routine.

Helping out around the house won't be something they dread, but something they enjoy doing — something you'll appreciate as they get older and are able to do more.

Start off small. It's easy for a little one to get overwhelmed when faced with a playroom or bedroom with toys strewn all over the place. They often don't know where to start and consequently, end up giving up, throwing a tantrum or whining about it.

Instead of saying, "Clean up this room," give your child some specific directions — "Please put away all your cars." Once that task is finished, move on to something else. "Great job! Now it's time to pick up the crayons."

When coming up with a list of potential jobs for your little one, remember simple is key. Young children tend to have short attention spans so you need to find chores that are easy for them to complete where they won't get bored.

Give your child something above her ability and she's likely to feel disappointed and frustrated. But if she's able to do the job well, chances are she'll want to do more.

If at all possible, at least in the beginning or if the job is a big one like cleaning up her room , help your preschooler with her assigned task. As you clean up, talk about why what you are doing is necessary — "We need to feed the dog so she'll grow strong and be healthy."

Above all else, your child wants to spend time with you, and working with another person will help the work go faster.

It's the Journey, Not the Destination

Even the youngest preschooler can help around the house. Just remember, at a young age, it's the effort that is important, not the final result. Your goal is not to have a little housekeeper, it's to instill good habits now, so as your child gets older he'll understand the importance of pitching in.

Hard as it may be, do not correct your child's work. If he makes his bed and there are lots of lumps, resist the urge to smooth out the covers. You'll be sending a powerful message that his efforts weren't good enough.

Instead, praise him for his attempt. In time, as he gets bigger and used to the assignment, he'll be able to refine his technique.​

A good way to help your little one keep track of her daily chores is to create a chart detailing what her jobs are. If your child can't read yet, use pictures instead — if you want her to water the garden, use a picture of a watering can or a hose.

After each job is completed, give her some kind of reward — stickers on the chart or beans or buttons in a jar that can be redeemed for a prize when full.

Some parents like to offer an allowance which also is something to consider although young children don't quite understand the concept of money yet.

No matter how you choose to acknowledge your child's hard work, make sure there is a lot of praise involved — hugs and kisses are worth millions to your little one.

By Amanda Rock Amanda Rock, mom of three, has spent more than a decade of her professional career writing and editing for parents and children.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• You and Your Parents
• Improving Relations with Parents

How to Help Around the House

Last Updated: November 25, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Wits End Parenting . Wits End Parenting is a parent-coaching practice based in Berkeley, California specializing in strong-willed, “spirited” children with impulsivity, emotional volatility, difficulty “listening,” defiance, and aggression. Wits End Parenting's counselors incorporate positive discipline that is tailored to each child’s temperament while also providing long-term results, freeing parents from the need to continually re-invent their discipline strategies. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 401,409 times.

Your parents do a lot of work around the house to keep things clean, and to try and provide for you. If you want to pay them back, at least a little, make the effort to help out with chores around the house. Help your parents out by keeping rooms around the house clean, and looking for ways to take chores off their hands. Even if you are a young kid, there are many things you can do to make your parents’ lives easier, and keep your home clean and welcoming.

Cleaning Your Room

• It can be very helpful to have a little garbage can in your room for you to throw things away into. Make sure you clean it out when it gets full.
• Not only will this make your room less cluttered, but garbage also attracts bugs and other pests. Plus it smells. Getting rid of it will make your room smell better.

• A good time to make your bed is first thing in the morning. That way you will remember to do it right away. Also, it will make sure that the only time your bed isn’t made is when you are sleeping in it.
• Your bedsheets should be washed every couple of weeks, so make sure to strip your bed when your parents ask to make sure they stay clean.

• If your clothes are clean, fold them and hang them up in the closet or put them back in the dresser where they belong.
• If your clothes are dirty, gather them up, and take them to the laundry room. If your parents let you, you can even do the laundry, and clean your clothes yourself. Just make sure to check with them first. Once they are clean, fold them and put them away properly in your room.

• Don’t just throw things into a pile in your closet. That only moves the mess to another part of your room. Make sure you have a shelf or chest to put things in before starting. If you don’t have enough room for all of your stuff, you may want to ask for something else to store them in, or consider getting rid of stuff you don’t use or play with anymore.

