What chores should 11 and 13 year olds do for allowance?

Question

What kind of chores should kids ages 11 and 13 year olds do for allowance? The 13 year old will be turning 14 soon.

They do some chores. I'm just wondering what other stuff they should be doing.

Answer 1

Well, in our home we believe that children's "job" is to go to school. We go to work to earn money, they can't so school is considered their job and get allowance for that. As far as chores around the house, we all have them and that is being part of a family. If they want to earn extra money then they can do extra chores. (pull weeds, clean out the fridge with soap n water, any little thing that needs to be done that aren't on the weekly chore list.)

Answer 2

While I agree that it's easier to get them involved in chores if they started prior to these ages, they should have some way of helping with keeping up the house... so yes, start them right away! Our kids (ages 13, 11, and 10) do small things during the week-- feed the pets, sift the catbox, do the dishes after dinner (these 3 things rotate throughout the week from one kid to another), and keep their clothes off the floor... then on the weekends we do the real chores- one has the kitchen (dishes, sink, counters, stove, and floor- sweep and mop), one has the upstairs (dustmop the livingroom, vacuum rugs, and do bathroom- sink, floor, toilet, counters), and one has the downstairs (dustmop, vacuum rugs, bathroom- sink, floor, toilet, counters). On the weekends we usually have them also vacuum their rugs in their bedrooms and tidy up any other areas in their bedrooms that have gotten messy. Every so often we all do yardwork together- mow, weed, edge, etc. I would have them do their laundry but I'm really afraid they're ruin it and then we'll be out a whole load of clothes so that's not their department YET. =) Good luck! Kids can be very responsible if you give them the chance.

And yes, we deduct from the allowance when the kids either do a job we have to make them go back and correct OR they have a major attitude (loud and rude) about doing the chore. It doesn't happen often, but it does happen from time to time.

Answer 3

We tell our kids that they get an allowance so they can learn responsibility with money. We try to keep it separate from chores, which are ways that we all need to contribute to the household.

Chores can include vacuuming a couple of rooms, dusting, mowing the lawn, taking out the garbage, taking turns doing the dishes, cleaning a bathroom and doing laundry. The 11yo should be able to do 15-20m of these per day. The soon-to-be 14yo can take on meal preparation and should be doing 1/2 hour of chores per day.

At these ages, making their own beds, cleaning up their stuff, keeping their bathroom clean, setting the table and bussing their plates should be a given, not an extra family chore.

Answer 4

God at that age, I was doing everything when needed....
laundry
dusting
vaccumming
washing the floor
Taking out the trash
walking or caring for the animals
babysitting the younger children
prepping dinner
dishes
cleaning the refridgerator
cleaning the bathroom
cleaning their rooms
Picking up things off the tables before dinner
Getting the mail
mowing the lawn
pulling weeds

Answer 5

My 8 yr. old sets the dinner table,drys the dinner dishes,takes out the trash,makes sure the dogs have fresh water and food,and once a week cleans her room(dust,vacumm) she also folds her own laundry. I dont want you to think im mean she does this willingly to earn money to put in her bank account at the end of each week (shes a saver) just make sure you pay good and the jobs will get done good

Answer 6

I am 13, and I make my bed every morning, put all of my breakfast (& lunch dishes, when I'm home) over into the dishwasher. Every other week, my brother and I alternate between clearing the dinner table and setting the dinner table. Also, we must collect the garbage from around the house each week, and sweep 1/2 of the house once a week.

Answer 7

They should have started long before now.
First is looking after their own room & clothes.
Make their beds, neatly, changing sheets when asked.
Put dirty laundry in basket for washing & bring down.
Put clean laundry away after it has been washed.
Put toys & games away after playing with them.
Setting the table for dinner, help to serve the food,
clean off table after meals, washing or putting dishes away.
Taking out the garbage, recycling, composting, etc.
You can make up a rotating schedule or they can signoff.
You could set prices for each item completed.
Or you can do inspections & subtract fines.
Positive reinforcement is better than negative.

Answer 8

well i'm 14 and i mow the lawn, sweep the floors, vacuum, wash/wax the floors, do the dishes, laundry, take care of my 2 dogs, water the plants, dust the cabinets, clean the bathrooms, fertilize the lawn, wash the cars, and make dinner..i don't get paid for it, but since you pay your kids, if something is done sloppy or isn't neat subtract some money from the weekly allowance.

Answer 9

They should make their beds every day. Bring their laundry to the laundry room and assist and learn how to do laundry. Set and clear dining table. Mow lawn. If there are animals involved, get them involved in their care. Good luck, I think they quit doing everything when they hit 15!!!

Answer 10

im 12 and i mow the lawn, sweep, pick up stuff around the house, clean the bathroom, do the dishes, do the laundry, vaacum, wash/clean the car....

mowing the lawn and doing the laundry should probably be explained and demonstrated to them first:

mowing the lawn: show them how you do a part of the lawn then let them finish it (watch them do it for their first couple times)

laundry: if you separate the laundry then show them how to do that, then show them the different buttons and stuff that they should press for different types of washes just so that they dont mix up the colors and the whites and you get pink shirts that used to be white!!

hope i helpedd!! =)