How Chores Can Help Reduce Child Anxiety

Growing up on a farm, work was a significant part of my life. Whether it was loading livestock into the trailer, preserving vegetables from the garden, or cutting thistles when the grass was waist-high, there was always something to be done. It took everyone working together to stay on top of it.

However, I believe that working together has many benefits beyond just getting tasks done. Engaging in activities like working outside, cooking for the family, and cleaning the house together provides purpose, creates lasting memories, and builds character.

Let’s explore one more idea…What if working, cooking, and cleaning could actually help lower anxiety?

The Rise of Anxiety in Children

Anxiety is on the rise among children. Here are some alarming stats:

• “About 11.6% of kids had anxiety in 2012, up 20% from 2007. But during the pandemic, those numbers nearly doubled, such that 20.5% of youth worldwide now struggle with anxiety symptoms.”1

• “Anxiety and depression is [sic} becoming increasingly prevalent among young adults in the US, with both disorders increasing by 63% from 2005 to 2017.”2

While many factors contribute to this rise, I believe that assigning chores, like cooking and cleaning, can help reduce the anxiety that many children are experiencing. And I’m not alone in this thought.

The Calming Effect of Chores

In their book, Kit and the Missing Notebook, authors Chris and Lindsey Wheeler teach children calming techniques through the activity of cooking.

Kit the kangaroo moves to a new house and loses her favorite notebook, which contains all her important information. As her anxiety builds, her new neighbor, Mrs. G., invites her to help make some special soup. By engaging her five senses during the cooking session, Kit quickly forgets about her missing notebook and realizes she feels calmer.

The authors explain, “Often, anxiety can feel like we’re careening out of control. …When we invite someone to identify a sound, scent, sight, taste, or touch, we are helping them reconnect with reality.”

Here are some examples of chores that awaken the senses:

• Cooking: The sound of ingredients being washed, cut, or cooked, and the smell and taste of the finished product.
• Vacuuming: The sound of the machine and the sight of clean carpet lines.
• Washing Dishes: The feeling of the water.
• Gardening: The feeling of dirt and the joy of seeing plants grow.
• Laundry: The fresh scent of clean laundry and the different textures of the fabrics.

The Importance of Working Together

I understand that anxiety can be much deeper for some children. But did you notice that I mentioned “working together” at the beginning of this post? Of course, chores given in an authoritative manner will never calm a child. However, giving a child purpose while working calmly alongside them can greatly help many anxious children.

Learn More About Purposeful Chores

Interested in learning more about how to provide purpose through chores for your children? Curious about what the Bible says about building a work ethic in your kids? I invite you to listen to one of the most popular episodes of the Parenting to Impress podcast.

Read the episode transcript. Also listen to Part 2: How to Raise Children Who Serve and read Three Ways to Build a Work Ethic in Kids.

By incorporating chores into your child’s routine and working together in a calm and supportive manner, you can help your child find purpose and potentially reduce their anxiety.

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🧹✨ Ready to empower your little ones with some fun and responsibility? Download our FREE age-appropriate chore chart for kids ages 1-12+! 🌟

Thank you to Zonderkidz for providing that opportunity to review this book. Opinions are 100% my own.