child can't remember how to do...anything?

Question

i have to tell her over and over how to start the dishwasher, how to sweep the floor. i tell her every time to close it, and turn the knob towards her (to the right)...she usually doesn't close it and ALWAYS turns it to the left. she's almost 7 and driving me crazy. is there something to do to improve her memory short of sticky-noting the house? rhymes? games?

**not learning disabled, but she does have a huge memory problem.

she has like 4 chores to do. sweep, start the dishwasher (it's turning a knob), put her plate away and set the table. appropriate for a 7 year old.

there's a lot of lazy *** people on here...or a lot of 14 yo's answering questions today. yes, i want a maid bc i load the dishwasher and want her to start it (correctly) to earn an allowance. i am so incredibly lazy.

btw, the list of chores i gave her was taken from a parenting site. for her age range.

Answer 1

I make my 7 year olds do more than that. They are a part of the family and need to help out. If anything she is doing to little.
Do you give pocket money? If so take some away each time she does her job wrong. I'm pretty sure it won't be too long till she get's it right.
Don't feel you have to defend yourself against some people in here. If they have a problem with the chores you get your daughter to do then they are probably kids themselves who are lazy buggers who can't get of their *** to help out their parents. You are raising your dughter to be a helpful person so keep it up and add a few more chores LOL

Answer 2

Put a sticker on the knob to the right and show her to put the knob on it to start, make up a story about the escaping bubbles so she will shut it all the way.

My daughter forgets alot too and she is 11. She goes to an Occupational Therapist, these are some things that help her. Saying and doing is great. Say the movement while she is doing it. Something in the brain clicks when both are done at the same time.

Make a chart with detailed instructions and make her check them off after each step. Rewards work well even if it is just making or choosing what is for dinner that night or even after a week of doing everything right.

Positive is better than negative. I would get on to her if she did something wrong, but I noticed that her OT would smile real big when she did it right and she ate it up. And she would tell her with a big smile you are doing so well, or try one more time you can do it. She does great now.

Good Luck and I hope this will help !

Answer 3

It sounds like she just needs some motivation; it might not be a memory issue. Try making a chart that lists her chores and how often they need to be done, and put a sticker for every time she does her chores without help. (Supervision is ok, just don't instruct her on how to do it; she should remember!)

You could also make a list with her of things she would like that you don't need to give her, like ice cream 1/wk, a toy or game, candy, etc. Explain to her that by doing her chores, she's earning money, and that the money she makes will be spent on items from that list. You might even want to make another chart, showing how much money she needs to buy each item from the list, and how long it will take her to make that money.

I had to do the sweeping in my house starting at a young age too, and I remember that it was difficult to do it properly. You might want to consider trading in this chore for something simpler, like making her bed or feeding the pet, if you have one. If she is capable of doing the chores, there shouldn't be a problem.

If she continues having problems remembering how to do simple tasks, make an appointment with her pediatrist or a phsychologist; it might be a bigger issue than insufficient motivation. Good luck!

Answer 4

Instead of having your daughter start the dishwasher. Have her rinse and stack the dishes for the dishwasher. Then YOU load the dishwasher, turn the knob to the right and close the door. Until she learns her right from her left.

Answer 5

Ever thought that she may be a bit young for starting dishwashers and sweeping floors??? She's a child let her be one!!! Give her simple tasks like making her own bed and helping you unset the table and do this together. Too much responsibility is bad for a child and leads to being forgetful!!!

Answer 6

i think its great that you're starting your kids on chores at an early age....well, your child may just be a slow learner, which there's nothing wrong with her.....normally, slow learners just need more explanation time then others, but once they get it, they'll remember it for a long long time.....she just needs more time....you can stick notes on the dish washer reminding her how to do it, and don't be so hard on her....you can try memory games, which are fun so she starts exercising her brain to memorize....don't worry...there's nothing wrong with your daughter, and i'm glad she has a mother who is wanting to help her improve =)

Answer 7

Well you have to sit down and test her, to see if shes really forgetful or just not caring about what you want you're saying.Games and other helpful activities would totally help this problem, try having kids around her to see if her memory is really gone. Also try flash cards.

Answer 8

sometimes its really easy for kids to get distracted with other things....especially when their other option is chores....but i think maybe you should sit her down and explain that she needs to do her chores before she can do other stuff....like she should sweep the floor before playing a game....that way what needs to be done is done before she has to much of a chance to get distracted

Answer 9

my husband and I call it the BFS..brainfart syndrome..My son was the same way, I tend to beleive it was because he did not want to do his chores,therefore he would say, and act like he had forgotten how to do it..does she forget how to do the things she likes?If not then it just may be a case of the lazies..she will grow out of it, she is only 7 after all.I know firsthand it is frustrating as all get out, but this too shall pass..

Answer 10

this sounds like a big problem. if these were comlpicated things i wouldn't worry, as she is only 7, but these are simple...well, not sweeping, that's actually quite hard. Perhaps take her to a phsychologist and have her given a check up?