what do you think is appropriate chores for children?

Question

I make my fifteen yrold do one chore a day clean and hoover living room usually i give him 10 pounds pocket money on saturday and deduct 2 pounds for ever day day that he didnt do his chores. Im trying to teach him you dont get anything unless you work for it. Do you think this is reasonable and what do you make your kids do ?

Answer 1

I had six children and I had to have help with chores and caring for the younger siblings. My three older children had a lot to do. Besides their rooms, they mowed grass, (ours and the neighbors for money) babysat, (for us and the neighbors for money) folded laundry, dishes, vacuuming, trash, the list is endless. Sometimes I felt bad because I depended on them so much.

They grew up to be the most responsible and conscientious adults. They brag to me that their friends do not know how to clean, or do their laundry, etc. They are very proud of themselves. I am proud of them too.

Answer 2

I have 2 boys 6 and 8. I have been giving them chores for a year and I do the same thing. The 8 year old is supposed to get 3 dollars a week and the 6 year old gets 2, however if they don't do a chore on their list I take away 1 quater , so they hardly ever get the full allowance , but just recenly they have been getting close, because now they WANT all their money.

Answer 3

I'm 22 by the way so it wasn't that long ago.

I think you are being very fair. However I would have him do different chores to get a range of skills. Also make sure they don't feel like a dogs body by making sure that you and everyone else in the household does their assigned chores. In my house when I was a teenager, I had to do my own clothes washing, ironing, tidy own bedroom, (basically be independant).

we had when I was 15 (and still do have), a rota for washing up and cooking (I cooked once a week and washed up twice a week) I had the choice when the rota was first drawn up to choose which days I would do them on, and I had to stick to it. After a while we swaped around a bit. My step sister and I between us had to hoover the stairs, bathroom and upstairs hallway once a week and clean the bathroom. These were the pocket money jobs, if these weren't done, no pocket money. The other jobs were our contribution to the household, and as a family member.

I also had a little brother who I collected everyday after school from his childminders. And I had 2 paid jobs at 15 which were babysitting and cleaning for extended family members. If a 15yr old wants money they definately have the ability to earn it!

I must admit I was so argumentative and horrible when it came to do jobs. However when my friends were like I can't believe your parents are so hard on you, I would get really protective. thats when I reaslised that my friends that were having a go at my parents had no clue about money, work, feminism/fairness (my step mum, will not do more because she is a woman), and basically I realised they had very little respect for what and who they had.

Ah! just read that you have a son. Please do not make the mistake of not making him do his fair share. Honestly what woman would choose a guy in this day and age who is stuck with 1920's views of what a man should do. When I was at school I had a friend who I really fancied, his mum would do everything for him. He would take off his clothes and hang them on the floor, they would be returned washed, ironed and folded!! At the age of 16 this boy did not know how to cook, clean, use the washing machine the list goes on. One night he drunkenly said to me, I wouldn't go out with you now, because I want to marry you, then we can be just like my parents (or something like that) Thats when I realised I did not fancy him anymore! His idea of a wife was more akin to a slave!

when I was 18 I went travelling for 5 months, now i'm 22, I have just finished my degree, and I still live at home. This is because I have independance I don't feel traped like some of my friends did. Staying at home has been good for me and my parents. Firstly because it has saved us both a huge amount of money. I have had their support which has been great, and they have had me as a live in babysitter which is what i'm doing now! Also we all have to do less work around the house as we still use a rota, but I now do more than I used to.

My advice is try not to nag, in my experience it just made me want to do it less. (It shows a lack of confidence in them.) You can remind them though. I would be really strict about the money, and make sure they aren't getting back handers from grandparents or the other parent as this might teach them that you can make a quick buck by doing something naughty/behind mums back.

Answer 4

Most definitely yes. My 3 kids all work for their pocket money too. Usually doing chores like washing dishes, setting tables etc. My eldest is 12, so he will be getting more responsibilities soon as he earns the most money, but they are deducted for a job that is not done, or not done well. They also have to make sure their bedrooms are kept tidy. You get nothing for nothing in this life and the sooner they learn this, the better.

