What should I do when my child redoes a job badly to get out of it? 

Parenting Perspective 

It is a common tactic: a child is asked to complete a chore, and instead of doing it properly, they rush through it, cutting corners or making deliberate mistakes in the hope that an adult will step in and finish the job for them. For example, they may wipe the table while leaving crumbs behind, or fold clothes so carelessly that a parent eventually sighs and takes over. This behaviour is not always about laziness; sometimes it is a test of limits or a way of expressing frustration. However, if left unaddressed, it can teach a child that making a proper effort is optional. 

The goal for parents is to teach that jobs must be done with care, not just completed. By calmly holding your child accountable for doing their work properly, you can help to build their sense of competence and responsibility. 

Step 1: Stay Calm and Avoid Taking Over 

When a child does a job badly, it is important to resist the urge to say, ‘Forget it, I will just do it myself.’ This response reinforces the idea that their escape tactic has worked. Instead, keep the responsibility with them by saying: ‘I can see that you have rushed this. Let’s try that again properly.’ 

Step 2: Set a Clear Standard of Completion 

Explain to your child exactly what ‘done properly’ looks like. 

• For tidying: ‘All of the toys need to go back in the basket, not just be pushed under the sofa.’ 

• For wiping a table: ‘All of the crumbs need to be wiped away, not just pushed to one side.’ 

Children are much more likely to succeed when your expectations are clear and precise. 

Step 3: Teach Through Demonstration 

Sometimes, a job is done badly simply because the child does not know how to do it well. You can show them once by saying: ‘Watch how I fold this shirt neatly. Now, you can try the next one.’ This turns a moment of correction into one of teaching. 

Step 4: Gently Enforce Accountability 

If the job is redone carelessly a second time, you can calmly hold them accountable: ‘This task is not finished until it is done properly. Please take your time with it; I will wait.’ Your consistency teaches them that taking shortcuts does not make the job disappear. 

Step 5: Reinforce Pride in Quality Work 

When your child does complete a task well, praise their effort: ‘You took some extra time to do that really carefully. That shows a lot of maturity and responsibility.’ 

Step 6: Link Their Job to Family Trust and Care 

Explain that when they do a job badly on purpose, it affects the whole family: ‘When the table is not cleaned properly, we all have to eat with crumbs around us. When you do your job well, it shows that you care for everyone in the family.’ 

Mini Dialogue Example 

Child: [Wipes the table but leaves crumbs everywhere] 

Parent: ‘I can see there are still crumbs on the table. Our family rule is that jobs need to be done properly. Please wipe it again.’ 

Child: ‘But I did it already!’ 

Parent: ‘I know you tried, but it is not finished yet. Once it is done properly, then the job is complete.’ 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam encourages believers to complete all their tasks with ihsan (excellence) and amanah (trust). Doing a job poorly simply to escape responsibility undermines both of these important values. A child can be taught that sincerity and care, even in small acts, are seen and rewarded by Allah. 

Completing Work with Sincerity and Care 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Israa (17), Verse 35: 

‘And complete precisely (your) observations when you are observing (empirically) and weighing (the evidence) with proportionality and (intellectual) steadfastness; that will produce a better and favourable outcome.’ 

You can explain: ‘Allah tells us in the Quran to be fair and complete in everything that we do. For our chores at home, that means finishing our jobs properly, not just doing them halfway.’ 

Allah Loves Excellence 

It is recorded in Riyadh Al Saliheen, Hadith 639, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Indeed Allah has prescribed excellence (ihsan) in everything.’ 

For a child, this means: ‘When you finish your task carefully and to the best of your ability, Allah loves that action from you. Doing it badly just to get out of it means you are missing a chance to earn His love.’ 

By linking responsibility to worship, you help your child to see that every job, no matter how small, is an opportunity to practise sincerity, fairness, and excellence. They learn that avoiding effort through sloppy work brings no real relief, while completing tasks properly brings a sense of pride, the trust of their family, and a reward from Allah.