Tackling Household Chores

• Your family may tell you they don’t need your help, and that’s okay. The important thing is that you thought to ask, which they will appreciate.

• After meals are over, you can also be helpful by clearing the table. Get all the dishes and silverware into the sink or dishwasher for cleaning.

• Start by scraping off all food scraps, which will make the dishes easier to clean. Remember to use warm water and soap to clean off the whole dish. Clean all the dishes, silverware, cups, anything that you used to eat or make food with.
• Remember to clean food scraps out of the sink drain when you are finished. Throw them away so they don’t clog the drain.
• Empty the dishwasher. If your house has a dishwasher, unload it after it finishes. Just give it a few minutes to cool down first, as dishes can be hot. You don’t want to accidentally burn yourself.
• Be careful when handling sharp objects like knives and other utensils. If you aren’t careful, you can cut yourself, so always pick things up by the handle, and watch where you are reaching. [4] X Research source

• If you are older, and your parents let you, use a vacuum to help give the floors a better clean.

• Don’t hide bad news or bad grades. This is not a chance for you to keep your parents from seeing stuff like that.

• There are plenty of other types of messes that can appear around the house. Piles of books, papers, clothes, toys, and dishes can appear at any time. You can be a big help by cleaning them up.

• You can help here by giving your parents suggestions of things you would like to do. These can be chores you know you would be good at, or things you would like to get better at doing. In talking with your parents, you may decide that you will have a set list of chores, or maybe you will rotate a list of chores with your siblings.
• Remember that chores may not always be divided fairly. If your siblings are too young to do something, you will need to do it until they are old enough. The important thing is to not whine about it, and do what needs to be done.

Taking Care of Pets

• You should only feed him proper pet food, so no table scraps or treats.
• Don’t forget to make sure your pet also has a supply of clean water. If the dish still has water in it, but it looks dirty, rinse it out and refill it.
• This is a good thing to talk about with your whole family, so everyone knows who is supposed to feed your pets and when. You don’t want to overfeed or underfeed him.

• If you have a place for your pet to use the bathroom, whether in the cage or a litter box, make sure you clean that out regularly as well.

• Even cats will want some time with family members, so go ahead and pet him or let him curl up with you for a nap.
• Make sure you keep an eye on your pets, especially if they are smaller. You don’t want a gerbil or lizard getting loose in the house.
• Be nice and friendly to your pets. If you are mean or aggressive, your pets won’t like that. They will either become more aggressive to you, which could mean biting or scratching, or they will become afraid, and not want to play with you. [14] X Trustworthy Source American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show. Go to source

• If you have a dog, or another pet that needs to use the bathroom outside, remember to bring a bag so you can pick up his poop to throw away. [15] X Research source

• When you comb through hair, make sure to check for fleas and ticks, as well as anything else that might be stuck in your pet’s coat. If you see a tick you can try to get it off yourself, or ask your parents for help. Just make sure your parents know you found the tick, so they can call the vet if something needs to happen.
• You may be able to bathe your dog or cat as well. This can be tough, as your pet may not want a bath, or enjoy splashing. Make sure your parents know you want to give yours a bath. Just don’t overdo it. Once a month for dogs, or once every few months for cats, should be enough.
• For rodents and reptiles, pets that live in cages, keeping the cage clean should be enough. You don’t need to wash them.

Expert Q&A

• If you aren’t sure what you can do around the house, don’t be afraid to ask. Your parents will probably have some ideas of good things for you to help with. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Sometimes helping around the house means helping your siblings with homework or projects. This is a nice thing for you to do for them, and it gives your parents time to do other things. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Tips from our Readers

• Help before your parents ask you to. And if they do ask you to help, do it right away. Don't expect something in return for helping. Your parents don't get a treat when they do it, after all.
• I check the mailbox for my mom every day. Try small tasks like this for yourself.
• Do your best work, even if you don't like the task you're doing.
• Fold laundry and put clothes away to help out.

