NEW YORK — Most everyone can relate to the dreaded task of being told to do chores as a child by their parents. There may be a bright side to it, though. Doing chores may seem boring, but one in four Americans say it helped them bond with their parents, according to a new survey.
Seven in 10 believe they have a strong relationship with their parents and spending quality time together (61%) was the main reason for it.
The majority of Americans (64%) find comfort in doing tasks the way they learned from their parents, according to a survey of 2,000 Americans. The survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Kenmore, found six in 10 respondents credit their parents for passing on mainly valuable health tips and cleaning tips.
When it comes to cleaning, the top tip that people learned was not to just dust around items, but to pick them up and dust all around (73%). Seven in 10 respondents learned to wash dishes in a specific order: silverware, glasses, plates, and then pots and pans. Additionally, six in 10 individuals still follow the habit of “putting the kitchen to bed,” meaning they clean the kitchen before leaving it.
Not all bad: Chores can bring families together
Twenty-one percent learned the 10/30 rule where you take an extra 10 or 30 steps to do something the right way while cleaning. Those who have learned these skills expressed that they also would choose to do chores (56%) as a way to spend time with their future/current families.
“Spending time with family is so important, whatever that family may look like and whatever that time may look like,” says CEO of Kenmore, Sri Solur, in a statement. “Growing up in a joint family, we learned the value of community early on, and the benefits tackling the mundane together can bring. The strongest relationships are built in the simple, everyday moments.”
Three in 10 would want to live in a mix of an old-school society and a modern society. To make housework easier, the top appliances people wished they had while growing up included laser tech vacuum cleaners (52%), air fryers (48%), and robot vacuum cleaners (48%).
Chicken soup for the family’s soul
Respondents (38%) also emphasized the importance of bonding through meals. The first dish more than half of Americans (53%) learned to make from their parents was chicken noodle soup.
Where favorite childhood meals were concerned, chicken noodle soup (47%) took the lead closely followed by peanut butter and jelly (46%). Fifty-six percent would want to cook (56%) with their families as a way to spend more quality time.
“The essence and purpose of our work has always revolved around enhancing everyday life,” adds Solur. “By simplifying and enriching the ordinary, routine moments we all experience, we have the power to create something truly meaningful.”
Parents are usually the first teachers in a person’s life, teaching them about mental health and ways to de-stress as well. More than half of the respondents (51%) learned to find humor and laugh things off from their parents. Additionally, half of them learned to de-stress through journaling and exercise (57%).
Survey methodology:
This random double-opt-in survey of 2,000 general population Americans was commissioned by Kenmore between June 28 and July 5, 2023. It was conducted by market research company OnePoll, whose team members are members of the Market Research Society and have corporate membership to the American Association for Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) and the European Society for Opinion and Marketing Research (ESOMAR).
I bonded with my kids through chores. We did them together and talked whole working. They are adults now but still enjoy doing home improvements together.