Date Presented 04/06/19
In order for OT practitioners to make recommendations that are age appropriate, consistent with cultural practices, and evidence-based, this study examined the prevalence of household chores for school-age children as a pilot study for the development of age norms for chores. Survey results (N= 252) identified caregivers’ priorities for childhood occupations, as well as the age at which children are regularly and sometimes completing 17 different chores.
Primary Author and Speaker: Kate Barlow
Additional Authors and Speakers: Michael Salemi
PURPOSE: There has been a reported decrease in children’s responsibility to complete household chores over the past few decades (Rende, 2015). In order for occupational therapy practitioners to make recommendations that are age appropriate, consistent with cultural practices and evidence based, this study aimed to examine the prevalence of household chores for school age children, as a pilot study for the development of age norms for chores.
BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that parents value chores and believe that it helps to foster responsible young adults (Klein, Graesch & Izquierdo, 2009). The benefits of chores has also been well researched, such as “fostering interpersonal skills, responsibility, educational attainment and career success, and mental health, such as empathy” (Li, 2016, p.1524). The cause of the decrease in children’s responsibility to complete household chores was researched by Braun Research in 2014. They reported that although 82% of parents reported completing chores when they were children, only 28% stated they require their children to complete chores (Dishongh, 2015). The reasons parents stated they did not require chores was because of the increased time children spent in organized activities, such as sports, and a lack of time to monitor the chores to be done properly (Dishongh, 2015).
DESIGN: This study is a descriptive design using paper surveys. Participants were conveniently sampled at local sporting events, parks and recreational activities.
METHODS: This study obtained 122 completed surveys on 252 children, aged 1-19, describing the caregivers’ views on chores, as well as whether their children never, sometimes or regularly complete 14 different chores. The chores surveyed included: making the bed, vacuuming, sweeping, setting/clearing the table washing dishes/load-unload the dishwasher, cleaning bedroom, wash/dry dishes, put clean clothes away, put dirty clothes in hamper, cut/mow grass, rake leaves, shovel snow, garden, feed pet, clean cage/litter box/pick up poop, walk dog, and take out trash. All of the survey data was entered in SPSS software for analysis.
RESULTS: The background data for the participants was the following: 60% white, 27% not reported, 8% Hispanic, 3% percent black and 2% Asian. The communities were describes as 48% suburban, 29% not reported, 13% rural and 10% urban. Caregivers were asked to rank their priorities given the following choices: academic, organized activities, chores and free/playtime. 81% of parents ranked academics as their number one priority, with 50% of the parents ranking chores as the least important. Parents were also asked to list their children’s extracurricular activities. Children ages 2 and 3, averaged 2 extra-curricular activities, such as dance and swim. Children ages 10-14 averaged 5 extracurricular activities. Statistical significance was found correlating the number of activities children participated in and the ranking of chores as a priority, as well as in correlating the number of adults in the home and the priority ranking. The data also showed percentages for each age group in each chore completion. Over 50% of 12 year olds were reported to complete two chores regularly (putting their dirty clothes in the hamper and putting their clean clothes away) and caregivers reported 4 year olds regularly completed one chore (putting dirty clothes in hamper). In comparison, 16 year olds were reported to regularly completed 5 chores.
CONCLUSION: The age in which children regularly participate in chores and which chores they participate in was identified for 252 children. A larger, nationwide study exploring the prevalence of chores and further looking at gender and socioeconomics is recommended.
References
Dishongh, K. (2015). Next time you tell your kids to rake the leaves, do the dishes or clean the bathroom, you can safely add, “It’s for your own good.” Washington Post, Associated Press. Retrieved from: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jul/12/study-finds-having-kids-do-chores-is-a-good-thing/
Klein, W., Graesch, A., Izquierdo, C. (2009). Children and chores: A mixed methods study of children’s household work in Los Angeles families. Anthropology of Work Review, XXX(3), 98-109. DOI: 10.1111/j.1548-1417.2009.01030.x
Li, S. (2016). Chores, medicine for a widespread lack of gratitude in the one-child generations of China. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 4(7), 1522-1528. DOI: 10.13189/ujer.2016.040704
Rende, R. (2015). The developmental significance of chores: Then and now. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Newsletter, 31(1), 1058-1073
