I haven't seen that actually, most of mine work on their own. I have had a couple of them who I have to keep on constantly, but most are fine. Whereas in VV2, I had the opposite problem, if I did not keep on them for a really long time, like until they were almost Masters in a skill, they wouldn't stick with it. Drove me nuts! lol! I do use my chief to try to direct, but if it's a new one, just turned 14 with no skill at all, then it doesn't matter if the chief is directing or not. I've got to stay on top of them. But at least in VV3, once they hit the training stage, you can slack off a little and once they are adept, you don't need to watch them at all anymore. I love that change.

The second rank of leadership is supposed to allow the chief to teach the children, so I bet if they have some skills when they turn 14, they're more likely to take up tasks.

ROFL!

That happened to me and then I checked the box next to the activity I wanted them to work on. I don't know if it was just a coincidence, but they kept working after that (they also leveled up and that may be the true motivating force.. I don't know)

Maybe checking the box helps, but I always check the boxes while they are still children. Even with them checked though, I still end up having to watch them like a hawk until it says Training Builder or Training Farmer, then I can slack off somewhat, but still have to pay some attention and get them back on task until they become Adept at the task. As I said earlier though, I felt you had to pay attention and keep them on task much longer in VV2 than I do now.

And to the poster who mentioned having the Chief "teach" the children, that may help. I don't know because I keep forgetting that she can.

yeah ive had a couple of batches of lazy villagers. i wanted to throw one to the sharks but once she gained her skill level she worked very hard. I found that if you set their preference and then keep at them, eventually they will start working on their own.

I find that VV3 are more focused on working than VV2. Most of them are hard workers. There is the occasional slacker but even they go back to work on their own.

LOL.... I tried that, even the shacks are lazy.

Many of my villagers, as soon as they are 14, start their tasks on their own. If you check a task when they are children, the chief's lectures will make them gain in that skill, and they will begin on their own. (Is that a spoiler?)

Well, my villagers seem to be influenced by their fellow tribe members. If I have twenty villagers on research, usually when I come back there will be a few more trainees who used to be untrained