how can i get my kids to start helping around the house?

Answer 1

Kids dont like to clean. there are 2 things you can try. Make a game out of it: who can pick up the most things in 5 minutes (dont make it too long, or they wont care)--but make sure to have a prize for the winner.
2nd thought---give them an incentive. IF you vacuum the living room, THEN you can go play outside with your friends/go to a movie/spend the night/have someone else spend the night. The only way this works in to NOT give in and let them go outside without cleaning.

Answer 2

depending on how old they are . first you start with their rooms take privalages away from them like going out TV or what ever it is that they like to do. You are the parent not them. You say when your room is cleaned you can whatch do what it is you want after. if they wine then you tell them it will not help. how many do you have. After dinner you get each one to do a job, one cleans of the table and wips it down and chairs ,one rinces the dishes and puts them in the dishwasher ,one washes of the counter and stove the othere sweeps up the floor. You go have a coffee and relax till it is done . When you hear mom were finished, you go and see. The first time it may not be up to your standerds but never the less, you make a big deal out of it and tell them for the first time you all did a great job ,I am so proud of you. then you finnish what they didn't do right while they are their. So they get the idea how to finnash right .do not wash their close, each one washes there own. Show them how to sort and tempreraturs folding. That is the day they do there sheets as well for normally they don't have as many whites as darks .Give them their weekends free, unless they didn't compleat a job in the week. Never yell about it always be come, that will show them that you are serious about it. Yelling only makes you upset and them nuts. you can wright out a scedual on a bord and change it around so they learn diferent things and always make sure you and dad are in with the chours ,so they don't feel you are making slaves out of them. One job a day done right will give you moor time. It will also show them that what you do isn't so easy and astablish to them that you are not there slave. they can do londery while they are doing home work .or cleaning there room. Show them that when their home is clean, so are they. In time they will need things clean or they will not feel comfortable . But you must remember not to talk it for granted, rewords will only be wow you are so good at this. I am so prould of you and arn't you proud of yourself for doing such a good job.
I was brought up that a mother that dose all the cleaning is a lazy mom, beacuse it is more work to teach you children to do it, then to just do it your self.

Answer 3

Depends on their ages-- but basically remove privileges (TV, computer, video games, playing with friends, etc.) until homework and chores are completed.

Basically, anything other than basic food and shelter (and of course, unconditional love!!) are extra luxuries. Many people grew up without all the crap that today's kids have. You can limit their use and the kids will be better off in the long run, having learned that personal responsibilities come before recreational activities.

My 15 year-old son surprised me and did the dishes the other day without even being asked!!

Answer 4

You are the parent, you make the rules. Don't yell, tht just makes you more angry. Assign them specific tasks or jobs, and if they don't do them, take away privileges, Tv, Xbox, dessert, playing with friends--whatever get their attention.

It will take a while but be consistent and they will begin to realize you mean business. Be sure they know ahead of time what the punishment is ie:asked twice to do the job, then didn't do it, lose Xbox for a week. Then when you have to do it, you can say, "you knew what the consequences would be. You made the choice to not do the job, now you have consequences."

Consistency is the key, it's hard but pays off.

Answer 5

I have found that making a chore list helps my kids and setting a certain amount that they get for the chore. Like cleaning the kitchen is a $1.00 chore compared to taking out the trash is a $0.50 chore. If your kids are young then tell them at the end of the week they can spend it or save it for something they may want.

Answer 6

well when I lived at home, my mom rewarded me with things. For example if one week my schedual was: monday:dishes, tuesday:vacuum, wednesday:nuthing, thursday:laundry, friday:dishes saturday and sunday nothing than on sunday she would take me out for lunch or buy me something. The following week I would get 10-20 dollars but everything had to be done. Kids like it when they recieve things when they do things. Trust me. I think this will work.Also try to tell them they are not going ot until thier homework, and chores are done. Stick to it dont let them walk all over you.

Answer 7

When you figure that one out let me know!! lol
Sometimes this works for us:
We give so much money for things like cleaning your room and keeping it clean for cleaning their rooms they get 50 cents, if they keep it clean it is 25 cents for everyday that it is clean.. when we tell them to clean their rooms one time and if it does not get done or at least started within 30 minutes we take away 25 cents for that day.. this usually works for just about everything..
If they don't listen or mouth off they get between 5 cents and 50 cents taking away depending on what it is:
Example: being ugly to one another that is 25 cents taken away..
calling each other "stupid" 10cents, etc.
Most of the time they have money at the end of the week and well sometimes little to nothing.

Answer 8

Sit them down and have a talk with them first. Then make a list of things to do. Would not hurt to reward the kids for helping with the chores.

Answer 9

First of all, expect them to. Depending on their ages, choose appropriate tasks and explain clearly what they are expected to do. Give them a chance to succeed. Praise them if they do well and redirect them if they don't do things correctly. If they do not help, natural consequences are very effective. IE--they didn't put the laundry in the hamper, the clothes don't get washed. The room is messy, friends are not allowed in... make sure that your consequences are those that you can live with and enforce. Be consistent.

Answer 10

Recently I've produced a chart where they can earn stickers from cleaning and being well behaved. At the end of the week, the stickers are converted into money. Their allowance, actually. If they are not helping, they get no money. Works for my family.