Should kids help with housework?

Question

mother of 5 kids....ages 18-7.

great response so far......I wanted to show my kids what other people thought about this. They seem to think it is all my responsibility.....especially the 18 yr old who is a senior in high school.

Answer 1

yes- of course they should.

Kids- if you are reading this- YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!! Especially the 18 yr old!!

Answer 2

LOL, my mom made me wash the dishes til I was 17 year old and out of her house. There's nothing wrong with asking your kids to halp you out a little when they know you are providing for them. If older children are busy with "responsible activities" (after school, working out, etc.) and are busy often, make them do bigger chores that take a little longer but don't need to be done every day. Younger kids (who don't get around unless you drive them somewhere) can have smaller chores that need to be done more often.
This is just how it worked in my family. I was a slob in my teenage year, but my mother stayed on me enough (You better clean this room/ do your chores/ do what I asked) that I really feel it made me a better adult. I may have been a slob as a teenager, but I'm not now. I can't be around a mess or it drives me crazy. I'm more responsible than I was back then too, cause I learned that not everything is free, not even as a kid!

Answer 3

Most definitely. First and foremost, they start becoming more responsible and family becomes a more cohesive unit. The chores I had be the time I was 10-take out trash; wash dishes; wash own clothes; food shoping; maintain bathroom; general up keep of house all done weekly. Seems like a lot back then, but the only thing I can remember was having fun and hanging with my buddies. Chores won't hurt anyone. Besides I'm quite sure they're in your "grill" come Christmas time (if you celebrate). I almost forgot the seasonal stuff=till the garden (yeah, we were growing corn in Jamaica, Southside) and shovel snow.

Answer 4

I am the oldest of three children. My parents made me do all of the house work growing up. I never could figure out if it was b/c I was a girl or b/c I was the oldest. Maybe some of both. As an adult, if you were to go to any of our houses, you would probably hurt yourself trying to walk into both of my brothers. Mine, for the most part, is clean the majority of the time. Both of my sisters-in-law complain to me about this ALL the time.

I think all kids should do their equal part around the house. They may not understand why right now but some day they will.

Answer 5

A mother is not a maid and personal handservant. At every stage, she must provide her child what they cannot do for themselves. She must not often do for them what they can do for themselves - at every stage of life - or she cripples them and makes them unaware of the tremendous amount of time and effort required to make what looks like magic (the family life you were born into) happen.

Not only must children help with the housework to show respect for their parents, they must do it because all members of a family must give what they can and take what they need. All members of a society must do this also, or it cannot function.

The most practical reason a child should help with housework is that a child should be taught how to run a home as presumably they will live in one one day.

Answer 6

Yes they should be helping with the housework because mom's not the maid and how will they learn common everyday responsibilities if they're not being taught at home. I went to college with kids who's moms cleaned their rooms, did their laundry, and cooked their meals and these people are now in their 20s and 30s learning things they should have learned as children. Your kids are old enough to do things like clean their rooms, kitchen, bathroom, and after the family pet. This will teach them that these are things you have to do for yourself and it teaches them responsibility for themselves. This will also help them when they get out on their own to care for themselves.

Answer 7

Of course kids need to help with housework. It's up to you, the parent, to enforce it consistently though otherwise they won't.

If you have kids aged 7 to 18 and you haven't instilled in them by now that helping with household chores is their responsibility, you have a problem.

Answer 8

Most definently! They can help out, my kids help me clean up and I'm serious I have a 6, 5, and 20month old and they all do there part. I have to remind them to pick up after themselves but they do it even the baby he helps his big brothers clean up the toy room. He puts books away, clothes in the hamper, and garbage in the garbage. Especially the 18 year old I bet he/she thinks there grown but who's going to clean there house when they move out? It's not too late your children should have respect for mom/dad enough to want to help out at least a little make them earn what you give them because when there out in the real world you can't get something for nothing I don't care who you are. Make them kids help you out you have 5 that's 10 extra arms, 10 extra legs, and 10 extra helping hands around the house.

Answer 9

Of course they should - unless you like being a maid and teaching them how to NOT be responsible. I have a 7 and 8 year old and they have been doing chores for about 3 years now. They do dishes, fold their own laundry, know how to clean a bathroom and do yardwork. It teaches great work ethic, responsibility and how to work and play with a good mix.

Answer 10

Me and my brother both had chores when we were kids. the house cleaning was split between the two of us. I cleaned the kitchen and living room and of course my room. He cleaned the dining room, bathroom, and his room. We came home from school did homework and then housework.

I don't see anything wrong with having your kids help around the house. It teaches them responsibility and also to pick up after themselves.

Answer 11

Oh they SHOULD help with housework! There shouldnt even be any Questions about that. It will help them be more responsible and take care of themselves later in life. You are not going to be their mamma forever...so you had better have them get off their little butts and do the house chores!