"Give your kids a good work ethic."

That sounds like a pretty basic part of parenting, right? The opposite, raising a lazy kid, or someone who feels entitled, who won't do a good day's work, sounds like a parenting fail for sure. So if this is so fundamental, why is it so hard? What teaches a good work ethic?

Give kids work.

Homework isn't enough. That is work they get rewarded for, with grades. Kids need to do household work, help a neighbor, play with a younger kid for a while - all things that have intrinsic reward but no money or prize attached.

Sneak in the ethic.

This is a little like the zucchini in the chocolate chip zucchini bread. Kids who do what has to get done, and engage in conversation about work - the good, the bad, the ugly AND the necessary - will find themselves understanding a good work ethic before you know it. And demonstrating one. The amazing part? Since teaching this isn't so basic - or so common these days - your kids will have a huge advantage over their peers in the job market.