I keep our house very nice, but the teen rooms are out of control. I keep their doors closed. They refuse to clean their rooms and I don't feel I should have to do it. What should I do? I want them to learn to be neat! Am I doing them harm by allowing them to keep their rooms in such disarray? (Example: Washed and dirty clothes stuffed in closets and under the bed. Clothes on floor. Trash laying around. Empty plates and wrappers) Gross!!
2007-11-14 03:34:17 · 12 answers · asked by For Sure 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Adolescent
all these people are stupid. you can make them keep a clean room. Im 19, i dont live at home anymore, but i was always taught profound respect for our home. my room was NEVER dirty. and i would hate this rule, but now that i live on my own, im not messy at all. i just hate being messy now. cleaning and keeping a room organized is very important. and i always find it appauling when parents dont know waht to do. my parents never had a problem. they never asked me to clean my room, it was understood. If i didnt i would get punished, be more strict in that matter. dont let them go out, take away there tvs, cell phones, radio, allowance, exc. until they maintain a clean room. my sister once refused to clean and she had to stay in her room unitl it was clean, no joke. your kids dont do it because they dont really have consequences. theyll handle you complaining, trustme.
2007-11-14 04:34:44 · answer #1 · answered by mari 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, they won't. This is the time of their lives when they learn the life skills they'll need for life on their own. If they don't learn it now, chances are that they'll never learn it. Mine are expected to keep them clean, and I DON'T allow ANY food or drinks in their rooms. It's a good way to ensure bugs will also find their way there. They have to bring their dirty laundry down on a daily basis, and they each have a laundry basket in their rooms for that purpose. I do the laundry and fold it into a separate basket. When it's full, they bring it to their room and put it away themselves. They also are expected to empty their own trash cans once a week (before trash day). I figure I'm doing future spouses or roomates a big favor by teaching my daughter and 2 sons the basics of housekeeping now, so no one else has to deal with their lack of knowing how to deal with it later. If I notice that things aren't up to snuff, then they lose privileges for a day or so, until it's done. It's all about responsibility and accountability. I don't expect it to be done perfectly, but it does have to be neat - and that includes inside closets and drawers and under the bed, as well.
2007-11-14 04:03:32 · answer #2 · answered by N L 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As a parent, I believe that a teen's room is their own space, so if they want a messy room, then they should be allowed to do so. My teen daughter and I have lived in our current house for 2 years now and I made her a promise when we moved in that as long as her mess was confined to her room only and did not encroach on the rest of the house, I would never make her clean her room unless she herself chose to do so. I promised that I would never hassle her about it or even suggest it. So, in the 2 years we have been here, I have firmly kept her promise and she has never once seen fit to clean her room. It is a mess, but it may remain a mess as long as she wants it that way. She will NEVER be forced to clean it.
2016-05-30 02:28:29 · answer #3 · answered by Jaxson 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but when I was little I had to have my room clean, I cleaned my room all the time trying to make it spotless, now that I'm a teen my room is messy and if its clean than I can't find anything. I find stuff easier in a messy room. Don't ask me why :\
2016-05-23 03:26:03 · answer #4 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
About telling teens that they must entertain their friends in their messy rooms...yeah, my mom told me that, and it had no affect on me. Most of my friends' rooms are complete messes. We know each other, aren't embarrassed, and quite frankly don't care. I like messy rooms better than clean ones. I feel more at home in my room when it's messy. Of course, this doesn't go over well with my mom. I clean it every now and then for her.
As for organization skills, as I get older, I'm slowly getting better at keeping my stuff neat and clean, and no, my parents don't clean things for me. It's something you learn when you've got more responsibility, I think.
2007-11-14 03:50:19 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
they generally do learn once they move out. When they realize that mom isn't going to clean their rooms anymore.
I was a VERY disorganized teen, and while i still an a slightly disorganized adult, i clean up after myself now.
just keep in mind that ALL teens have messy rooms. that's just the way it goes. if it really does bother you though, tell them to clean it up OR you'll clean it up for them (i.e. tell them that if you have to clean it up, you'll be throwing everything away) that's what my mom did to me.
2007-11-14 03:41:26 · answer #6 · answered by Lana B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you're fine.
Just shut the door.
But a good tip is to tell your teens that from now on, when they have friends over, you will expect them to entertain them in their own room...it will make them want to clean from sheer embarrassment...or not, but its up to them to deal with it.
I always had a messy room as a teen, but as soon as I got my own place, I suddenly got a bit house proud so I wouldn't worry about 'teaching' them to clean..they either will or they won't.....
2007-11-14 03:42:45 · answer #7 · answered by Amanda 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im 13 and my room was a total disaster!...My mom was telling me to clean it all the time but when they finally stopped I cleaned it...After a while they will clean their rooms.They wont want to deal with mess anymore...
2007-11-14 05:37:22 · answer #8 · answered by rileymay 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a thin line here they need to have it clean but maybe not picture perfect. One way to have them do it is to take back or not let them have privilages . What is going to happen in college or when they get their own place they need to start good habits now
2007-11-14 05:48:01 · answer #9 · answered by Big Daddy R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would make them clean it daily. You don't need rodents! It's their room, but your home! Why have the whole house clean, and have their rooms a pig sty! Tell them to clean it daily, go check if it's not clean, they can't do the things they enjoy until it's done. We carry what we've been accustomed to into adulthood. Good luck Mom!!! ;)
2007-11-14 03:47:01 · answer #10 · answered by ~Kim~ 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