Frankly, kids who have to work hard and contribute to the family seem to turn out to be better, more productive adults than kids who have a lot of free time or a lot of planned "kid" activities.
Think about it. In generations past, kids were expected to work hard - and our society was not digging itself into the pit of hell (or at least not as fast). Now, our kids have lots of free time, or are busy with planned "kid" activities - they are spared having to work hard to contribute to the family - and look at what our society has become.
I am the oldest of 4 and we were spaced with about 4 years between each except fr the last one where there is only 3 years difference. I always did laundry and watched the younger kids. Granted there were only 3 to watch but I was alone and didn’t have 3 others helping out.