• Be careful when using chemicals and sprays to clean off floors and surfaces. These can be poisonous if you use them incorrectly. Check with your parents before using them, and make sure you follow all the directions carefully. Thanks Helpful 118 Not Helpful 16

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment
• ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/hygiene/cleaning/cleaning-your-home.html
• ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/healthy-eating/cooking-at-home.htm
• ↑ https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/child-safety-and-injury-prevention
• ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/prevention/Pages/Cleaners-Sanitizers-Disinfectants.aspx
• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/enlightened-living/200805/taking-out-the-trash-mindfulness-in-action
• ↑ https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/family-dynamics/Pages/Household-Chores-for-Adolescents.aspx
• ↑ Wits End Parenting. Parenting Specialists. Expert Interview. 5 March 2020.
• ↑ https://raisingchildren.net.au/preschoolers/family-life/routines-rituals-rules/chores-for-children
• ↑ https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/how-to-get-your-kids-to-do-chores
• ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/how-many-times-a-day-should-a-dog-eat/
• ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs.htm
• ↑ https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/10-science-based-benefits-dog/
• ↑ https://www.seattle.gov/utilities/protecting-our-environment/sustainability-tips/pollution-prevention/pet-waste
• ↑ https://www.rspcapetinsurance.org.au/pet-care/dog-care/dog-grooming-guide

About This Article

To help around the house, tidy up your room by making your bed, throwing away any trash, and putting away your laundry. You can also help set the table for meals, wash dishes, and take out the trash. Additionally, make sure to help out with any pets you have by feeding them, giving them exercise, and cleaning up their messes. If you aren’t sure what needs to be done or what would be most helpful, ask for regular chores. To learn how to create a chore chart, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Yasmine Wilkinson-Loynes

Jun 6, 2016

Did this article help you?

May 1, 2018

Sara Zekirovska

Dec 9, 2019

Nov 2, 2018

Jan 7, 2020

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

All the chores your kids should be doing, based on their age

It's never too early to start helping around the house.

Updated November 17, 2022

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.

Every kid is different, so consider your child’s abilities and interests when giving them a new chore. In my case, my third grader loves to make simple meals, and fill and empty the dishwasher. My second grader enjoys helping with meal preparation by setting the table, peeling vegetables, and grating cheese.

Join The Carpool.

Enter your email:

Thanks for signing up.

Preschool (ages 2 to 5).

Even preschoolers can help around the house.

Teaching kids to pitch in and help out around the house can start as soon as they’re mobile. In fact, at this age my kids loved “helping” clean the house, never mind that sometimes their “help” made more work for me. The important part is that they want to do their part. Turn it into a game, make it fun, and be sure to praise them for their efforts.

Young kids can:

• Fold hand towels and pair socks

Lower elementary (Ages 5 to 7)

Watering plants is the perfect chore for slightly older children.

In the early elementary grades, kids are starting to develop more independence and a sense of personal identity. Giving them more complex chores will encourage their growing autonomy.

At this age, kids can do everything above as well as:

• Keep school work, books and backpacks organized
• Get their own snacks from low pantry and refrigerator shelves: A set of refrigerator bins keeps snacks organized and easily accessible.
• Help prepare school lunches
• Make their bed
• Bring in mail and newspapers

Upper elementary (Ages 7 to 11)

Delegate the vacuuming to your grade schooler.

Kids in the higher elementary grades are gaining confidence, developing their interests, and starting to pay attention to what’s going on in the world. Give them only as much supervision as they need to complete the following chores:

• Load and empty the dishwasher
• Prepare microwavable dishes and reheat leftovers
• Fold and put away laundry
• Change bed sheets
• Wash the car

Middle School (Ages 11 to 14)

Middle school is a great time to get kids comfortable in the kitchen.

By middle school, kids who have mastered all of the above chores are ready to for more household responsibilities. Give them tasks that offer them a challenge, and be prepared to step in if they ask for help. At this age, consider having them:

• Help shop for and put away groceries
• Prepare their own breakfast and lunch
• Fill out school and extracurricular forms
• Take out the trash and recycling

High school—and beyond

Older children can do many chores around the house.

