Appropriate Chores for DD7?

[momof1princess]

ok guys, my DD is 7, soon to be 8, and my DH and i agree she should have chores for which she receives an allowance each week. the problem with this is, we're not sure what to require of her! keeping her room clean and making her bed, of course, but what else? at this point she can't wash dishes or scrub her own bathroom and have them actually be clean (of course she'd learn, but in the meantime i'd be doing them over again) or do laundry (she DOES already help put the clothes away without complaining) so what should we do? she also helps her daddy in the garden in summertime and she helps him gather up the garbage on monday mornings. anyone have any ideas? perhaps if she kept her homework desk neat? or always returned her plate to the kitchen after supper? i'm so compulsive about the cleaning of dishes & bathrooms i cringe at the mere thought of how she might do them if given the chance-HELP!

Donya
*SO excited about DD's 2nd trip to WDW in September!*

 

[tikkipoo]

I have a chart for DD7 that keeps track of each chore. She checks off the ones she does, and then we keep a running tab. After she reaches a certain amount, she gets to have/do something. For example, when she reaches 100 points, she get to pick a movie we will all go and see at the theater. I have things like doing homework, emptying her laundry, cleaning her room, feeding the pets, washing the table. My daughter cleans the counters in the bathrooms. Does a good job and she doesn't have to use anything too strong. She also dusts the tables. Maybe you can have her come up with some ideas, that way, she will feel part of it. GOOD LUCK

 

[momof1princess]

oh thank you! she has her own craft table and keeping that clean would be worth a weekly allowance in itself! haha

 

[calie_j]

My DD7 loves to dust, if you don't want her using too much spray I found wipes at the dollar store. She also loves cleaning the windows and mirrors. I have no idea where she got this love of cleaning, it wasn't from me Other ideas are folding towels, putting away silverware, watering plants, setting and clearing the table, and picking up her stuff. At this age they love "helping" you clean and cook and it's good to get them started this way to teach them to do it themselves when they're older.

Calie

 

[KristiKelly]

DS8 has a few chores, 1 is keeping his room straightened (not super clean, afterall he is a boy ), cleaning the dog's food & water bowl and refilling, picking up after himself (that's a given), bringing the trash can & recycle bin up and putting up his clean laundry (I will fold it but he puts it up).

DD5 puts new trash bags in the trash cans (I don't know why but she loves doing this), keeping her room straightened, putting up her clean laundry.

They are suppose to take turns brushing the dog but I usually end up doing that.

I had a baby over the summer and must admit that the kids have been very slack with their chores because I have not been "on them" to do them.

 

[barkley]

we have a dd 11 and a ds 8. for the past several years (as soon as they wanted to do chores for $) we came up with some (listed below) but there was a catch. in order to be paid to do chores you were expected to make sure that your day to day responsibilities were always already done. in our home, day to day responsibilities (which they do not receive compensation for) is making sure their room is picked up (at least no major items anyone can trip over like piles of legos or polly pockets), your dirty clothes are in the hamper, your shoes and backpack are put by the door for school the next day.

some of the chores we have come up with for $ (floating fee schedual depending on how much there is to job on a given day):

hang up clothes in closet (i put them on hangers and separate by kid),
put socks and pj's in your dresser (again already bundled, folded and separated),
clean mirrored closet doors (i use the windex wipes so my carpet does not get soaked ),
dusting base boards (i loooooooooooooove this one-it is so much easier when i vacuum),
put towels in hampers (the ones that have dried out from showers and baths),
make mom and dad's bed (for some reason this was a real hit with my son esp. when he was younger-he loved to climb all over and get the blankets and pillows in place, so much so that i often put off making the bed so he would have the opportunity to do so),
making meatloaf yup-i hate smooshing all the stuff together, so i put everything in a couple of zip lock bags and have them squish them. i just have to form them into loafs and pop them into the oven.

we don't pay for keeping thier rooms clean, pet care or anything to do with school work. our reasoning is that they need to take responsibility for their pets, pride and responsibility for their school work and surroundings.

