Kids and chores

[Tinkermommy]

Just wondering if you require your kids to help around the house and what you have them do for their age.

On top of picking up their toys/rooms. Here are the chores my kids do:

9 year old daughter
- Sweep/vacuum
- Fold towels
- Set the dinner table
- Feed/water the dog
- Takes the dog out
- Helps bring in groceries
- Food prep (getting everyone drinks, getting out ingredients or putting them away, she will make her and her brother snacks)
- Help with yard work

4 year old son
- Brings dirty clothes/towels into the laundry room
- Gets everyone a napkin for dinner
- Feeds the dog
- Helps bring in groceries
- Help with yard work (picking up branches/leaves, etc)

I like to have them contribute to the running of the household and I think they are learning valuable lessons about taking care of their own home.

I know others who don't want their kids helping (either they don't want them to have to "work" or they don't think they will do it right).

What do you do in your house?

 

[mickeyboat]

Well, my girls don't really have any set chores. But they are expected to help with whatever needs to be done whenever they are asked. They help with wood, snow removal, house cleaning, pet care, groceries, recycling, cooking, laundry, etc.

They don't usually complain about what we ask them to do - maybe because it's not a chore, it's just something that needs to be done to help the family function. They also understand that there are things that need to be done before our family can go out and do fun things, so he more they help, the quicker things get done.

I have often thought I need to give them set chores, but this seems to work o.k. for us most of the time.

 

[Villain-lover]

My 3 yr old twins have two "chores" each week, pick up their toys daily and bring their laundry baskets to the laundry room when I wash their clothes. They also help vaccuum their rooms when I clean, although I often have to go back over their floors quickly..they are learning! They have a chart that we put stickers on for things like cleaning up, good table manners, no whining, and nice hands(no hitting), and if they earn 10 stickers throughout the week they earn $1 for their piggy bank. They like to help water the plants outside and feed our chickens too.

 

[happily single]

I am amazed at the number of my friends who do not have their children do ANYTHING!

My dd13 is supposed to clean the dishes (lost the dishwasher when we moved)clean the kitchen counter and keep the bathroom sink clean

My ds12 has to take the trash out daily and put away the dishes

My ds6 cleans the living room of toys, misc. and whatever else he thinks up-he's such a cleaner. Just yesterday he washed the bathroom floor

 

[kinntj]

Up until now, my kids didn't have a specific list of chores. Now that my youngest is going to be 7 at the end of the month , we have started to make a set list per kid.

6 (almost 7 year old):
bring down clothes, check pockets, and put into washer
fold her own clothes and puts them away (I put away hanging items)
feed the dog (I make sure during the day that he has water in his dish)
dust den furniture and living room furniture
empty dishwasher on weekends (during the week I do it while they get ready for school)

8 year old:
bring down clothes, check pockets, and put into washer
she puts all the clothes into dryer
folds, hangs and puts her clothes away
feed the cats
vacuum living room
empty dishwasher on weekends

They do extra stuff for money on the weekends.
They do get an allowance, but we've learned not to tie it to chores. My 8 year old gets $4 and my 6 year old gets $2. She's excited to be turning 7 and get a raise. This is to help them manage money and to save for what they want. We don't buy them much from the stores because of this.

 

[mhsjax]

I don't have a real chore chart or something that they are assigned to do, other than their rooms.

They do however, take out the trash, (oldest DS) and has started doing this without being told. They set and clear the table, load and unload the dishwasher, take the dog out, fed the dog, help with dinner, they vacuum, dust, and they fold towels.

I won't let them do laundry except for towels. I refuse to let them yet. My youngest and my DH get way too many stains on their clothes so I have to spot check them all. I guess at this point, I should start doing that and then let them throw in the laundry. I will work o that this summer. I do laundry during the day and I won't wait for them to get home to do it, I am too busy then.

They don't do yard work, because we have someone cut the grass and trim the hedges, but on occasion when we have done it, they do help clean that up.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

Since my daughter is only 20 months old her chores are few.
1. feed the dog under supervision of course.
2. pick up toys

Right now these are very fun things for her to do and she feels like she is "helping mommy".

She also loves to sort the dirty clothes!

 

[SaraJayne]

14 year old DS
pick up room (incl dirty clothes)
put clean clothes away
unload dishwasher
set/clear table
take garbage can to curb on garbage day
empty recycling bins and take recycling to curb on recycling day
And this summer, he will be taking over the lawn mowing

9 year old DD
pick up her room (she has lots of toys) every night (incl dirty clothes)
put clean clothes away
unload silverware from dishwasher
clear table
empty her garbage can
feed cats

They also do misc things I ask them to do, when needed.