By high school, kids should be comfortable doing most any household chore you give them. Encourage responsibility and independence by involving them in any chores you do, with the goal of preparing them for college and adulthood.

“Adulting” can be stressful, but letting our kids try—and possibly fail—while they still have a safety net will help ready them for anything they face alone. So give them an opportunity to:

• Mow and edge the lawn
• Run household errands
• Organize the kitchen pantry and cabinets
• Fill out college and job applications

Related content

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Sign up for our newsletter.

Adolescence

Getting your teenager to help around the house, how to elicit cooperation, end power struggles, and keep things in perspective..

Posted May 27, 2018 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan

She "forgets" to take out the trash with a consistency that seems that seems intentional. His shoes are left in the middle of the living room, exactly where he kicked them off. Nothing you do has any effect.

Don't fret. You are not alone. Kids do fewer chores than they did a generation ago. One study found that though 82 percent of American adults said they did chores as children, only 28 percent expect the same of their offspring.

This is a puzzling trend since most parents believe it’s important for kids to help out around the house. Those who pitch in do have been found to have better grades, behavior, and family cohesion.

Then why does getting a teen to cooperate cause so much tension? For one, many parents are resentful because they feel by 13 or 14, a child should know to clean up after themselves. Parents interpret their failure to do so as ingratitude.

However, consider this: Although teens are all about growing up, part of them still wants to be taken care of like a little kid. Anthony Wolf author of Get Out of My Life but First Could You Drive Cheryl and Me to the Mall calls this their "baby self." It only comes out at home, which is why they can be so irresponsible, lazy, and demanding.

Teens are also uniquely wired to seek excitement because during adolescence , their brains explode with dopamine receptors. It takes a lot of excitement to produce a steady supply, which is why teens love to take risks but abhor taking out the garbage.

This doesn’t mean your son or daughter deserves a free pass from household chores. However, a different perspective will help reduce the tension.

First, don’t take your teen’s slovenliness personally. Second, though it is troublesome to find a stack of dishes under their bed, it is not a sign they will grow up to be an irresponsible sloth that won’t get into college (though maybe having a clean bedroom should be a requirement for admission).

With this fresh point of view, reminding them to do their chores will become a normal part of parenting a teen. Your job is not to get them to do their chores independently or even willingly, but rather, to teach them the value of helping out. It is just like when they were toddlers and you ordered “clean-up time.” The only difference is that unlike a cooperative 4-year-old, your teen is going to ignore you. So you have to get smarter.

Rather than berate them for being irresponsible, or insist that you need more help, explain that doing chores is a way for each member to support the needs of the whole family. You might find driving your daughter to soccer practice as boring as she finds emptying the dishwasher, but that is how a family works.

Here are some suggestions to help drive home the "all for one and one for all" philosophy .

Set expectations

Make a how-to list:

• Rinse the dishes.
• Carefully load them in the dishwasher to save space.
• Scrub the pots clean, dry them, and put them away.
• Wipe down the table and counters.

Hold a boot camp

To ensure chores are done regularly and correctly, enlist your kids in a boot camp. This is where they practice a task over and over until it is done right. For example, see how many times they can set a table, clear the dishes, and then set it again in an hour.

Schedule weekly clean-up times

Set aside some time each weekend where everyone has a job and works together. This can include regular house cleaning or yard work, or special tasks. Make sure the job can be done in a few hours, and then do not let your kids (or your spouse) do anything else until they have completed their responsibilities.

Hold a work holiday

Set aside a weekend day and assign chores, special tasks, etc. End the holiday with a celebration—something fun like going out to dinner or even for ice cream.

Offer rewards

When it comes to paying kids to help around the house, I follow the lead of Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. He suggests that linking allowance to chores "sends kids a clear (and clearly wrongheaded) message: In the absence of a payment, no self-respecting child would willingly set the table, empty the garbage, or make her own bed ... It converts a moral and familial obligation into just another commercial transaction and teaches that the only reason to do a less-than-desirable task for your family is in exchange for payment."

The next few suggestions require you to follow the "one reminder" rule.

Create natural consequences

One mother I knew told her kids laundry had to be put in the hamper by Tuesday at bedtime, for washday Wednesday. She then showed them how to use the washer and dryer because after Wednesday they had to wash their own clothes or wait a week.

