Serious answers only please...My 15 year old son leaves wrappers everywhere...under couch, behind things....he can't seem to find the garbage can. I have tried taking away T.V. (he mostly trashes the play room where his tv is)...taken away that room from him, made him clean the entire playroom up (all siblings things), it seems like all the obvious things I have done ( I did begin by nicely asking, explaining why we need to throw things away....this has been going on for 4 years).
Anything would be appreciated. Thanks
2007-12-25 17:59:48 · 22 answers · asked by jennyjj 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
I am still reading answers...they are great, thank you!
Just to let it be known, I Don't allow food in any room other than the kitchen, he is sneaking it in. I once in awhile allowed popcorn....which I took back after finding a mess. We even put a lock on the door to the kitchen that allows him to enter through the playroom without us seeing him. I am seeing it as more of a lazy/defient issue. Sucks.....for him!
2007-12-26 18:00:16 · update #1
I'm going to answer differently I think...
By wrappers I think you mean candy wrappers and the like, correct? If so stop buying candy and don't have it in the house. It isn't healthy anyway.
Keep only healthy food in the house. It's less expensive, better for you and the house will be cleaner.
Problem solved.
2007-12-26 03:09:32 · answer #1 · answered by J W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The obvious & logical thing to do would be to not allow him to have anything that has a wrapper, if that's the problem. He clearly doesn't know how to deal with those kinds of things properly on his own, so it looks like he's going to have to have a grownup do it for him, until he learns.
Or, maybe, you could have him check in with you or another adult each time he leaves a room, to tell you that he took a moment to look around & is sure he's leaving the room looking better than it was when he got there.
2007-12-26 01:36:05 · answer #2 · answered by Maureen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is 15 and should be totally capable of cleaning up without being asked and there is no reason he should be disrespecting you like this. Time to get tough. Take away more than tv (video games, computer, friends) and make him do more chores (doing his own laundry, vaccuming, dishes) until he starts to appreciate how easy he has it by just having to pick up after himself. And if that doesn't work pick up all of his crap and through it in his room (garbage and all).
2007-12-25 18:06:42 · answer #3 · answered by Liv 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's lazy -- plain and simple. Take his privileges away. No phone. No Ipod. No sports. No friends over. No going anywhere or doing anything until he learns how to pick up behind himself. I thought maybe you made a typo or something and instead of "15" you meant to type "5". He is way too old for this crap. If he doesn't stop now you may have roaches, ants and rats to deal with next. Gross.
2007-12-26 01:22:40 · answer #4 · answered by Hoping he will bless me with #1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take away the TV. If you have to, put it in the trunk of your car. Put wastebaskets everywhere so their purpose is obvious. If that doesn't work, quit explaining and quit being nice. Stop giving him anything that has wrappers and prohibit eating in his room. Get a backbone. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Time to ground the kid if he continues to be defiant. You're the parent. Remember that.
The issue isn't his messiness, it's his defiance of your authority.
2007-12-25 22:21:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Appeal to him pointing out that the reason we throw trash in the garbage and take the garbage out is to prevent bugs and vermin from taking over the house. If that doesn't work, use your trump card. Tell him that he cannot get his drivers license until he can prove that he's responsible and part of proving his responsibility is keeping the trash picked up.
2007-12-25 18:05:31 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like Janell's idea; however, you should warn him first - otherwise you will be behaving no better than he.
Don't go overboard by having him clean everything in the house over and over. The idea is to get him to clean up after himself. Let the punishment fit the crime so to speak. By the way - if there are younger siblings in the house start teaching them to clean up after them selves as soon as they are capable of making a mess. It is easier to teach a good habit than to break a bad one.
Good luck.
2007-12-25 18:57:02 · answer #7 · answered by marshfield_meme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have a little trash can in each room and limit the amount of junk he has to "litter" by having designated eating/drinking areas. Also, if the tv area is predominantly where he leaves his trash, maybe put a larger can in there or make eating and drinking in there completely off limits.
2007-12-25 21:07:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
well im 15 a too and all i can say is its something that kids do its like in our dna until we have kids of our own but... when i do that kind of stuff my mom just gives that silent treatment or she makes me clean the entire house and that makes not want to leave crap everywhere. so might wanna try making clean up ever from the bathroom to the dishes and then he won't want to make a mess. trust once he sees what he's acommplished he won't want to see his work go to waste so he'll stop his sibs from doin it 2. (or at least that works 4 me) and dont let him off the hook dont just pick up the stuff he leaves(dont say oh i'll just pick it up) make him do it cuz u continouisly do it for him he won't pick it up he'll just think oh she'll just pick it up anway
2007-12-25 18:09:46 · answer #9 · answered by lovepeaceopinion 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever room he trashes the most put in his responsibility. If he allows it to get away, invite his girlfriend/interest and have them talk in the room that he trashed. This might compel him to keep things a little bit cleaner.
2007-12-25 18:03:27 · answer #10 · answered by Stephanie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