MEDICAL INSIGHTS: Household chores benefit kids' brain function

Aug 18, 2023

A study published in an Australian journal last year emphasizes the fact that there are cognitive benefits noted when children preform household chores on a regular basis. In other words childhood chores improve their brain function.

In this small study, 207 kids from ages 5 to 13 were evaluated by their parents by answering questions about their household chores. The chores included age-appropriate tasks, such as making a meal for themselves or other family members, gardening or making their bed.

The results revealed that those kids who participated in regular household chores exhibited greater executive function as compared to those not involved in chores. Executive function was explained as being able to focus on a task, exhibiting goal-directed behavior which requires the child to self-regulate and suppress irrelevant information. These skills should begin to develop in early childhood and continue through early adulthood.

The authors concluded that those engaged in chores exhibited better cognitive development and working memory. Early development of executive function is associated with pursuing tertiary education, better financial status as an adult and improved physical health. Performing chores on a regular basis allows kids to excel in problem solving and school work.

Mentioned in the article was the fact that delays in early development of executive function have been previously noted to lead to deficiencies in problem solving as an adult. Also poor reading performance as well as suboptimal academic ability later in childhood have been reported.

Interesting to me was the fact that this study found no relationship between executive function and pet-care chores. Certainly they must not have evaluated farm kids.

Participants in this study included those from Europe,North America, Asia, Ireland, the United kingdom and naturally Australia.

The main conclusion was that household chores for kids have benefits that influence their later years in a positive way.

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