Chores, Incubator for a Strong Parent-Child Relationship

Abstract

Based on the latest finding of a longitudinal study that sons-in-law (under the influence of their wives) performed better in affective care to their parents-in-law than daughters-in-law, this article argues that it is perhaps not gender but housework that holds the key for a strong parent-child relationship. This article posits that, through engaging children in routine chores, social justice will be internalised or habitualised in children, which then enables parental love to be reciprocated with children's love. This article theoretically discusses the mechanism for gratitude development towards parents in children and suggests that chores may play a vital role in gratitude development in children, which leads to a strong parent-child bond.