by Irene Helen Zundel

Life is work. While I am strongly in favor of children being allowed to have a childhood that embraces fun, exploration and wonder, I also believe in giving them age-appropriate chores.

Chores teach life skills, responsibility, and the importance of making a contribution to family and society. Children develop a sense of pride from accomplishment, and confidence from becoming increasingly capable and independent.

Educational visionary, Dr. Maria Montessori, regularly incorporated chores, and acquisition of life skills into her school's curriculum. Students were provided child-sized cooking, cleaning and gardening implements. Even the littlest hands learned to use them with admirable skill.

Physical work actually helps develop gross and fine motor control in children. Learning to pour, measure, dig, sweep, rake, carry, sort, fold and wash things enhances coordination, balance, muscle control and a host of other neurobiological functions. You are strengthening a child's body and making strong brain-body connections when you teach them to work.

Doing chores with your son or daughter creates multiple teaching opportunities in a natural setting.

For example:

Use laundry time to enforce the concepts of matching, colors, pairs, differences in size, names of pieces of clothing, and use of zippers and buttons.

Kitchen duty can be used to teach measurement, temperature, proper food storage, safety rules, cooking techniques and proper use of utensils.

Gardening lends itself nicely to discussions about plant and insect life, weather, seasons, pesticides, ecology, composting and...

Well, you get the idea!

Chore time can be bonding time. Slowing down to teach a wee one, physically getting down to their eye level, and patiently helping uncoordinated bodies try new things, is good for parents. It helps them see the world through the eyes of a child who is always towered over, hurried along and made to conform to an adult world. And it gives children the personal attention they thrive on!

Learning doesn't all come from books. Nor does it originate in the four walls of a school. Learning time is any time!