Children and Chores

[MysticalMom]

My girls have chores to do every day. We are a large family in a small house and need to all pitch in. One cleans the kitchen and does the dishes. Another cleans the living room, vacuums and also dusts once a week. One has bathroom duty. The youngest pitches in wherever she's needed. They must keep their rooms clean. And they all help maintain the zoo and keep cages etc. clean.

I do everything else. The cooking, sweeping, mopping , windows. laundry etc. etc. etc...the list goes on.

My question is this. Do your children have chores? Do you think my kid's chores are unreasonable? Mine ALL told me last night that they have more chores than any of their friends. I don't think so....

 

[itsbob]

My girls have chores to do every day. We are a large family in a small house and need to all pitch in. One cleans the kitchen and does the dishes. Another cleans the living room, vacuums and also dusts once a week. One has bathroom duty. The youngest pitches in wherever she's needed. They must keep their rooms clean. And they all help maintain the zoo and keep cages etc. clean.

I do everything else. The cooking, sweeping, mopping , windows. laundry etc. etc. etc...the list goes on.

My question is this. Do your children have chores? Do you think my kid's chores are unreasonable? Mine ALL told me last night that they have more chores than any of their friends. I don't think so....

You are teaching them responsibility and a good work ethic, and someday the kids telling them about how little they do will be working for your kids.

Giving kids responsibility, and something to do teaches them much more about being an adult and how to do their share.

 

[slik]

My girls have chores to do every day. We are a large family in a small house and need to all pitch in. One cleans the kitchen and does the dishes. Another cleans the living room, vacuums and also dusts once a week. One has bathroom duty. The youngest pitches in wherever she's needed. They must keep their rooms clean. And they all help maintain the zoo and keep cages etc. clean.

I do everything else. The cooking, sweeping, mopping , windows. laundry etc. etc. etc...the list goes on.

My question is this. Do your children have chores? Do you think my kid's chores are unreasonable? Mine ALL told me last night that they have more chores than any of their friends. I don't think so....

Sounds like your right on track. Mine all have chores too. Helps teach them the responsibilities of being a human.

 

[MMDad]

More than their friends? Probably. Unreasonable? No.

Do you remember the good old days when kids got up early on a saturday so they could be the first ones making the rounds of the neghborhood mowing lawns for spending money. Kids had paper routes. If they wanted good stuff they worked for it.

Too many parents give their kids everything they want. Why should they work for spending money when they get everything for free?

 

[Softballkid]

I dont have any kids, but there was just me and my sister, and we had all those plus a few more depending on the season.. ie- cold months, split wood, bring it up to garage, rake leaves, cut grass, windows, rooms... ya know.. so your doin very good with giving them chores..... stick to your guns

 

[BadGirl]

My parents had kids just for that very reason - so that we could do chores around the house. My sisters had various duties that needed to be done, and my whole existence came in to being by the need to have someone do yardwork.

You are doing the right thing by issuing chores and duties around the house. Good job.

 

[kwillia]

My question is this. Do your children have chores? Do you think my kid's chores are unreasonable? Mine ALL told me last night that they have more chores than any of their friends. I don't think so....

I am willing to bet that they probably have more chores to do than most of their friends. Parents nowadays don't seem to want to mess with the hassle of incorporating their children into the habit of doing household chores. I, for one, was guilty of that for many years. I found myself nagging, threatening, and then re-doing their work when they didn't do a good enough job. It seemed like less work for me to do it myself. But within the past couple years, I realized I was doing them a disservice by not doing me part as a parent to ensure they realize that daily chores are part of life.

My son is now 13. My daughter will be 11 in April. They both have regular chores they are responsible for. I no longer nag. I no longer re-do what they didn't do right. If they don't do their chores, they lose other privileges. I don't drive them places. I don't pick up the tab for things they want. I don't order pizza on nights when pizza would make a great dinner (believe me, this one hits them below the belt...) etc. If they do a lousy job, they redo it themselves. They quickly learned to do it right the first time.

Keep it up, MM. Too many young adults have no clue how to multi-task and handle a household of their own. Their parents are partially to blame for that.

 

[mv_princess]

I think your doing a great job!!

I used to have outside chores.........such as weed-eating and mowing. But I hurt myself doing that....So they took those jobs away from me.

Kids who have chores are less likely to rebel, because you have already put your foot down.

 

[itsbob]

My parents had kids just for that very reason - so that we could do chores around the house. My sisters had various duties that needed to be done, and my whole existence came in to being by the need to have someone do yardwork.

You are doing the right thing by issuing chores and duties around the house. Good job.

Yeah, really.. why do people think we had Nicholas?? We have BIG yard...

 

[Toxick]

My question is this. Do your children have chores?

Hell yeah.

My TWO year old is now putting his plate and cup in the sink after he eats (that often makes a big mess that we have to clean up afterwards, but that's still his chore, and he does it.) And he has to gather his toys from around the house and put them in his room.

The older ones, naturally, have more chores to do. They have to clean their rooms, and they help clean up the rest of the house.

I figure if I play my cards right, in another 5 years, I won't have to clean a damn thing ever again

Do you think my kid's chores are unreasonable?