Leave it there

When your teen leaves their tennis racket in the bathroom, ask them to put it away once. If they don’t, the next time they ask you for a ride, to sign a school form, etc. tell them you will do it as soon as the tennis racket finds its way back to the closet.

Set consequences

When you do set a consequence (“If you don’t take the trash out by 10 p.m. you will lose your phone the next day)” stick to the "one reminder" rule. Don’t nag or threaten. Just tie up the trash bag at 10:01, and grab their phone on the way out to the garbage can (I don’t mean throw it out, as tempting as it may seem — just hold onto it for a day).

Finally, and perhaps most importantly whenever possible, use humor to lighten things up. My favorite example is a dad who found creative things to do with the belongings his kids left all over the apartment. Used tissue went into their sneakers, scattered water bottles were slyly hidden in backpacks, only to be carried to school the next day. He viewed these antics as a game, not punishment , and so did his kids.

Remember, you and your teen have much better ways to spend time than fighting about their messy room. While teaching them to be responsible is necessary, they also need to laugh with you, talk to you, and sometimes just act goofy and let off steam. In just a few short years, they will be off at college, your house will be tidier than ever, and I guarantee, you will miss the mess!

Anthony Wolfe: Get Out Of My Life But First Could Your Drive Cheryl and Me To The Mall: 2002, Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Daniel Pink: Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates US. 2011, Riverhead Books

Adam Price, Ph.D. is an expert in child and adolescent psychology, and author of the book He's Not Lazy . ​

• Find Counselling
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• Richmond - Tweed
• Newcastle - Maitland
• Canberra - ACT
• Sunshine Coast
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Relationships
• Child Development
• Therapy Center NEW
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

Understanding what emotional intelligence looks like and the steps needed to improve it could light a path to a more emotionally adept world.

• Emotional Intelligence
• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

• Writing Correction
• Online Prep Platform
• Online Course
• Speaking Assessment
• Ace The IELTS
• Target Band 7
• Practice Tests Downloads
• IELTS Success Formula
• Essays Band 9 IELTS Writing Task 2 samples – IELTS Band 9 essays
• Essays Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 8
• Essays Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 7
• Essays Band 6 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 6
• Essays Band 5 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS essays of Band 5
• Reports Band 9 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 9 (Academic Writing Task 1)
• Reports Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 8
• Reports Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS reports of Band 7
• Letters Band 9 IELTS Writing Task 1 – samples of IELTS letters of Band 9
• Letters Band 8 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS letters of Band 8
• Letters Band 7 IELTS Writing – samples of IELTS letters of Band 7
• Speaking Samples
• Tests Samples
• 2023, 2024 IELTS questions
• 2022 IELTS questions
• 2021 IELTS questions
• 2020 IELTS questions
• High Scorer’s Advice IELTS high achievers share their secrets
• IELTS Results Competition
• IELTS-Blog App

IELTS essay, topic: Some parents think that children must do house chores (opinion)

• IELTS Essays - Band 9

This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is likely to score IELTS Band 9.

Set 2 General Training book, Practice Test 9

Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

Many parents give jobs to their children to do around the house in order to develop their characters and self-sufficiency. Discuss this idea and give your opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

In many modern day families, it is a common aspect of family life that parents give jobs to their children to do around the house to develop their characters and a sense of self-sufficiency. This aspect can be looked at as having both positive and negative sides.

When parents give their children jobs or chores to do around the house, they make their children understand that they are part of a community. While this community is only within the family’s house, the lessons children learn from carrying out their chores are equally fitting for the global community they live in. Children are taught that they have to integrate into the global community and that in order for this community to work effectively, everyone must carry out their chores.

Furthermore, children learn about the concept of pride, as they are taught to be proud of what they have accomplished. Chores around the house additionally prepare children for living independently later on in life, as they acquire skills that are valuable for everyday life. I, personally, see this approach as very practical; helping my mother with cooking in my childhood and teenage years served me well, and living independently now I don’t have trouble preparing meals for myself and my housemates.

