How do you get teenage boys to do housework?

Question

16 and 17 year old boys do nothing!!!!

Answer 1

Bribe them.

Answer 2

Mine youngest is 17 and if I ask him to help he moans - I then explain why I need support and that he will benefit from it as I will pay him something.

His excuse is usually that he is at full time college and works a lot of hours on top. But his work fluctuates as a casual theatre technician - when he is working less hours not only does he have time on his hands but he wants to boost his income by helping out. When he is working more hours - I dont even ask.

What I've found is that if he needs money he either asks if there is anything he can do or if he sees something that needs doing he does it. Although the latter never occurs if anyone else is watching. We'll arrive home to a lovely tidy house and of course I'll be so chuffed he really benefits from my undying gratitude!!

Its probably worth putting that over as well. Maybe they will work out like mine did, that helping out without being asked is more profitable and leads to a happier household.

My older boys used to have set jobs in the school holidays like cleaning all the kitchen cupboards from top to bottom to earn money for things like Christmas. This meant I knew they were well occupied whilst I was at work and the place always looked a treat. It also prepared them for life as adults.

One of my sons thanked me for teaching him how to cook, wash clothes and iron when he went to university - he said he was horrified at how unprepared most of the boys - and girls were. He is now married with a child of his own and I know he does all the cooking and a lot of the housework.

Although I have to say I did start young with them with small chores and treats. I taught them pocket money has to be earned.

Answer 3

I am not sure if you are the parent but if you are it shouldn't be a thing of getting them to do their homework. In other words, they should be MADE to do the homework, bottom line. When they come home from school, sit at the table with them and talk to them about what they learned during that day, while they are doing the homework. Take more interest in their education as a parent and show that you care and is concern about their future. Are you going to the school to check on them? If not, let the boys know that you will be coming out to the school to talk to their teachers to find out how they are doing in school. Also let them know, if they are almost grown and they need to be deciding on their future be it education (4 year school or community college, jobs (which are limited without education now a days) or military career. Do not let them get away with not doing their homework. This can be harmful to their future. Good Luck

Answer 4

Go on strike - when they have no clean clothes or decent food etc they may start to appreciate what you do for them and subsequently want to help out occasionally. 16 and 17 is a really hard age so make sure not to nag them too much but at the end of the day; these are young men now and you must not let them walk all over you.

Answer 5

Deny them all privileges, e.g playstation or tv etc. That's how i was taught when i was 11! But back then it was an Atari 2600! Tell them they won't get any of it back until they can commit to at least 2 hours a week housework. They might mope off for a bit, but they'll soon catch on.

Answer 6

for money. Be consistent. Depends on how much you give them for pocket money. I give them £5 each week, and I expect them to take the bins up to our collection point, tidy away dirty clothes, and keep their room tidy (they share). If it is not done each day then I deduct £1 for each time. I don't think that I have had to pay the full amount yet, which is good for me. But they know what to do, if they want the full £5. I also explain that some mums expect all of these things to be done without pocket money, so they should take it while its going. I only got 50p for my pocket money, and I did a hell of a lot more than they are expected to do.

Answer 7

HEYY! Im 12 and I no that A allowence makes me want to do housework!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Offer them about 50 cents 2 a dollar depending on howw bigg the chore is, for every chore! Kepp this listed on a chart! Than Saturday night beforre they go out, add up all the money on the chart and give it to them. They will be hapy and so will you! Try it out, let me know if i helped! [e-mail], Good luck!

Answer 8

I have one and can't get him to do a thing ended up during school holidays sent him out to work with his dad to see if that would do trick liked that still wouldn't do anything else got two year old boy who does more.Told him if doesn't start tidying up hiring a skip and all his stuff is going in it.If you find the answer please let me know

Answer 9

Take away privileges like spending money, hanging out with friends, computer or vid games works in my house.

Make a chore list and and set some parameters like get x amount of chores done and you can have this privilege or that privilege back. Stick to it. If you let them slide once they will think they can slack more and more.

Answer 10

time old question isn't it? i started mine off all 5 of them very young it started with putting away there own toys or no cartoons then it progressed to washing up and drying no playing out till it was done then on to "lets all bake some biscuits and cakes they helped measure out ingredients prepare the utensils etc i blagged them (for the Americans that means fooled them) into thinking the best part of the cooking was the clearing up whilst waiting for everything to cook (i can not believe that worked!) when they got older it was you wouldn't help me last week (for example) so sorry I'm not prepared to help you
it sounds harsh but welcome to the real world my eldest daughter is 26 she is amazing the youngest wants to be a chief he is 12 they are a great bunch of kids be strict it breaks your heart at times but by god they will thank you for it

Answer 11

If they say they don't feel like it, play their game. Whenever they want something, tell them you don't feel like it either. Need supper? You don't fix it. Need groceries? You don't feel like shopping. Need money? You don't feel like working. I've use this reverse psychology on my son and it's amazing what he starts to do for a change. Give it a try. So the house may get really messy at one point but he'll realize when there is no clean dishes, laundry, groceries, soap (hide it and say you didn't buy any cause you didn't feel like working), etc. Be really annoying and he'll catch on.