Children and Chores
By Nona Morris
@nonersays (3329)
United States
May 2, 2012 12:55pm CST
My husband shared an article with me in which one state is trying to make it ILLEGAL for children who live on a farm to do farm related chores. They say it falls under child labor. (Sorry, I don't really remember the important details such as WHAT state)
Personally I find that absurd. Farm children are going to have different chores than city children, just like poor children are going to have different chores than rich children who have maids and house cleaners. Its just a way of life.
My dad wasn't a farmer, but he did raise chickens and an occasional pig. When I was a child I had to feed the chickens and the pig (when we had one) and collect eggs. That wasn't "child labor" that was just be doing part of the chores that I had around the house.
So why would taking care of farm chores be any more "child labor" than washing the supper dishes?
My son is only 2 so doesn't really have chores yet, but he does like to "help." We have a front load washer and he LOVES to load and unload it, so I usually call him when the washer needs loading/unloading and tell him to do it. Am I going to have to worry about new child labor laws being passed so that I'm not allowed to let him do that anymore?
So, my question(s) here are what chores do you think a child should/should not be allowed to do? Where do you think the line between chores and child labor should be drawn? What chores do you think are appropriate for what ages of children?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
2 May 12
I think helping in house chores will not be considered as child labor. It will just part of their task as member of the family. This will help them in the future, like when they had already family with their own or living independently. They cannot always rely on their parents in doing the house chores. It is just teaching them some diiscipline inside the house.
In my own views, to be considered as child labor, they are working outside their house premises to earn money. For example, they are used to resulted as maids or house helpers.
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
3 May 12
I agree. Child labor should be considered working OUTSIDE of the home for wages, not doing houseold chores (which vary by household) for an allowance.
@asdomencil (4265)
• Philippines
3 May 12
Yes, if they are working to earn money not for themselves but to help their family, that will be considered as child labor. But working inside the house in exchange for their allowance is a different thing.
My son is going 2 this June. I can say that he is responsible enough because after he plays with his toys, he will return it and arrange in order. Teaching him to do this task is not a child labor but considered teaching him the role of responsibility.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
3 May 12
hi nonersayhs as a person who was raised on a farm and gathered tghe egg s and fed the chickens some shores are natural and I cannot see them as child labor.but putting a too young child into a tractor or other farm machinery is wrong and there's where they get bad accidents that child labor laws do protect too young children from operating farm machinery.teens under supervision yes they drive trucks, tractors, reapers etc as they have b een taught how to
do it safely ,Also no farmer should make a very young child wor
e more than five hours..
e more than five hours..@nonersays (3329)
• United States
10 May 12
You're right, young children should not be allowed to operate heavy or dangerous machinery. I wouldn't even consider that a chore, or child labor, I would consider it child endangerment.
I suppose it coudln't hurt to monitor the children who live/work on farms to make sure they are only doing chores, and not being treated like free labor.
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
2 May 12
Yep, chores teach responsibility and that you don't just get thigns HANDED to you, you have to EARN them.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
3 May 12
There is a great difference between,Labor, and Chores! Labor is hard monotonous work, carried out in a lonesome tiresome environment such as cleaning out the basement, No child under 12 should be asked to do such a task. A chore on the other hand, is a fun experience such as painting the garden fence, or cleaning out the pig-pen with bare feet. All children over 8 should be asked to do such fun chores from time to time!
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
10 May 12
You're response made me smile. My dad kept pigs occasionally And I don't think I would have EVER gone in their pen in my bare feet. Fence painting could be fun though.
@jazel_juan (15747)
• Philippines
3 May 12
I do not think doing some chores consists of child labor as well as you are just teaching your child.. they do learn something from helping plus as long as they are happy about it, it would never be child labor.
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
10 May 12
I know some children who are never happy at all about having to do even the smallest chore, but it does teach them responsibility.
@ethansmom0129 (136)
• United States
2 May 12
If that's the case, then maybe that state should just go ahead and push for children not to have chores at all, regardless of where they live. Like you said, children's chores are going to be different depending on their environment. I agree, this is absolutely absurd. Children learn a lot of different qualities from chores and that's the reason people are different and different morals. Like some people don't make their kids do chores at all, and sometimes they grow up expecting others to take care of them because they had no responsibilities growing up. Personally, my children have chores and I make them based on their age. My 8 year old, obviously does a little more than my 4 year old, but they each have chores. Also, another comment you made was some things seems fun even if they are chores. Like you said, kids like doing things like loading and unloading the washer and dryer, dishwasher, etc. because being young they see it as more of a fun experience and learning then a "chore". I hope whatever state that is doesn't get that passed. In a way, that is discriminating, if you ask me.
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
3 May 12
If this one passes the next thing they will probaly try to pass would be that chores will be illegal period. I think it comes from our politicians being overprivilidged. They dont undersand how doing chores isn't about making the kid clean the hosue for you, but that it builds character, morals and work ethic.
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
2 May 12
I think it's stupid to make it illegal. Instead it should be investigated which family makes their children do what kind of stuff. There are lots of families who use their children like no other, like a slave. But it's silly to prohibit work on farms... how would they know what to do on a farm if they can't try it out? And how what are they gonna do with the farm without their parents afterwards? I mean, they should maintain it...
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
2 May 12
You're right. If a family is going BEYOND chores and making their children work TOO hard, then its not a matter of child labor its a matter of child ABUSE. And if they are going to one day take over the family business, as many farms are family businesses for ever, then they NEED the knowledge and experience they get as a child and teen working on the family farm.
@savagecabbage (1216)
• Philippines
24 Aug 12
In my opinion, kids should have light chores like helping around the house. They could help by help washing the dishes or setting up the dining table. If the child's parents are farmers, I do not understand why it is illegal for them to help their parents farm. In my country, I do not think there are laws that are similar to what you have just said.
