Importance of chores?

Question

Why do you think it's important that kids have regular house chores and what are appropriate things to ask a 12 and 14 year old to do to help around the house. Both are boys, but that shouldn't make a difference.

Answer 1

Very very important. At this age they should be doing pretty much anything you ask and not for payment but rather as an obligation to their family. Helping to run one's home is a responsibility of all it's occupants and our children need to learn that we as a family are a team that works to help one another. Laundry, dishes, vacuuming, mopping, whatever. They're more than capable and learning to take care of one's self (especially as a boy) domestically is an important lesson that your boys will need very soon. Only a few more years till they're off to college and life. Give them the leg up of knowing how to care for themselves domestically and financially (learning to save and budget money appropriately). I know that it's a hard job to get them to want these abilities but in the long run it's info and skills that will serve them well.

Answer 2

Chores give kids a sense of self worth. They are contributing to a household. They may not like chores but it does help with self-esteem.

At 12 and 14 they should be able to do anything around the house!! I have a 10 yr old boy who does everything from loading/unloading the dishwasher, laundry, vaccuuming, sweeping, etc. He doesn't like it but it will do him (and his future wife) good in the long run.

Answer 3

I think that children that age should just have a few simple chores. Dusting, putting dishes/laundry away, taking the trash cans down to the street or sweeping. Of course they should pick up after themselves too. If they get a weekly allowance, it is good to teach them how money is earned. If they don't do their chores...they don't get their allowance. I think if they are praised for doing a good job on their chores, then it teaches children to work hard and to take pride in their work and home. Also, it is important because it helps you not have to do so much around the house!!

Answer 4

I agree 100% with the first answer.

My cousins daughter is 17 and she has no chores at all I keep telling her mom, "how is she supposed to be able to take care of herself in a couple years when she goes away to college?"

And at 12 and 14 they should be able to do any chore you can. My kids are 6 and 8 and help with laundry, dishes, cleaning their rooms, and on occasion vacuuming, my oldest just started wanting to do that. And of course your kids are old enough for garbage duty, taking it out and to the curb. Even washing the cars if you wanted.

Answer 5

Dishes, vaccuuming, sweeping, taking out the trash,
cleaning up there rooms and making there beds
they can start to wash there own clothes
if you have a pet feeding and walking(if needed) it
washing cars
mowing laws


My parents made a chart for my sister and i, it had days of the week and a few things to be done each day,

It was not alot of stuff as we both had alot of home work but it was things we had time to do and still have a life
we would earn a few $'s for each thing we did and get a "paycheck" at the end of the week
if there was a night that we wanted to go out we could pay the other one to do our chore as long as it was "approved" by one of our parents

It worked out really good we got to go the the bank each week and cash our check and put it onto a savings account or we could cash it and spend it if we wanted but we would always try to save it and see who had more at the end of each mo. (it was only like $10-$20 a week) but it help us learn how a job works and how to save money.

my son is to young still as he is almost 2 but i will be using the same routine with him for sure!

Answer 6

Unless your boys will grow up to be extremely wealthy,they will need to work as adults in order to earn a living. They will need "practice" in work, as in most other things. Chores are such "practice".

More than that, assigning chores to a child gives them the gift of responsibility. Being responsible isn't something we are born with, we must learn and practice it in order to become responsible adults. Performing chores at home teaches children that life is not free, that we all must pull our weight. Working for others teaches us the idea of service, and hopefully creates a more humble and caring individual.

Appropriate chores for 12 and 14 yr. old boys could vary from household to household. Of course, keeping their rooms clean should be top of the list. Weekly gathering of household trash and putting it out for collection, yard mowing, car washing, pet feeding, help with dishes, other types of housework are all good suggestions.

Depending on your lifestyle, chores can be adjusted so that each child actually contributes to the family life and feels self-worth and the sense of accomplishment. Farm kids help with livestock and/or field work, suburban kids help with yard work, city kids help with household chores.

The idea is to set aside helpful tasks without taking away time from homework, karate lessons, or other obligations.

Answer 7

At least keep their room clean, and keeping the general living areas of the house clean after they have used them.

Just getting their homework done for any kid would be great

But their future partners would probably like it if they knew how to take out the garbage, mow lawns, washed a few dishes

Good luck I have 3 very young girls that are already refusing to clean their mess

If a guy can learn to do everything that a woman is USUALLY expected to do ..the world would be a better place :)

Answer 8

At that age they should be capable of doing anything you can do. It gives them responsibility and tools to survive on their own. Take each child, measure their strenghts an weaknesses, then assign appropriate chores to each. You will know right off the bat if what you choose is right and you can make adjustments from that point.

Answer 9

My kids have been doing their own laundry since they were 7. (Granted I now wash for them, but they fold and put it away) They are also responsible for cleaning their bathroom. My son does the toilet, since he usually is the one that misses, and my daughter cleans the sink. He will sweep, and she will mop. They do the bathtub once a month together with comet (this is their favorite) They also help cook dinner, and they are responsible for cleaning their own room, making their beds every morning, and basically making sure they pick up after themselves. They will help with the trash, the dishes, if I were to ask, and anything else that I need.

They are currently 8 and 10.

Answer 10

To build character. Someone lazing about the house all day long with nothing constructive to do, be they adult or adolescent, will benefit no one. It will only cause them to be self-indulgent and lazy and get in binds when situations cause for them to be self-reliant. Also it can bring about maturity and appreciation for elders who work and give them the value of money.

Dishes, cleaning up the house generally, cleaning the bathrooms, doing the laundry, pulling out weeds, pet cleaning chores...etc.