Although there are many supporters of this concept, some parents argue that children should not be given jobs to do around the house. They argue that children should be allowed to be children and not have any duties. In their opinion children should enjoy their childhood and should not have to deal with any of the responsibilities adults have to deal with.

In conclusion, I believe that giving children chores to carry out is a positive aspect of family life, as I think that it helps children to become independent and makes it easier for them to live by themselves later on in life.

Go here for more IELTS Band 9 Essays

Related posts:

• IELTS essay, topic: Who should discipline the children, parents or the government? (discuss + opinion) This essay topic was seen in a recent IELTS test...
• IELTS essay, topic: Should school children be given homework (opinion)? This is a model response to a Writing Task 2...
• IELTS essay, topic: Is using physical force to discipline children acceptable (opinion)? This is a model response to a Writing Task 2...
• IELTS essay, topic: Should boys and girls be educated separately (opinion)? This is a model response to a Writing Task 2...
• IELTS Essay, topic: Should governments or teachers be responsible for what is to be taught in schools (opinion)? This is a model response to a Writing Task 2...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

The May 2024 issue of IEEE Spectrum is here!

For IEEE Members

Ieee spectrum, follow ieee spectrum, support ieee spectrum, enjoy more free content and benefits by creating an account, saving articles to read later requires an ieee spectrum account, the institute content is only available for members, downloading full pdf issues is exclusive for ieee members, downloading this e-book is exclusive for ieee members, access to spectrum 's digital edition is exclusive for ieee members, following topics is a feature exclusive for ieee members, adding your response to an article requires an ieee spectrum account, create an account to access more content and features on ieee spectrum , including the ability to save articles to read later, download spectrum collections, and participate in conversations with readers and editors. for more exclusive content and features, consider joining ieee ., join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to all of spectrum’s articles, archives, pdf downloads, and other benefits. learn more →, join the world’s largest professional organization devoted to engineering and applied sciences and get access to this e-book plus all of ieee spectrum’s articles, archives, pdf downloads, and other benefits. learn more →, access thousands of articles — completely free, create an account and get exclusive content and features: save articles, download collections, and talk to tech insiders — all free for full access and benefits, join ieee as a paying member., when will we have robots to help with household chores, google, microsoft, and apple are investing in robots. does that mean home robots are on the way.

This is a guest post. The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not represent positions of IEEE Spectrum or the IEEE.

Google has recently been in the news for its   buying spree of robotics companies . Many people are excited about this and believe that this will greatly accelerate robotics technology development and hopefully make robots ubiquitous in our lives. I hope that's true, and if so, the big question is: When will we be able to buy robots to help us with household chores?

In a simplistic sense, the home robot market can be divided into three categories: (1) robots helping with dull and tedious household chores; (2) robots taking on new roles in homes (e.g., education, entertainment, companionship); and (3) robots in assisted living communities. Each of these markets has different underlying economics. In this post, I will focus on the first category.

So can we expect to see robots helping us at home anytime soon? Before answering this question, let me quickly summarize the societal implications of home robots assisting us with household chores. Here are my predictions:

• Home robots might save many marriages by reducing fights over household chores. I am sure that divorce lawyers will hate home robots!
• Teens will have love-hate relationship with robots. Because robots are doing most of the work at home, parents won't need to nag teens to help out around the house. But at the same time teens won't get money from their parents for doing chores, as is common today in many U.S. families. Cash-deprived teens will need to cut down on money they spend on music and movies. This might be bad for certain pop stars (watch out Justin Bieber, home robots won't be good for your album sales).
• Home robots will dethrone pet animals from being the stars of viral YouTube videos. They might even spawn new reality shows on TV to depict new relationship dynamics at homes as robots join the family.
• Call centers with human workers will be needed to bail out robots in distress. Hopefully, this will create new jobs for humans. Perhaps auto clubs like AAA can start new robot clubs to assist robot owners.
• People won't have any sense of privacy inside their homes. Robots will be able to monitor your every move, so be careful of what you do at home. I am sure NSA folks will be very happy with the advent of home robots. They will finally have the ability to know what time you take showers. They already know everything else!
• Occasionally, home robots will be involved in accidents. I can already see insurance companies salivating at this new opportunity. Hopefully, your robot can answer the phone when telemarketers from insurance company call you to sell new robot insurance policies.

