what are some good chores to assign to kids?

Question

4,6,8,9,11,13 yrs are the ones old enough to do something. Just trying to keep organized in a large family. Any suggestions will be tried =)

Wow you guys, your answers have really encouraged me and helped me to sort my thoughts! I am about to start using the buddy system this very second. =)

Answer 1

my mom had 5 girls and a boy in the middle somewhere. i am the youngest. my job on Sundays were to strip the sheets off of all the beds in the house and then give them to one of my older sisters and then get another sister to help me make all the beds in the house. i also got the fun job of poopy scooping after the dog, washing the floor in the laundry room where said dog slept and i had the fun job of doing any and all of the outside chores with my brother.

Answer 2

Well, you have enough to do a buddy system. Have you tried that? Give them chores in a team. Easy chores and harder chores. The older kids will actually perform the harder chores, but this will encourage the little ones to learn how for the future. It will also encourage teamwork. Since every kid has their own personality you could keep buddies together, or switch them once a month. The little ones could do things like dusting, wiping things down, emptying garbage cans, gathering dirty clothes, sorting laundry, cleaning up toys, help set and clear the table, taking sheets or pillowcases off beds & pillows, organizing darks and lights for laundry, helping with any "go-fer" tasks. By ages 9-13 they can do just about anything. From making beds to mopping floors, doing laundry to pushing a vaccuum. With that many kids it is imperative that they all pitch in to help or you would never be done picking up after all of them.
At least with the buddy system you can have an older one to help and teach and the little ones to do the tedious tasks. By the sounds of it you also have little ones. When you need an older child to help you or do something that their little buddy can't do, I would give the little buddy the task of entertaining the little ones. That will give them the chance to feel like an older buddy.

Best of luck to you and congrats on making it this far!!

Answer 3

Taking care of and cleaning up after pets
Putting toys away
Limited cleaning chores, like sweeping/vacuuming the floor in one room, or dusting one room
Cleaning up the kitchen
Washing dishes or drying them
Shaking or beating area rugs
For the older ones, they may like to make a meal or treat once or twice a week (a meal of their choice that is.)
Taking out the trash.
Picking up and cleaning their own room, including making their bed every day.
Doing the laundry
Sweeping the walks
Mowing the grass and other yard work
Tending the gardens, both flower and vegetable

I am sure there is more. We always learned something from the chores we did. It is nice to have the chores swapped every couple of weeks and it is necessary to have a chart showing who is responsible for doing what. You should also have an inspection system to follow up and help the kids understand what is required.

Answer 4

Pick up toys-fold clothes and put them away. Help with the bed making and dishes and learn to cook. If there is yard work let them help with this as well. Rake leaves. Vacuum. Sweep. Mop Dust Help clean off the table and set it. The older ones can be sure there is plenty of toilet paper and help to clean the bathroom. Let the older one assist the younger one in getting their clothes and things ready for their bath. They could read to each other or tell stories.

Answer 5

Try laundry baskets in their rooms assign each child their own basket helps them to keep dirty clothes off the floor. Then their is Setting the dinner table, and clearing it, wash dishes, folding laundry, emptying the smaller trash cans i.e. from bedrooms bathrooms living room, have another re put the trash liners back into the trash cans. I hope this helps you with some ideas. It has helped me.
Good Luck

Answer 6

Well, it really depends on the age. The smaller ones (4-8) should do simple things like putting dishes away, cleaning after a pet, making their beds, cleaning...etc. The older ones can do the same but perhaps cook dinner, take out the trash to the curb, vacuum, and such.

Answer 7

the 4 and 6 year olds should just have to keep their rooms clean while the rest be assigned chores like vaccuming, mowing the lawn (if you have one), washing the dishes, feeding pets (again, if you have them), doing laundry/helping fold laundry (like folding the clothes and putting them in the rooms), or just assign rooms for the kids to clean. a little obvious but i recommend the harder chores for the older ones. though i don't think you should even make the oldest mow an acre lawn especially in the summer and believe you me, it is very straining and no fun.

Answer 8

Actions speak louder than Words.
Let the older kids start first and the younger ones will follow BUT of course, the parents shouldn't put all their responsibiities on them and this means a word of thanks, a pat, a reward or a word of praise(and please, don't exceed the limit as this may turn out reverse!)should follow and just in case, things don't work out right, don't scold or yell at them, explain and remind them about their mistakes and with time they'll be close to perfect! And yes, don't forget the little ones are watching!

Answer 9

Pretty wide range there.. now for suggestions

Any cleaning you feel comfortable with them to do - kitchen, carpet, etc - maybe not gutters and such.
Any organizing you feel comfortable with them to do - pick toys up, separate clothes loads, organize the pantry
Any thing else that would help you and teach them your responsibilities - doing laundry, yard work, cooking, trash

Answer 10

Like she siad thats very true .The little kids have to have harder chores as they grow up,but for right now you should give them little chores like helping clean after pets ,or clean there room with help.Because you dont want to make them make them get too tired to hate chores when they get older.Hope that helps.=]