Clean Room?

Question

If a teen's room is messy, should you make them clean it, or let them have their space?

Answer 1

Let them have their space..however don't let them keep dirty laundry or dishes in there. Tell them to pick up the trash once in a while. But if their stuff is outta place or whatever..let them deal with it♥!!

Answer 2

Depends on how messy. If it's a total disaster, with food turning green in the drawers and on the floor, a health hazzard (might attract rats and mice), so disarrayed it's impossible to make it across the floor without stepping on something, I'd expect it to get picked up.

Tried the hands off approach with our oldest when that one was 15, but on finding plates with moldy food and the beginnings of a bad smell, we posted a notice from our 'Family Board of Health' (made one up). We gave him 24 hours to get the disaster straight and dishes (cleaned) back in the kitchen or all personal items, including bed, would be packed up and the child would sleep out in the work shop with a cot and sleeping bag. We always follow through, so were taken seriously. The room was cleaned white-glove-test from top to bottom by the next afternoon. Haven't had a problem since.

Answer 3

I believe that the child should clean their room. I have the same problem with my 13 year old son. He already know that on the weekend that room needs to be clean. What's with this giving them their space? Unless your teen is working and paying some bills there is no their space.

Answer 4

do NOT clean it for them, it sets a bad precedent. Let them keep it however they want (within reason) and tell them the moment the trash, or smell drifts into the rest of the house, they will have to clean it up.

Answer 5

you might get them to associate with the fact that what a person's surroundings looks like says a lot about what is going on insid of them. if they say ( and they will) that they just don't care, then tell them sure they do. they care whether or not they eat. they care whether or not they have a place to live, and shower, and use the phone. they DO, or they wouldn't do it. it's a general dislike for discipline is all it is. teens like to de-focus on things outside of themselves, looking for a place to draw their identity from. nudging them in a strong direction is good stuff. regularity, firmness, consistency, all good. you sometimes have to remind them that they do care. if you look at the album covers on the music cd's kids are listening to these days, you'll see that the message is "i don't care". but that's a fantasy. if you chopped yer kid's arm off, he'd care. if you stopped feeding him/her, they'd care. if you locked them out of the house, they'd care..... they care. so, giving them space does'nt have to include allowing the type of disorder and shabbiness you wouldn't stand for from a houseguest. your kid(s) have to respect the house, or once they leave and try to make a go of it, the basic foundation for success will be absent. and that is I KNOW HOW TO ORDER MY WORLD< you have to have that knowledge to make it out there. you know that. be firm. good luck.

Answer 6

Make their butt clean that room before they can go out with their friends. They need to learn responsibility. Technically its their space however its your house and didnt your parents ever say to you "IF you live under my roof you live by my rules" make rules and stick to them. you'll be happier years down the road!

Answer 7

clean the room

Answer 8

My teens have the responsibility of keeping their rooms clean.
It doesn't have to be spotless, but I won't tolerate filth. It may be their space, but it is still my house.

Answer 9

let them have their space, to a point, but when the science experiments start breeding, it's time to clean the place out.

Answer 10

Clean it...... I would not even let the maid go in and clean their rooms. Now they thank me for teaching them how to do things for themselves.