Harvard’s 86-Year Study Links Early Childhood Chores to Lifelong Success, Boosting Confidence and Social Skills

An 86-year multigenerational study conducted by Harvard revealed a strong link between early involvement in household chores and long-term professional success, based on data from 700 high achievers. The research emphasized the importance of presenting chores as shared responsibilities that promote teamwork, rather than framing them as isolated or punitive tasks.

Supporting this, findings published in the Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics showed that children who began doing chores as early as age four or five developed greater self-confidence and a stronger sense of self-efficacy. These early responsibilities contributed to improved prosocial behavior, stronger academic performance, better relationships with peers, and higher overall life satisfaction.

The data also indicated that the frequency of chores completed in kindergarten had a positive correlation with key competencies by third grade, including social development, academic success, and emotional well-being. This reinforces the long-term developmental value of engaging children in consistent, age-appropriate household tasks.