What jobs do they do?
How do you enforce this and make sure they do them?
How young did they start and do you have a reward system to keep them motivated or do they just do the chores to help you out?
2006-06-14 20:52:21 · 21 answers · asked by sparkleythings_4you 7 in Family & Relationships ➔ Family
My children are grown and on their own now, but they were required to do chores when they were living at home.
The first chores required of them was to keep their toys put away when not in use. This started as soon as they were able to walk.
If they didn't want to they were never punished, but they were not allowed to play with anything else until they did.
By the time they were old enough to go to school, they were required to make their bed when they got up, put their dirty clothes in the laundry room and feed the dog.
Praise is the best reward you can give,, especially if they don't have to be reminded to do something.
As they got older, responsibilities were added to the chores, but none that would interfere with homework or school activities. One thing taught to them was cooperation and equal treatment in getting the chores finished. House work and lawn care was not a gender issue.
2006-06-14 21:53:23 · answer #1 · answered by tee_nong_noy 3 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I have a daughter and she has always done chores around the house. She started when she was about 8, she will be 19 next week. I gave her silly little things like emptying the bins and taking the garbage out. Then she progressed to helping with the dishes, taking in the washing, tidying her room, ironing her own clothes and so on. Obviously she started ironing her own clothes when she was a teenager. If she didn't do her chores then she wouldn't get her pocket money - simple. I found this always worked. My mum made us all do chores and it didn't do us any harm so I thought I would do the same with my daughter. I hope this helps. Good luck.
2006-06-14 21:01:27 · answer #2 · answered by missieclass 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course, they are part of the family and they have resposibilty too. They mus help atlest from age 8, where they are capable of taking out the trash, setting the table up, and making the bed.
You can make a weekly allowance to pay the children in a fair manner. If they don't work don't give them anything, infact take away something from them, that will motivate them quickly !
Enforce them as you are used to, use punishments, and rewards, tell them how you helped your mom more and how hard you worked, convince them that helping and doing chores around the house , is a good and neccessary deed.
2006-06-14 20:59:53 · answer #3 · answered by Pistaccio 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
as soon as they start walking you can encourage clean habits like taking out a couple toys at once, and putting them back before they leave the room. Helping with little house hold chores can be a game as well as learning...like when doing laundry let them fold the wash cloths while you do the towels, this gives them confidence and a sense of achievement. As soon as they can see the top of the table let them set napkins, and have them hop down from their seat before they clear their own plate to prevent spilling.
My daughter is eight and just washed her dishes for the first time. (only hers)
from toddler hood children have the ability to learn something new every four minutes and retain the information if put into consistent routine. This develops good habits, and a fulfilling growing experience for you and child as they get older and take on more responsibility.
2006-06-14 21:07:40 · answer #4 · answered by micki_g 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am 18, the youngest in my house, and I do chores. I have done my own laundry, taken care of all pets, and done the dishes since I was 8. Now I do other things to help out in addition to that, like cook, mop, scrub bathrooms, etc.
My mom enforced it by encouragement. "You really did a good job on the dishes, they are put away very neat" Becase she was proud of me, it made me want to help even more! Sometimes, she would take me out for Ice cream as a treat. However, if I didn't do it then she would probbaly fuss at me.
As I've grown up, it has really taught me that I have to work for something and earn it.
2006-06-16 05:53:27 · answer #5 · answered by Rachel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my children have to keep their rooms tidy. They know that it is their responsibility and that if it isnt done then they will not be going out to play. I dont have to enforce this...it is an unspoken rule and one that has always been there, i just used to get them to help with it when they were younger and when i thought they could do it in their own i stopped helping.All the other household chores are done by me so i think this is only fair and a good way to introduce responsibility and respect.
2006-06-15 01:50:50 · answer #6 · answered by dayguest 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Only after constant moaning from me or the offer of cash.
When they were little (they got pocket money) it was always "can i make a cup of tea" when they were old enough we let them.
It didn't last long though they soon stopped 'wanting' to make the tea.
I have two boys teenagers now, I usually say one can clear the table the other make the tea after dinner. But they even argue at that, and if I ask them to actually wash up, they come up with "you won't be satisfied with the way I do it".
I usually say you'll do it till you get it right then. But I don't follow up as they can both moan for England or Wales (that's where we live) and it's easier to do it myself (well hubby)
2006-06-14 21:01:55 · answer #7 · answered by Jayne 2 (LMHJJ) 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of Course! Do my children eat food and sleep in this house? Then they should share in our families activites ALL of them, not just the "fun" ones.
My 4 yr old makes her hed, feeds the fish and cleans up her clothes and 15 things in her room every morning.
If she makes a mess then she is asked to clean it up. (Now is she spills a 5lb sack of flour on the floor I help her, she cleans up what she is able to of course.)
My 7 yr old makes her bed, feeds the dogs, cleans up 50 things in her room, and takes her dishes rinses them and puts them in the dishwasher. If she makes a mess then she is asked to clean it up also.
SHe also has a nightly chore that takes abotu 10 minutes. Maybe it's washing the living room windows on Monday and straightening her movie cupboard on Tuesday, etc.
They have a weekly chart that has places for x's or stickers.
There is an AWESOME website out there called chartjungle.com that has some great free children chore charts on it.
They don't receive any reward system because they are not helping me, they are being responsible for their own messes and things.
2006-06-14 21:17:33 · answer #8 · answered by ticeeblue 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My kids do chores around the house and the way i make it work is by giving them chores to earn their pocket money. If they do not do their chores no pocket money. I had them doing small chores by around 5 years old. Children learn by earning their pocket money that nothing comes free in life.
2006-06-14 21:02:54 · answer #9 · answered by happyflamepepper 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my eldest is three, and if she wants money for sweeties once a week she has to feed the fish and help clean out the animals and tidy her toys up.Some people say she is too young but she has the brain of a 5yr old and understands. Start them early and they will see it as everyday life.
When they get older I will ask them to help me out more as I suffer from bad backs and severe tiredness and don't always have the energy to do chores. My husband works part-time to help me out at home otherwise I wouldn't manage.
2006-06-15 01:47:12 · answer #10 · answered by wolfstorm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