 

[estherhead]

chartjungle.com has chore charts. i found it very heplful for finding appropriate chores for my 5 year old.

 

[minkydog]

ok guys, my DD is 7, soon to be 8, and my DH and i agree she should have chores for which she receives an allowance each week. the problem with this is, we're not sure what to require of her! keeping her room clean and making her bed, of course, but what else? at this point she can't wash dishes or scrub her own bathroom and have them actually be clean (of course she'd learn, but in the meantime i'd be doing them over again) or do laundry (she DOES already help put the clothes away without complaining) so what should we do? she also helps her daddy in the garden in summertime and she helps him gather up the garbage on monday mornings. anyone have any ideas? perhaps if she kept her homework desk neat? or always returned her plate to the kitchen after supper? i'm so compulsive about the cleaning of dishes & bathrooms i cringe at the mere thought of how she might do them if given the chance-HELP!

Donya
*SO excited about DD's 2nd trip to WDW in September!*

Of course she can wash dishes and clean a bathroom! Especially if you work with her and show her how, provide appropriate supplies. I wouldn't turn a 7yo loose with bleach, but there's no reason she can't use Lysol wipes and learn to clean the counters, swish the toilet bowl with a brush, and clean out the tub. The hard part is stifling your criticism, because she will not get it right(initially.)

The trick to having her wash dishes is starting with things that she can't get hurt on or damage and build from there. If you think waiting until she's older is going to increase her willingness to help you're gonna be in for a surprise.

By 7yo kids can physically perform almost any housework an adult can do, including:
sort clothes into towels, whites, jeans, reds and "everything else"
wash plates and flatware
set the table
clear the table
make salad & drinks
mop the floor
sweep off the porches
keep crafts neat
feed animals
dust
gather dirty laundry
set out fresh towels in bathrooms
empty trash cans
polish furniture

The only thing I wouldn't let my kids do at that age was handle strong chemicals or glass. Otherwise, I expected them to help out. I did have to give them a list and be patient while they were learning. It takes years for them to acquire the ability to do an adult job like an adult. And I had to do some things over, discreetly, so she didn't get the "not good enough" message. Start while she is young and somewhat interested in doing these things with you. Because when she's a teenager, believe me, the motivation is lost.

Cathy--mom to John(19), Eleni(12), and Christian(10)

 

[barkley]

amen cathy! when they want to help out-olet them!!! my son also helps me put the laundry in the washing machine (for him it's like making a hoop in basketball ) and he enjoys dumping the dry detergent in (supervised). clorox wipe (actualy i like the generic brand walmart carries-the opening is larger so you can put the extra ones you pull out back in ) are the greatest advancement in "child labor " in our home! my son loves to clean anything with these. he also gets a kick out of cleaning with an old toothbrush (hey-if he likes to clean the sliding door tracts and the grout with a little bowl of soapy water who am i to keep him from having fun ).

i get a kick out of parents who assume their kids (little and big alike) can't do even the simplest of things. in preschools kids are expected to clean up after themselves for snacks and lunch, put away their toys-what they lose that ability at home (selective memory i guess ). i also could not believe the number of college kids who did not know how to do laundry when they left home (boy those blouses that just "had" to be hung dry and ironed, sure learned to be wash and wear during freshman year on your own).

i have recently begun to increase my dd's responsabilities at home (she's 11)-because there are loads of things she asks for mom and dad's help on in the kitchen (she has to have permission to use microwave, and is not allowed to operate oven or stove), i have started encouraging my younger son (8) to ask his sister for help in the kitchen rather than me. my daughter enjoys that she is able to do things that her brother is not, and rather than feeling it is an imposition on her to help him she enjoys that she is "showing him the right way to do things". my son was overjoyed when he recently prooved his ability to make (an now has unsupervised privliges to make) "double decker pb and j's). i just make sure the goober and bread are within his reach, and have plastic knives available for his use.