Answer 5

At 15 years old he is able to do most anything. Dishes, taking out the trash, cleaning up after the animals, Cleaning the living room and other main areas, etc.

I do not have kids, but when I was a kid I had to set the table every night and clear the table with my sibilings. I also had to clean the bathroom once a week and other chores depending on what was going on. My brother is 3 years younger and he had to mow the law and shovel the driveway, etc. And we all did our own laundry and helped out with the dishes.

Answer 6

One chore a day is not very much, but it is a starter. When we were grown up we had to help to with everything,cook the meals,clean up after wards, wash the dishes, sweep and mop the floors,run the vacuum cleaner, dust the rooms, clean the bathroom, clean our own bedrooms, do the laundry, mow the lawn, hoe weeds out of the garden and flower beds, gather in the food that was in the garden,prepare the food that came out of the garden(can it), run the weed eater, you name it we did it all. I am soooo happy that we did learn how to do all this as now it has come to very good use. I also taught my kids the same things.

I know this sounds like a lot of stuff for kids to do, but I promise you one thing, we never got into any kind of trouble as we didn't really have time to. Don't get me wrong, we had time to play and have fun. But mom and dad made sure we didn't have time to get into trouble. They knew where we were at all times when we were not at home. It might have been strict growing up but we learned a very good lesson in life.

Answer 7

I think its very reasonable. I have a 15 year old and a 6 year old and we have a chore chart so they know what to do each day. Depending on their afterschool activities and clubs, I spread the chores accordingly so they have time for everything. I have put myself on the list so they can see I have certain things to do each day (although reality is that everything not on the list, I do!! But its good for them!)

I make both my kids make their beds and keep their room tidy (somewhat successful!! To a degree!!).

We sat down and worked out what they actually didnt mind doing so I had more chance of getting results, and what one liked the other didnt so it worked fairly well.

My son, being the elder, has to put washing on, unload the dishwasher, tidy living room and bigger tasks (although none amounts to more than 20 mins a night maximum). My daughter, who is 6, likes to 'polish', will tidy the shoes away, put out the recyclking,wash up sometimes (she enjoys it!) and more often than not I have to redo it,

The point is exactly as you say, its making them realise rather than worrying about the standard it is done to (the little one anyway!). I think you are right to do it. I dont want my son growing up into a man that women wait on hand and foot, because its always been done for them! Good on ya gal!

Answer 8

I don't know how much a pound is worth, but if it is near a U. S. dollar that should be a great idea. At fifteen the child should be able to do more chores. At that age their chores should take up about half an hour a day.

Answer 9

well i dont have kids because im still a junior in high school but i have to wash dishes and vacuum and alot of the time i cook (because i like to) also, i always clean my room and i have to take care of my dog as well as household things like dusting and poishing furniture. I think that the more responsibility i take on helps me. so if you want to give your kid a coupl;e of chores then good. i think that you are being resonable but i would say that however many chores he does should be what he gets paid for. thats what my mom does. i get a little extra if i wash the cars or if i feel up to washing the windows. sometimes i just get into the cleaning groove other times i dont. its not like i do all that every day, but when it needs to be done then someone has to do it! haha good luck your doing a great job.

Answer 10

Chores = good house keeping skills its cool if you add the cash~ But you need to pay the kid on a FRIDAY~ U feel me, not everyday~ And the deduction part is fine too. But a kid will get tired of doing the same chores. Try giving him chores to do everyday and you can switch it up as to what he/she does each day~ Keep a log and yes, subtract the days he/she did not put in work~ Try taking out taxes and they will really be like DAMN~

Answer 11

At fifteen, I had a chart of chores that my brother and I switched off. We did not receive money for it. We would take turns with doing the dishes, vacumming, feeding and cleaning up after the pets, dusting, laundry, meal preparation, cleaning the bathroom, etc. I think you need to add to your list..he is getting it too easy.
My 11 year old helps me now with the same kind of work and does it with a happy heart because she was taught early to be useful around the house. :o) Good luck..