Learning To Work

Posted on October 4, 2007 
Filed Under Parenting

My children have grown up learning to work. Always age-appropriate, of course, like making a bed when they turn 6, making breakfast at 7 or 8, and mowing the lawn around 12 or 13. This has many benefits, not the least is which is less work - eventually.

Early on in the training process, it is a lot of work, of course. Have you ever seen a child clean up a mess well? Or make perfect pancakes? Or make that lawn look like a baseball infield? Doesn’t happen. It takes months, even years, to help a child achieve a level of proficiency in the kitchen or yard. And I’ve had to let go on the quality of a lot of work we’ve assigned the kids…because the important thing is the process of their learning a skill and some discipline, not the outcome. The quality of the work will come, providing I’ve taught well and the child has the ability.

Today’s program features a guest who shatters the common excuses about giving our children work. The late Jean Lush offers some timeless perspectives for parents who think it is either easier or best to “let kids be kids” by not giving them chores.

Bonus: Also on this program, Dr. Dobson comments on recent media coverage of Focus on the Family and updates listeners on current hate crimes legislation.

Comments

One Response to “Learning To Work”

  1. W. Mark Whitlock on October 5th, 2007 5:26 pm

    I believe the work-ethic of our children will be the most defining element of their success in a culture intoxicated by entitlement thinking. Work is a great teacher on overcoming adversity and learning from one’s mistakes.

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