Kids and Chores
Many of my friends complain about how lazy and spoiled their kids are. Mine are somewhat too, but they do have chores they are responsible for.
What do your kids do? How old where they when they started? Do you pay them?
Mine do their own laundry (daughter started at 13 and son at 11). Son does trash and dog poop. Daughter sweeps and mops when I ask her to. I don't pay my daughter because she requires so much of my time and money for her sport, but my son gets $20 a week.
What do your kids do? How old where they when they started? Do you pay them?
Mine do their own laundry (daughter started at 13 and son at 11). Son does trash and dog poop. Daughter sweeps and mops when I ask her to. I don't pay my daughter because she requires so much of my time and money for her sport, but my son gets $20 a week.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Marianne Thomas on -
I don't have a chore chart; my kids are 7, 5 and 2.5 years old. Even though they're young, we do expect them to do certain things: clear their plates, pick up toys/rooms, toss their laundry in their hamper, etc.
What I do to encourage extra help/team-building is this: I have a "SuperStar Chart" for each child every month. When they do something extra to help us, help each other, or just extraordinarily kind (like share something treasured with a sibling), they get a star.
At the end of each month, I pay them for their stars. My oldest gets more than the 5 y o who in turn gets a bit more than the 2.5 y o for each star (older = able to do more).
They love getting stars and seeing their SuperStar charts. And they love saving their extra money for toys/special treats.
Works for us!
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Permalink Reply by AmazingMoms on -
My kids were/are responsible for laundry at 12 -- but I wont' ever put my clothes in with theirs -- lost a few things to a lip gloss disaster. Son cleans his own bathroom but I do it when guests are coming. Each child is different and you have to accommodate what inspires them.
I give allowance regardless of chores but they can lose allowance for not doing chores...
here is a solution for younger but the concept can be adapted for older:
http://community.kaboose.com/blogs/editors/blog/view/36458/
cheers
Kit
amazingmoms.com
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Permalink Reply by Barbara on -
@kit
Cheers to that. Have also lost a few clothes to shrinking, but they now they wash almost everything on cold and always a low dryer setting. ;)
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Permalink Reply by Christina Gayle on -
My son is only 3, but he helps me with the laundry. He also has to help pick up his toys. When he gets older, he'll totally have to help with the dishes, too!
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Permalink Reply by Pamela M. Kramer on -
My son wanted to earn extra money so we actually had him list out what he could help with and how much he wanted for it. He makes about $25 a week and he is going on 8. He does things like put away his laundry, put away dishes, feed and water dogs, etc..
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Permalink Reply by Megan Calhoun on -
my kids are young - 3.5 and 17 months. But the early you start teaching them chores the easier it is in the long run because then they just know it something they have to do. Oscar my 3.5 year old clears his plate, picks up toys and helps feed the dog. Stella just looks cute right now but we'll get her working soon...
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Permalink Reply by Sheryl Loch on -
My youngest is now 14 so, she can do anything that needs to be done.
I guess since I have had the girls do their own cleaning, cooking, dishes...since they were old enough to pull up a stool they now just do it.
I was a single mom for a long while & at points had 2 jobs. It was never stated that they did chores. They just had to do things that go along with life.
They have also never been paid for doing the normal things. When they did want to earn extra money they have done allot of odd jobs for neighbors.
I now am at home all the time & also homeschool Cait so, we have more than enough time to keep up on everything. Great thing is between us, we never really have a mess because we both pitch in.
Sheryl Loch
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Permalink Reply by TheScrappyMama on -
When my daughter turned 4 in August she got a Responsibility Chart as a gift. I found it at Target and it's wonderful! It really has something for about every age group. Right now her main chores are helping with the dogs, feeding her fish, cleaning up her toys, and making her bed (with supervision, if she wants it). Each day she earns a magnet on that space if it's been done. At the end of the week if her slots are full she earns $5. She loves earning money and sometimes at the end of the week, if she's been really good, she will get a small surprise.
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Permalink Reply by sweetpeamom on -
Both my kids have chores and do not get paid for them. We feel it's part of being a family with 2 working parents, we all have to chip in. I call it the 'cost of living under our roof'.
However, if they go above and beyond, without being told to do it (like spreading mulch or hauling firewood) then they get some money. It's a matter of doing the right thing because you see it needs to be done, not because there is a reward at the end.
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Permalink Reply by Louella Kilmer Reagan on -
I have 4 girls...14, almost 13, almost 10 & 8 year olds. I rotate chores each week. The older two switch each week and the younger two switch each week. The older two take turns cooking supper. I give them ideas and work with them if they want my help. This has been a big time saver for me. One loves it, the other hates it; but they both can already cook awesome meals. They each do their own laundry and have various other cleaning chores around the house.
The two younger ones have cleaning chores also. All of them are expected to make their beds, pick up their clothes & pick up after themselves. Some days are good, some not so good.
They get a small allowance that can be lost if chores aren't done. If they take on a bigger chore that isn't assigned to them, I will sometimes pay them for it, depending on the job.
I mix things up from time to time so they don't get too bored with things and to make sure they are well-rounded in what it takes to keep a household running. :)
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Permalink Reply by KristinsFourKids on -
I have 4 kids, but two are under two. My older two each have a short chore list, but NOTHING ever gets done. I remind them. They don't do it. It's so frustrating. We're a family of 6 and taking care of 2 year old twins is busy enough without having to do ALL the work. Any suggestions?
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Permalink Reply by Ashley on -
Responsibility Chart by Melissa & Doug. We purchased them for our store, moms and kids LOVE it!
I have a 10 month old and a 4 year old. The 4 year old picks his room up every evening before bed, puts his folded laundry away for me, and helps me pick up his sister's toys. He's too young to have any real chores, but he is always helpful when I ask!
KristinsFourKids said:I have 4 kids, but two are under two. My older two each have a short chore list, but NOTHING ever gets done. I remind them. They don't do it. It's so frustrating. We're a family of 6 and taking care of 2 year old twins is busy enough without having to do ALL the work. Any suggestions?
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