Chores for children

White-as-Snow

I'm having a hard time trying to figure out how long my kids should spend doing chores for. How many/ or how long do you guys think is a good amount for them to do? (Currently not doing enough imo- they have to tidy up after themselves and thats about it- but they even complain about that)

I have googled a lot and there's lots of lists about age appropriate chores but that's not really what I'm looking for. Theres only one opinion that I found online which said 15-30 minutes on a school day and 1 hour on a saturday but is this the norm do you think?

I know the answer will probably depend on age of children/ after school activities etc but some ideas/ opinions would help please?

LilElvis

Of course age will be a major factor. I don't think anyone would consider it reasonable for a 5 year old to spend as long undertaking household chores as a teenager.

balletshoes

does it have to be so regimented? ie if the research you've found is one hour on a saturday for example, I could easily spend an hour "cleaning" the bedroom when in fact I'd probably tidy it for about 5 minutes until I found a good book or photo album up there, and I'd be perusing that for the next 55 minutes .

Age is a big factor, and if you want to have everyone in the household doing chores (that includes everyone, adults and children alike) I wouldn't base it on time, you could write a list of all the suitable chores and ask the children to pick one or 2 each that they will take responsibility for on a daily/weekly basis.

White-as-Snow

I have a 1 (no chores obv), 5 and 10 year old btw.
I may have been a bit harsh when I said they do nothing. They both get themselves dressed etc in the morning and the 10 y/o will make them both breakfast. They also bring dirty dished to the kitchen after meals, the 10yo may occasionally (once a month) make a meal for them both.

I'm looking to make a chart I guess so that they can see for themselves how much they should do and be able to tick them off but struggling with it.

Your probably right that timing it probably wont work. xx

I'm having one of them days when you just think "i'm the only one that does anything around here" lol. School holidays are nearly over so things will get back to normal soon lol. But yes asking them to take charge of particular things is a good idea x

thankyou both for your replies x

jackyann

Sounds fair enough to me, although I wouldn't expect a child under say 7-8ish to manage an hour because their concentration isn't so good.

I'd advise rotas of some kind, and involve the kids in decision making. Older kids who have sports / club commitments may be best given a weeklt task that has to be completed by, say Saturday 5pm. (and yes, I've had one do it again immediately and say *that's next week's done*

We had rotas for general chores, including adults (maybe working alongside a child)

With own bedrooms, my favoured method was to leave them to their own devices, then every school holiday (twice in the long summer break, once at the beginning and once at then end) set aside a half-day for general muck-out. I would do other cleaning alongside (bathroom, my room etc) and help out as needed. I found that better than trying to get them to do it weekly alongside other household chores.

Edited, as cross-posted:
I knew a family who listed chores for all. The baby's job was to *grow and learn and smile*
I also think that doing chores well, getting appropriate praise is essential for learning self-reliance and confidence.

baby_lemonade

Set 'em to work as young as possible. The older ones can fetch the coal bucket and cut the grass, the littlies can set the table and wipe the toilet seat.

DigForVictory

I think the 5 yo & certainly the 10 yo can be trained to load the washing machine. (Not sure if you sort colours & whites, but that is certainly within the grasp of both.)
Make it part of getting home from school - move laundry from 1 machine to another, take dry stuff upstairs.
Our lot know to bring all clothes to be washed down before leaving for school, & I even had an 11 yo in tears of frustration as I would not let him hoover, but I had spent several months training him...
If you've a handheld hoover/dustbuster, you may wish to coach the 10 yo in cleaning skirting boards, and recovering spilt talc etc.
Both the 10 & 5 yo should be able to change sibs nappy, whilst keeping LO entertained, initially assisting you.
Bathtime - one lovely family sorted mum a drink & the baby & the TV remote then retreated to the bathroom. All menfolk emerged washed & pleasant smelling, with the bathroom tidied back up and bathtowels put to dry within an hour.
It isn't quite the hours done, but the time spent training you want to work on & yes, schooldays are different to weekends but holidays you need to *plan*.
Do you trust the 10 yo with a kettle yet? As a brew made by someone else has extra zing.

White-as-Snow

jackyann wrote: »

With own bedrooms, my favoured method was to leave them to their own devices, then every school holiday (twice in the long summer break, once at the beginning and once at then end) set aside a half-day for general muck-out. I would do other cleaning alongside (bathroom, my room etc) and help out as needed. I found that better than trying to get them to do it weekly alongside other household chores.

Can I ask what you did about making beds? Did you just leave them? I must admit I don't make the beds every day but when I do them on a weekend/holiday day I do get them to help.

White-as-Snow

DigForVictory wrote: »

I think the 5 yo & certainly the 10 yo can be trained to load the washing machine. (Not sure if you sort colours & whites, but that is certainly within the grasp of both.)
Make it part of getting home from school - move laundry from 1 machine to another, take dry stuff upstairs.
Our lot know to bring all clothes to be washed down before leaving for school, & I even had an 11 yo in tears of frustration as I would not let him hoover, but I had spent several months training him...
If you've a handheld hoover/dustbuster, you may wish to coach the 10 yo in cleaning skirting boards, and recovering spilt talc etc.
Both the 10 & 5 yo should be able to change sibs nappy, whilst keeping LO entertained, initially assisting you.
Bathtime - one lovely family sorted mum a drink & the baby & the TV remote then retreated to the bathroom. All menfolk emerged washed & pleasant smelling, with the bathroom tidied back up and bathtowels put to dry within an hour.
It isn't quite the hours done, but the time spent training you want to work on & yes, schooldays are different to weekends but holidays you need to *plan*.
Do you trust the 10 yo with a kettle yet? As a brew made by someone else has extra zing.

Hi thank you for your reply. I haven't yet done the kettle with her although I don't see why I can't as I let her make omlettes etc on the hob. Hmmm food for thought

LannieDuck

My nearly-5yo wouldn't be able to change a nappy. Putting a pull-up on baby.... maybe. Although I suspect it would descend into a game of chase-the-naked-baby-around-the-house with both in fits of giggles. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing

Kaye1

Mine has chores but not regimented. (9 yrs old)

We always have homemade cake in the tin- she has to take her turn to make it. (Her lemon drizzle is better than mine!)

She has to hoover her room about once every two weeks.

She has to strip the bed when I am washing the sheets. I remake it.

She has to clear under the dining table once a week (toddler toys and play doh carnage!)

When I wash up, she has to clear all the cups etc through to the kitchen.

Lay the table for tea and pour drinks.

That's about it. It is more about expecting her to pitch in, rather than a chart to tick. She only moans about clearing under the table, the other jobs she doesn't mind.