How much do your kids do around the house?

Elliesmum

My 4 year old will do some work - again when she feels like it!!!

Dresses, washes and cleans her teeth herself.
Helps sort the washing and puts it in the washer.
A little bit of tiding and cooking.

Think that's it!

EM xx

wishiwasarichgirl

I thought I used to do quite a lot as a kid but reading what others do I realised I was totally pampered.

i never cooked for myself, but would help clear dishes/empty dishwasher but only if asked.

never did laundry, mum would go through the clothes on my floor to see what needed washed and it would turn up in my wardrobe, clean & ironed the next day. Even at uni I brought all my washing home at the weekend for mum to do.

I did wash the car but only when I wanted to use it.

I dusted and occasionally hoovered if asked.

I helped on the farm, digging spuds & feeding calves, but got paid for that. (didn't get paid for jobs round the house and didn't get pocket money.)

anniebooklover

My DS is 14 and DD is 11. They are paid £10 per month (straight to their savings account) for doing the dishes each day and cleaning their rooms. If they don't do that, they don't get the money. I have followed through on that so they know I mean it when I say it - DS has about £40 less than DD in his account. It has worked because he doesn't like to see her account having more money in it than his so it's a bit of a competition now.

They do put their dirty laundry in the basket each day, hang up coats, put shoes away, tidy their mess in the living room, etc. but these jobs are expected of them so they don't get paid for them.

DS is making dinner today - roast chicken with baby potatoes and veg. He also wants to make chilli tomorrow.

As for showering?? DS refuses to go outside the house without having showered, washed his hair and brushed his teeth first. DD isn't quite so keen on that front but I can see that changing now she is at high school.

I'm planning on getting them ironing next as its a job I loathe.

thriftlady_2

I like your system Anniebooklover, think we might try something like that

At the moment my boys (12 and 10) strip and make their beds every week, they carry laundry upstairs and hang wet washing up if asked. They keep their room reasonably tidy and put their clothes away -eventually.

I think we're going to start introducing washing up and putting crocks etc away soon.

They can do things like hoovering but they don't do it properly so i end up doing it again.

DD (7) is appaling at helping out and has to be nagged to do even the littlest thing.

They all help lay the table and clear it.

Cooking is something I feel they should be learning, but I hate people in my kitchen so we haven't done much. Must try harder here.

badkitti

Speaking as the voice of much inexperience (no kids yet) I always thoughtthat they would get pocket money linked to them doing their chores, I know they should help out as part of a family but this way is more like the working world. The pocket money would be for everyday chores that they should do, but was thinking that when they are older they could earn extra money for doing extra, jobs like car washing or major tasks

embb

I've got two at home now 15 & 7 (eldest has just moved out). The 15 yr old cleans his own room once a week, carries heavy stuff about for me when I ask him, brings my shopping in from the car, puts the bin out once a week and cuts the grass, it's not all done willingly mind you but he does do it, I give him a bit of extra cash if he cleans my car or something.

My 7 yr old tidies her room, tidies up her toys at the end of the day, sometimes brings the washing in if she asks or if I'm busy, she's just started to like hoovering (yay ) and no doubt will want to do other stuff as she gets a bit older.

recovering_spendaholic

I have just read right through this thread and am nearly crying because I must be such a bad parent. I have two DD's, 17 and 9. DD1 is a nightmare - she leaves everything where she likes and the house is in a constant state of disarray. She takes her clothes off all over the house and leaves them where they fall, same with shoes and hair bobbles. She leaves knickers and towels where they drop when she has had a shower, and never puts tops on shower gel, shampoo, toothpaste etc. She shaves her legs nearly every day and leaves the razor on the floor or wherever it lands. She never makes her bed and her room is full of all kinds of cr*p. She takes food up to her room and never brings the dishes (or wrappers if it is takeaway) down. She dries her hair in the front room so leaves brushes, hairdryer and straighteners switched on where she left them. Same with makeup - it is everywhere. There are DVDs and CDs all over the place not in their cases. She won't wash or iron anything. She leaves plates and cups where she has eaten the food and tells me to f**k off if I ask her to move them. I constantly tell her about the mess but just get told to F**k off and that I am a controlling neat freak. I clean the house twice a day and put all her stuff in her room but about a month ago I stopped cleaning her room and only go in to retrieve the laundry, dirty cups and plates and other rubbish, but I am getting so panicky about the mess and state of it. Her other trick is to take off sanitary towels and just lob them in the bin in the bathroon without wrapping them up and she just drops the wrappers all over the floor. I am at my wits end. When she has no clean clothes she roars at me that I am useless for not having stuff for her to wear and TBH I am frightened of her. DD2 is the exact opposite and will do chores and helps me to tidy up around the house and will also help with cleaning and cooking. Sorry to go on but I feel so depressed having just read how your kids do so much. DD1 was much like DD2 until about three years ago. I can't withhold money as she has a Saturday job in Boots and also gets EMA.

thriftlady_2

Jane :grouphug: Is she still at school/college ? Sounds to me like it's time for her to move out. Are you on your own or have you got a partner who can back you up ? She really needs to pull her weight.

Hapless_2

OH has just come home with a huge pile of logs and the kids are itching to go out and help off-load the car. Youngest with then stand and pile up the logs as they are sawn into grate size logs. He loves it.

embb

Recovering Spendaholic - First of all you need a great big hug

(((((((((((((((((((RS)))))))))))))))))) I really feel for you. It's so obvious you're at the end of your tether it comes over in your post. My 15 yr old was a bit like your daughter, not with the swearing at me I'd have knocked his block off lol but mess wise. I seem to have got him trained now but it's been a long hard slog and felt like I was gonna burst with all the constant telling him to move this, move that. It might be worth your while telling your daughter she either starts having a bit more respect for you and starts to help out, or at least not leave her own stuff around or 1. you'll tidy up for her and chuck it all in the bin (it works) or 2. she can move out. There's ano way way in this world you should be frightened of her, flower.....actually she sounds like she needs a good hiding....I know it's frowned upon these days but I'm a firm believer in a good smack.