Not even close.

Mine ALL told me last night that they have more chores than any of their friends. I don't think so....

Who cares? Their friends don't live with you, and if their parents allow them to be spoiled and lazy slobs, that's their prerogotive.

Not to mention that it is you that makes sure your kids eat, live indoors, have clothes on their butts, and have electricity. It's the least they can do to help keep the place looking decent.

 

[mrweb]

I think your doing a great job!!

I used to have outside chores.........such as weed-eating and mowing. But I hurt myself doing that....So they took those jobs away from me.

Kids who have chores are less likely to rebel, because you have already put your foot down.

Kids need the discipline. Mine has household responsibilities. Empty the dishwasher, clean her own bathroom, keep the room reasonably straight AND she is responsible for washing her own clothes, and has been since 8th grade. For this an allowance is given. Do the chores and take the initiative to do more, with a good attitude, bring home good grades, homework turned in on time, doing well in some other designated areas, poker chips are the reward. Each poker chip is worth 5 minutes. That's 5 computer I.M. minutes, 5 T.V. minutes, 5 phone minutes, etc. Save them up and redeem them for the activity of choice. I thought initially this was sort of juvenile for a young person in high school, but it works very well, at least for the time being.

 

[Tigerlily]

My girls have chores to do every day. We are a large family in a small house and need to all pitch in. One cleans the kitchen and does the dishes. Another cleans the living room, vacuums and also dusts once a week. One has bathroom duty. The youngest pitches in wherever she's needed. They must keep their rooms clean. And they all help maintain the zoo and keep cages etc. clean.

I do everything else. The cooking, sweeping, mopping , windows. laundry etc. etc. etc...the list goes on.

My question is this. Do your children have chores? Do you think my kid's chores are unreasonable? Mine ALL told me last night that they have more chores than any of their friends. I don't think so....

First off in my house they are called responsibilities not chores. Everyone must take care of there own things and then they each have additional ones. The basic tasks ie: taking out garbage, dishes, sweeping do not receive any pay. Going over and above your daily responsibilities such as raking leaves, cleaning the bathroom receives rewards such as a trip to the movies, dinner out etc.

 

[baileydog]

Keep up the good work. Kids today are generally lazy and useless. Dont let that be your kids. Your on the right track. Besides, torturing children with work can be a fun sport. I love it when they say "my friends get to do this or that". OH WELL! You do not!

 

[CMC122]

My 12 year old has chores And the 4 year old is on his way with chores! He can set the table for dinner better then the 12 year old can

 

[MysticalMom]

I can't wait to let them read this thread!

Mine do get an allowance. With 4 girls, 3 of them teenagers, that alone costs me a small fortune. Why shouldn't they earn it!?

I tell them all the time that I had children so I never have to do a dish, clean a bathroom or vacumm a rug.....

They're good girls...even my 17 year old is responsible and gives me very little trouble...they just whine alot.

 

[itsbob]

I can't wait to let them read this thread!

Mine do get an allowance. With 4 girls, 3 of them teenagers, that alone costs me a small fortune. Why shouldn't they earn it!?

I tell them all the time that I had children so I never have to do a dish, clean a bathroom or vacumm a rug.....

They're good girls...even my 17 year old is responsible and gives me very little trouble...they just whine alot.

Kids and privates are the same.. if they aren't whining you aren't doing something right!!

 

[vraiblonde]

Our kids have always had chores. Shoot, Emilie's been cleaning potties since she was 6 years old. I figure I work all day to earn the money, the least they can do is keep the house straightened up. 99% of the mess is theirs anyway.

Cleaning your room and bathroom isn't considered a chore - it's a responsibility, like brushing your teeth, and you don't get paid for it. #2 does all the laundry and empties the dishwasher, #3 does all the trash and scoops the kitty box. On the weekends, they dust and vacuum, sweep, whatever needs to happen.

For this, they get $1 weekly allowance for every year of their life - have a birthday, get a raise. If they want to earn a little extra cash, I tell them to pick a room and make it immaculate.

 

[onebdzee]

You are doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing so that your girls won't grow up like some of these kids that have no responsibility at all

I also have alot of kids and a small house....my kids are responsible for keeping their room straight, doing their own laundry(with the exception of the youngest, he brings his and my dirty clothes to the washer), clean the kitchen, living room and dining room daily, yardwork, etc....I also give them each a night to cook....my teenagers also help with my business(for extra money)

In return, I don't give an allowance I give them things like rides to girlfriends/boyfriends houses, extra money for the dance, the game that they "just have to have", etc....started doing this when they started to walk....I taught them that if they "help" me by cleaning up the mess, then mom has time to do what they want to do

 

[MysticalMom]

Kids and privates are the same.. if they aren't whining you aren't doing something right!!

Oh that took me a minute........

 

[mamissa3]

I have to agree to. We have 4- 5 years of age and under. The two oldest ones get their chores done and we have a chart system every night that we do. If they have not done something we give them a sad face and then they dont get to do something or a dont get a "treat" at the end of the week. We have been thinking though to change it to allowance, what do most parents give their children? Just courious Thanks