Here is a partial list of chores performed inside homes that can benefit from robot assistants:

• Help with laundry
• Load and unload dishwashers
• Do preparatory work for cooking meals (e.g., chopping vegetables)
• Clean kitchen
• Clean toilets and bathtubs
• Pick up objects (e.g., toys, newspaper, clothes, sneakers) from the floor and move them to the right location
• Unload groceries from the car parked in garage
• Assemble furniture
• Help with moving heavy objects
• Answer phone when telemarketers call at dinner time

The above list does not include tasks for which the robot will have to venture outside the home. For example, I did not include lawn maintenance and snow cleaning tasks. A robot working outside the home will need to be able to deal with a wide variety of weather conditions and safety issues. This is a lot harder problem to solve.

I also purposefully did not include pet sitting and baby sitting in the above list. Some people believe that robots should be able to do these. I think that this will be a good idea for TV shows, but a terrible idea in real-life.

A home robot will require significant in-home installation, regular monitoring, and servicing to keep it operational. You may need to robot-proof your home to make sure that the robot does not damage your home and your home does not damage your robot.

I think we should look at a leasing or renting model instead of a buying model. In this model, people will rent the robot from a company for a monthly fee. The company will take care of the installation, monitoring, and servicing. If the robot is stuck, it should be able to contact a call center. Hopefully, someone in the call center should be able to teleoperate it to get out of the jam.

So how much people are willing to pay in monthly fees for robots at home? Based on preliminary estimates, I expect people will be willing to pay $200 to $500 per month to rent a robotic assistant for the home. I believe that people will be willing to pay $5 to $10 per hour of labor saved. So if a robot can save 40 hours of tedious chores per month, then people will be willing to pay $200 to $400 per month for the robot.

Let us assume that a well-designed robot will have a service life of five years. So the home robot market looks a lot like automobile market from pricing and service life points of view.

The Robots Are Coming

In order for robots to be able to do 40 hours' worth of useful chores in homes, a lot of new technology will need to be developed. I believe that this technology can be sold at $200 per month if there were a few million customers. So here is the catch: unless there is a large market, the desired robots cannot be offered at the right price. However, unless the useful technology is available at the right price, the large market simply won't exist!

Unfortunately, incremental development of home robot technology and its introduction in markets will be extremely slow. We will need to meet or exceed 40 hours per month of useful robotic chores at home to create a significant home market and associated infrastructure. In my opinion, realizing a home robot is technologically feasible (as shown in the images below) , but it will require billions of dollars of investment in technology development to ensure the high level of reliability and safety needed for home use. What's more, venture capitalists don't like these kinds of markets. My hope is that cash-rich companies such as Google , Microsoft , Apple, and others will go after developing this technology and create a new industry.

Cell phones were invented for people to talk, but they have found new roles such as music players, Web browsers, email clients, cameras, gaming devices, and so forth. The revenue growth in the cell phone market was possible because of the new roles played by the devices.

I believe that the same thing is likely to happen for home robots. Initially people will be interested in getting robots at home to help with specifics household chores, but soon they will find new uses for these robots. Moreover, I believe that robots might find an easier path to become popular in people's homes by adopting new roles such as personal trainers, entertainers, and tutors (say, music instructor, golf instructor).

So, when will we be able to buy robots to help us with household chores? If some of the tech giants mentioned above—or any other company flush with cash—decide to go after this technology, then we might have these robots before the end of this decade. Otherwise, we may need to wait for a while. What is your prediction?

• What Robotics Experts Think of Tesla’s Optimus Robot ›
• This Socialite Hated Washing Dishes So Much That She Invented the Automated Dishwasher - IEEE Spectrum ›

IEEE’s Honor Society Expands to More Countries

Video friday: loco-manipulation, smart antennas shape satellite internet tech to come, related stories, irobot ceo colin angle on data privacy and robots in the home, softbank stops making pepper robots, will cut 165 robotics jobs in france, it’s (still) really hard for robots to autonomously do household chores.