Traditionally, Chinese people, from the elite gentry to the vast peasantry, placed great emphasis on having youngsters do chores around the house as part of their upbringing. Reluctant children received an earful of wisdom such as: "If you do not clean up your floor, how can you clean up the world?"

Zeng Guofan (1811-72), a senior official of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), wrote numerous letters to his family urging the younger members to do chores as part of their daily routine, even though they had servants who could do them.

This was because doing chores is good for children. It nourishes both their physical and mental well-being.