 

[minkydog]

i get a kick out of parents who assume their kids (little and big alike) can't do even the simplest of things. in preschools kids are expected to clean up after themselves for snacks and lunch, put away their toys-what they lose that ability at home (selective memory i guess ).
my son was overjoyed when he recently prooved his ability to make (an now has unsupervised privliges to make) "double decker pb and j's). i just make sure the goober and bread are within his reach, and have plastic knives available for his use.

I well remember my DD12, when she was 4yo and had learned how to make a cheese sandwich at preschool, saying "Now I will never go starving again!" Well said, Miss Scarlett!

 

[Mom to Jordan]

There are so many differnt ways to handle allowance and none or right or wrong. What is important is to think it through well, set guidelines and sick to them.

Outline what her jobs are.
Does she have family responibilities beyond her paid chores?
What happens if she does not do her jobs? What is she just decides it's not worth the money and just decides not to do them or get the money?
How much will she get? What is the money for? Does she have complete control? Does she have to save or give to church?

The chores themself should be meaningful and not seem as though you just made them up to give her a job.
I would expect her to clean her room and pick up after herself without reguard to allowance.

Some suggestions:
fold towels
set table
dust
sweep pourch
feed and water pet (you need to check behind on this one)

As for learning some new task what I did with DS was we switched jobs each week. One week he would clean my bath and I his. That way each got a "good" cleaning every other week.

BTW- DS always got an allowance and always did chores but we choose not to connect the two. Our thinking is that everyone in the family must help care for our home and everyone get some of the money that we have in the family. Worked well for us but many people prefer to pay for the chores!!

Disney Dollars work well too!!!

Jordans' mom

 

[barkley]

my daughter and son each took a portion of their "earnings" on a recent vacation for souvineers (we promised each one a tshirt or sweatshirt and one of our choosing)-it was amazing how much more conservative their spending is when they have their own money (and have worked for it as well)

for our november vacation we are paying in coinage, and have encouraged each to collect it in a container. close to vacation we will have a "wrap and roll session" before a trip to the bank to exchange it for "paper money". i've also set a container in the family room that i am throwing any change i come accross (dh pants pockets before laundering, kitchen counter, car floor...) i am amazed at how full it is getting-it will be interesting to see how much it contributes to the vacation fund by a couple of months from now

 

[ntburns22]

My DD5 does the following chores:
Swiffer kitchen, hall,& bathroom
put silverware away from dishwasher
feeds the cat & dog
makes hers and her brothers bed
brings down her and DS dirty laundry
Currently she is doing this to earn pop tabs. We put 2 in a cup for everyday she does all her chores, 1 when she does some, 0 when nothing gets done. SHe currently has $35 saved up (4=$1). IF she wants something with her own money she knows we will take the tabs out and give her cash. It is working out really well. SHe will ask to Swiffer a couple times a day. SHe loves it. I have had to go and buy cheaper ones from the $ store because she would go through too many in a day.

 

[zookeeper]

My kids have always had things they need to do around the house that are considered things you do because you're part of the family team and everyone has to help out. These are things like tidying up bedrooms, putting toys back where they belong, emptying the dishwasher,putting folded laundry into their dressers,etc. Last year, my oldest boys asked about getting an allowance so we thought of one job, specific to each child, that would earn them their allowance each week. They have learned so much about saving and spending money wisely since we started doing this. With so many kids (DS8,DS7,DD5,DS3 and DS8months) there's always a lot to be done and even the 3yr old has an allowance chore (albeit a simple one). We also have a "Star of the Day" who gets to have 1st choice of seats in the car (saves a lot of fighting!), if there's a dinner or dessert choice the "Star" gets to make it, the "Star" gets to hold the remote control (big issue for us at times ), but the "Star" is also responsible for emptying the dishwasher that day and helping out with other things I might need that day. I don't feel guilty for having my kids do things around the house. I thinks it's important for them to learn about taking responsibility for your own things and helping eachother out.

