News Why Kids Raised Doing Chores Grow up to Be More Successful Adults Mama was right. By Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep Meghan Overdeep has more than a decade of writing and editing experience for top publications. Her expertise extends from weddings and animals to every pop culture moment in between. She has been scouring the Internet for the buzziest Southern news since joining the team in 2017. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 12, 2023 Fact checked by Jennifer Hawk Fact checked by Jennifer Hawk Jennifer Hawk is a former English professor with 24 years of experience guiding even the most reluctant through the labyrinths of writing, rhetoric, and research. brand's fact checking process Share Tweet Pin Email Kids who do chores will grow up to be more successful adults. There, we said it. The value of assigning children household chores is something older generations took for granted. Unfortunately, this way of thinking seems to have slipped out of favor in recent years, much to the detriment of today's kids. "By making them do chores—taking out the garbage, doing their own laundry—they realize I have to do the work of life in order to be part of life," Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Dean of Freshmen at Stanford University and author of How to Raise an Adult, told Tech Insider. Lythcott-Haims' research, which she based on the long-running Harvard Grant Study, found that not only are people who did more childhood chores happier later in life, they also go on to become better employees. Simply put, kids that are raised doing chores know how to collaborate with their coworkers. They are able to see when someone is having a hard time because they've experienced struggle firsthand. "If kids aren't doing the dishes, it means someone else is doing that for them," Lythcott-Haims explained. "And so, they're absolved of not only the work, but of learning that work has to be done and that each one of us must contribute for the good of the whole." So, sit back, relax, and let the kids do the dishes tonight. And let them whine—they'll thank you later. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Southern Living is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources to support the facts in our articles. Read our editorial guidelines to learn more about how we fact check our content for accuracy. Anderson J. Harvard EdCast: Overparented, Underprepared. Harvard Graduate School of Education.