NEWS
May 18th 2026

The Grant Study

The Grant Study: Doing housework as a child leads to greater self-efficacy, empathy, work ethic and, ultimately, success!     

 The so-called Grant Study (full name: ‘Grant Study of Adult Development’) is a long-term study conducted by Harvard Medical School, an investigation into adult development. It has been evaluating the lifestyles of men since 1938 (!) – yes, only ‘men’; at this point, at the very latest, one realises the age of the study – and is named after W. T. Grant, a department store millionaire who financed it in its early years.

A total of 268 male students who studied at Harvard University between 1939 and 1942 were selected for the study – including even former US President John F. Kennedy! They were (and still are, as a few of the original participants are still alive) interviewed in writing and in person at regular intervals and also undergo medical examinations. The study has since been extended to include the descendants of the original participants, ensuring that the research can continue into the future.  

Surprising results: 
The findings now show quite clearly that children who help out around the house – loading the dishwasher, vacuuming, cleaning, mowing the lawn, taking out the rubbish – benefit from this in later life in the following ways:

• They become valuable members of society who act in the public interest, as they have learnt to identify necessary tasks and carry them out not only for themselves but also for the community.
• Later in their careers, they find it easier to think one step ahead from the outset. For example, to empathically anticipate what their own team, a colleague or a manager really needs in order to make progress. 
• Consequently, they tend to be better team players over the course of their careers and, ultimately, more successful in their jobs!

Or to put it another way: it is not top marks, violin or piano lessons, or wealthy parents that make children successful as adults, but helping out around the house. Housework instils in children a fundamental attitude to life, namely a sense of responsibility. 

Julie Lythcott-Haims, former dean of freshmen at Stanford University and author of a well-known parenting guide, sums it up as follows: Doing household chores has enabled children to recognise the work that needs to be done. Consequently, they also possess a certain foresight and initiative in their later professional lives. They learn through this that they must carry out life’s tasks in order to be a part of life themselves. 

Sources: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Study
https://www.br.de/radio/bayern1/kinder-im-haushalt-100.html (German)
https://www.t-online.de/leben/familie/erziehung/id_80612816/studie-zeigt-deshalb-sollten-kinder-im-haushalt-helfen.html (German)