Home >  Information A-Z >  All Kids Information Articles >  Breaking Gender Roles with Chores

Breaking Gender Roles with Chores

Raising girls and boys today is different than it used to be. In our parent's time, and maybe even our own time, boys were raised to do manly chores and girls were raised to do women's work. But in today's society, those responsibilities are shifting. With more women working outside the home, and more men sharing equally in parenting and household chores, it is more important than ever to raise children that are capable of being independent and skilled in a variety of responsibilities.

The first step that you can take as a parent to ensure that your child possess the skills they need to fit in with this change is to teach then a variety of life skills. The easiest place to start is with their assigned chores.
When you first design a chore chart or assign certain chores to your children, instead of starting with the tried and true division of responsibilities, girls sweep-boys take out the trash, try instead to start with an open list of age appropriate chores and then assign them randomly. By assigning them randomly and switching responsibilities often, your children will become adept at many different life skills and never develop the mindset that certain chores are not their responsibility.

A gender-neutral chore chart might look like this:

Week One
Fold laundry- Bobby
Set the table- Susie
Sweep the floor- Bobby
Take out the trash- Susie
Feed the dog- Bobby
Help with cooking dinner- Susie
Week Two
Fold laundry- Susie
Set the table- Bobby
Sweep the floor- Susie
Take out the trash- Bobby
Feed the dog- Susie
Help with cooking dinner- Bobby

As your children grow older and master more skills, you can add other responsibilities to the list such as vacuuming, dusting, mowing the lawn, and cooking entire meals. Again, these chores should be assigned randomly and switched often.

Another area that parents can concentrate on that will help with breaking standard gender roles and allowing their children to learn a variety of life skills is miscellaneous chores. These chores are the ones that come up less often or that have to be completed by an adult. Examples of these responsibilities include such things as fixing the sink, grocery shopping, checking the oil in the car and other household repairs. As you and your spouse encounter these duties, enlist one of your children to help. Just be sure to include a different child each time so that all of your children, no matter what their gender, learn to comparison shop, to check the air pressure in their tires and to fix minor household problems.

By going out of your way while your children are young to teach them a variety of skills, you will enable them to live life more independently when they are older. And because they will have been exposed to a variety of responsibilities and they will have mastered a variety of skills, they will be able to save money and time in their adult lives.

Copyright 2010. All educational materials are the sole property of Kid First Internet and are available for the benefit of our parents. Duplication or use of any material requires the express consent of Kids First Internet.

Browse information articles by category:

Babies
Toddlers
Kids
Health and Safety
Nutrition and Feeding
Bathing
Behavior and Discipline
Diapers and Potty Training
Playtime activities and toys
Clothing
Napping and Nighttime

View All Articles

Kids Bedding Information Center:

Nursery and Crib Safety
Allergy Information
Kids Bedding Gift Giving
Bedding Themes
Crib and Nursery Sizes
Typical Prices
Bedding Production
Cleaning
Materials and Fabrics
Boys Bedding and Girls Bedding

Kids and Baby Bedding Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best kids bedding brands? A look at some of the best kids bedding sets.

What comes in the different crib and nursery sets? Know exactly what you are ordering - before you order.

How do I choose the perfect kids bedding gift? Here are three simple rules for picking out a wonderful kids bedding or baby bedding set!

How can I create a safe nursery? A short article on safety and kids bedding and baby bedding.

How do I clean my kids bedding? Tips and directions to make your kids bedding set last forever.

How long does it take for my kids bedding purchase to arrive? Read about why it is important to order kids bedding several weeks in advance.

Why buy kids bedding or baby bedding online? Learn why we can offer the best prices on kids bedding.