 

[tjmw2727]

I echo most of the senitments of my neighbor above - zookeeper! My girls have always done chores as that is how our family works. In return they get money for the things they need just because they are a part of the family. Its like an allowance but for us it is not tied to the chores. I guess I feel they should help with the chores of a family because they are part of the family and not just to get paid. That said, once the chores are done as well as homework and school responsibilities they can earn extra by doing extra.

My girls are 8 and 10 and they daily chores are to keep their rooms clean, including a nice bed make, set and clear the breakfast and dinner table including load the dishwasher daily.

They bring their dirty laundry hamper to the laundry room and then put away their clean clothes. If they are home they also fold but if they are out or at school I do it so they don't wrinkle.

They alternate emptying all the room trash barrels and misc other stuff during the week if and when asked. They love to get the mail and the paper as well as walk a letter to the mailbox. They also help with seasonal stuff like raking leaves, shoveling.

Less often - esp during the school year they do other helpful things. They both dust and my 10 yo does a great job with the vaccum. My 8yo can vaccum but has trouble bumping the walls, when I invest in a decent vaccum she will also do that chore! Using the swiffer duster is great fun and a great help for me as well.

Extras worth $$ are things like helping wash the car or doing something I normally do but am stressed for time. I pay per weed for weeding as I dislike this and it is worth it LOL. They know by now the chores I dislike that they can handle and often offer to help me out for extra cash. This can vary by season and they know since I am an accountant they can make extra cash duirng tax season !!

To the OP you have the right idea about not re-doing your childs chores. I think its important for them to realize that the family functions better with them and doing over what they have done makes their work loose value. If your not ready for your dd to do something then hold off or start by having her help you. You would be amazed at how cool a kid thinks measuring laundry detergent is. I expect you will find so much more learning as well as interaction between you than you imagined. I suspect the more you let her do the better she will do and the more she and you will want her to do.

Sorry so long and enjoy -

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

Zookkeper -

I want to thank you for the star of they day idea - I am going to use that if you don't mind!!

I also want to share my TV remote control solution. Although I only have two dd's what works for us is to alternate days. Of course they only get they remote during their allowed veiwing time and it dosen't apply to mom/dad's choice but it worked wonders for us.

For example, today is R's day so she chooses the shows and if B wants to watch she can or she can choose another activicty. Tomorrow is B's day so R has to "deal" and so on. They have learned alot about cooperation and genuine sharing this way and there are no more squabbles.

TJ

 

[zookeeper]

Zookkeper -

I want to thank you for the star of they day idea - I am going to use that if you don't mind!!

I also want to share my TV remote control solution. Although I only have two dd's what works for us is to alternate days. Of course they only get they remote during their allowed veiwing time and it dosen't apply to mom/dad's choice but it worked wonders for us.

For example, today is R's day so she chooses the shows and if B wants to watch she can or she can choose another activicty. Tomorrow is B's day so R has to "deal" and so on. They have learned alot about cooperation and genuine sharing this way and there are no more squabbles.

TJ

I hope you have as much success with the "Star of the Day" as I've had. It's amazing how much more co-operative everyone can be when they know they will all get their turn to be "in charge".

 

[icebaby]

gets her allowance to begin the week on Sunday night. $2 (all in quarters) She is expected to keep her bedroom tidy, and play room tidy. IF the bed isn't made or clothes/toys are all over at the end of each day, she owes me a quarter. Something about having the money in her hand forces her to not let it go and keep the clean room. . .

 

[Delilah Bleu]

My daughter is asking for an allowance (many of her friends get one). She already keeps her room clean, clears her dinner plate, takes out the trash from her room, and recently started vaccumming. How much should she receive in allowance and how frequnet (monthly, weekly??) I have considered a chore chart with stickers and after so many stickers she can either choose $ or an activity. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[Fridye]

I made a Disney chore chart from this website: http://www.dltk-cards.com/chart/chart2.asp

It is one of the sites listed on the Family discussion board that also has printable activities.