How do you Mom's (or Dad's) get your teens to help around the house??

Question

I mean, do you force them, bribe them with promises, or give them an allowance??!! Or, did you raise them to help; and they do it own their own?? Tell me what you do to get your teen to help at home.....

Answer 1

Bully them.....LOL...kidding!! I raised mine to help! I started them helping when they were toddlers; it's just part of their life!! You have got to start them when they are young!

Answer 2

If they are teens it is not too late. Ask your teen what their goal is. A cell phone? less stress in the house? a cool teen hangout? more trust all around? mutual respect and privacy? more taxi-ing or car privileges? financial freedom and discipline? a feeling of control and ownership of their own life? lifelong work ethic? All of these things have been accomplished by a chore/allowance system that, in our house takes each teen person 30 minutes each day and they each get $10 per week.You must realize that my 2 teens were reeling out of control (serious trouble) and this is the one action that has made all of the difference. Involve the teen in selecting the chores and dividing them fairly. Dishes, folding and delivering laundry,sweep/vac floor, trash. Rotate the chores weekly or monthly. keep a chart, sign off on it even if you are tired. Thank the teen for their help. Do not do their chores over again. Don't pay them if they don't do chores.If they think the amount is too little they still should pitch in and help even if they did not get paid at all. I pointed out to my teen that a cell-phone could be obtained in a mere month on the "go" phone option.There is also an option in our home to make xtra $ for more chores if they have more events happening. Good Luck.

Answer 3

MY kids aren't teens yet but they still help out. I was raised that way. Chores teach responsibility. If your kids enjoy anything (t.v., video games, time with friends, phone time, etc) all of those things are privileges, and therefore can be revoked if they can't do their fair share around the house! My daughter is 8 and she has chores, she empties the dishwasher, switches the laundry, cleans her hamsters cage once a week, and cleans her room and bathroom. Our four year old is responsible for picking up his toys in the front room, and also picking up his room. Then also, if they want some extra money, there is a list of extra chores to do. They know their jobs, and if they take too long doing what they are supposed to, or complain about it, then there are consequences. Just as in adult life, we can't sit on our butts, and complain about everything and expect to get ahead. My kids know responsibility, it is a part of life.

Answer 4

mine arent teens yet, but i was a teen once, and i thought i was a slve to my parents when i was a teen. I also have a good friend who has 3 teens and they are lazy as sin.... basically it is bring the hammer down!!!!! do they have cell phones? do they have a TV in thier room or a computer? Take away privilages away...the ones they really treasure, and when they can prove they are responsible and will keep up thier chores, then they can earn thier privilages back.
my dad was a hard ***....and man we just didnt have a choice...i cant really say how he specifically made us work...but we just didnt have any other option, but to do what was asked of us.
my kids are really young, still, but i am hoping to bring them up to keep after themselves...and nothing over the top. BUT rooms will be clean every saturday.... they will share dishes, setting and clearing the table....AND if they are demanding eaters i will give them recipe books and make them cook for themselves!!!haha

Answer 5

No you shouldn't bribe them with promises or money discipline!

They should have a good routine every day make your bed,
volenteer to do the dishes, set the table, put your clothes in the hamper or the basket if you teach them well when their small when they get bigger they'll know their role and what their suppose to do and won't whine about it.

Answer 6

I'm a mom but not of a teen. When I was a teenager (I'm 21) if we didn't do chores, we couldn't go anywhere until they were done. So we pretty much did what we had to do. There were 7 of us. Too many for an allowance. Allowance was when you got a job!

Answer 7

It's about discipline. Keeping an "attitude adjuster" paddle hanging up prominently in the family room helps encourage cooperativeness and shared responsibility. There is also a "heat for the seat" paddle hanging up prominently in the dining room which helps to reinforce these valuable lessons.

Answer 8

i just had a list of chores i had to do. I washed dishes and had to clean my room and the bathroom by brother and i shared. I had to wash my own clothes from like 6th or 7th grade. I had a wash day and i did my own laundry. When my brother got older we took turns on the bathroom and dishes. we also had to help cut grass. Those were mandatory we got paid for extra. Washing my mothers car everyweek was how i got paid i for got what my brothers extra was

Answer 9

I raise them to help.
I got one that just loves to help.
Then there's the boy.
He doesn't get to go anywhere or do anything fun until his list of chores is done right. I do, occasionally give money as a reward for a job well done.

Answer 10

start when they are young, and make it a game. That way it is not a 'bad' thing to have chores to do. They may not want to do it, but I always told mine," It will not be that bad and it will only take a few minutes." once the chore has been started, it never seemed so bad to do. Good luck.

Answer 11

I let them know that they are part of the household and we all have responsibilites. My husband and I defined their roles in households from the beginning. When they were little they wanted to help so we encouraged and now that they are older they know it has to be done. If they resist, they know there will be consequences.