Do you believe that a 2 years old can be trained and encouraged to help in doing chores? I believe they can. Of course, it is more like a play than work to them and the end result is not going to meet your standard (i.e. the floor would still be dirty). However, we as parents have to instill the idea of “working” early in the life so our children would not become a slothful and unresponsible teenager that we see around us today. And it is mostly the parents of the teenager to be blamed. I read that the sons of the settlers were capable of running the farm at 12 while their fathers were away to town; while the daughters were capable of running the house chores at 12 as good as their mothers when they were not around.
We cannot expect our children to become responsible and hardworking adults overnight when they turn 16 if they are never taught to share the chores according to their capabilities. A child can be trained and should be allowed to “work” together alongside his parents, although sometimes it might seem he does more damage than help. But that’s alright! The idea is to build up the mentaily that WORK IS PART OF LIFE and WORK DOES NOT HAVE TO BE BORING. Work can be fun when you have the right attitude and passion. Men can fight under horrible situatons on a battlefield without losing morale if they believe in the cause. We as Christians can stand the persecutions and trials because we believe our Lord Jesus Christ is worthy for the sufferings. The children will work steadily if they see their parents do the chores cheerfully and without grumblings. Of course, the young children should get lots of praise and may be some tangible rewards (cookies or a special bike ride with daddy) if they perform exceptionally well.
Here we want to present to you Shoshana, trying to pour some baking soda and wipe the kitchen floor:
Watch here