I have a child who is lazy.

Laziness results when parents require nothing of their child. It is easier for parents to do things themselves rather than take the time to teach their child and work with him/her while he/she learns. Teaching a child a good work ethic is one of the most wonderful gifts a parent can ever give him/her. A child should be taught from a young age that he/she is expected to clean up the toys in his/her room at the end of the day. As he/she ages, he/she should be responsible for making his/her bed, emptying trash, mowing the lawn, and participating in the chores around the house…without pay. He/she must learn that to maintain a home requires work, and everyone needs to help.

Teaching a proper work ethic involves six steps:

• Explain in detail how to do the job
• Let him/her do it
• Check the job when it is finished
• Praise him/her for the things he did right
• Give instruction on the areas that need improvement
• Have him/her do the job until he/she does it well. Well does not mean perfectly. We discourage our child if we do not accept him/her for the level of ability that he/she has.

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About the author

Drew Read
Drew Read graduated from the McCallie School before he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Denison University. He was a stockbroker in Cincinnati before relocating to Vidalia in 1994 where he accepted a position at the Paul Anderson Youth Home (PAYH). Since September of 1994 he has been a member of the PAYH staff where he has served as a teacher, headmaster, and Administrator. After completing his Master of Business Administration from Emory University in 2004, Drew was named the Chief Operating Officer. Drew has written numerous articles and a booklet entitled Dangerous Trends impacting your child. He has spoken at national conferences regarding the role of the family and has worked with teenagers and their families since 1994. Drew is married with two children.