Zhang Li, a 12-year-old boy from Sichuan, used to be lazy. He rarely did any housework. But now, things have changed. Washing dishes, cooking and making the bed…all of these have become part of his daily life.
This big change is the result of a new program at his school. Starting from last term, his school has made housework part of the students' homework in order to improve their life skills.
At the beginning of each month, every student gets a list of housework to do every weekend. Their parents help keep an eye on their performance. They can do housework, such as cleaning out closets, washing cups and cooking food. On holidays like Mother's Day, students are asked to prepare gifts for their mothers.
Wang Dan, 13, has learned several life skills through the program, including cooking. "I used to be afraid of fire," she said. But she tried to overcome (克服) her fear and complete her cooking tasks.
At the same time, she also learned how tired her mother is after doing housework every day. On Mother's Day, she made a cake for her mother to show her thanks. "I've begun to better understand my parents and want to help them more," she said.
Other schools in Sichuan are also developing programs to teach their students life skills. On May 2, another middle school held a life skill competition. Students had to complete many tasks, including cooking and folding clothes. They showed their skills and proved (证明) that they are growing up.
