So what chores do your kids do?

[StephMK]

Based on the teen thread, some posters made good points about household responsibilities and the lessons that kids learn from them. I know my kids could do more than they do now. So I'm curious, how old are your kids and what chores do they do? Love to get some ideas for additional jobs to assign them.

 

[Dizneydaz]

Too many according to her (DD10) but none according to me. I need to give her a chose assignment list to get her going.

We have recently been having her empty the diswasher (she can't reach the upper cabinets so she puts all those items on the counter); doing her own wash and putting it away; & feeding the cats-though not on a regular basis.

I would also like her to start making her bed, picking up her room, vacuuming and dusting her room, help preparing dinner, and emptying the litter box. She also cleans her bathroom area, every once in a while.

 

[natenapril]

DD 13
UNLOAD DISHWASHER
carry laundry to the basement
feed the dogs
clean up dog poo
clean up bedroom daily

DD7
unload silverware
keep dogs watered
help sister with the poo
and clean bedroom daily

DS5
clean up his room daily
take out the trash daily
take bag of poo to the truck to be taken to the dump
ALL toys must be picked up off the living room floor in the evening(he takes out alot of cars!)

With summer vacation the girls have been occasionaly helping with the vacumming (DS is too small) and DS has been helping with the dusting too

 

[PinkJade]

Daughter - 4
Pick up her dishes and place by sink
When I clean up I assign her various tasks - run small vacuum sweeper, picking up her toys, help with loading some items in the dishwasher, using rag to wipe up counters, dusting, it's not always perfect but she does okay
We are working on her making her bed regularly, she doesn't like doing it (but neither do I )

 

[moongirl]

DS12
empty dishwasher
fill dishwasher
clean kid's bathroom
do kid's laundry and sheets
cut grass - what is safe for him to do
shovel snow
vacuum his own messes
cook simple things like scrambled eggs

DS9
same as his brother except for cooking, shoveling and cutting grass but he pulls weeds for me while his brother mows

 

[OhioDisDreamer]

My DS15 keeps his room clean and organized, his bathroom clean and organized. He also mows the lawn. I've also taught him how to cook, so he makes his own breakfast in the mornings (he thinks it's cool that he can fry his own eggs ). He helps DH and I with household projects (like fixing the drywall and replacing the garbage disposal). He does the occasional laundry load, too. He's learned to do all household chores over the years. There's nothing he can't do to pitch in.

My DD8 also keeps her room and closet clean. She love to vacuum, empty the dishwasher and dust. I've taught her to fold laundry properly and she helps me with the cooking almost every night.

I want my kids to be completely self-sufficient as soon as they leave my care... I don't want them to struggle with how to do anything. Unfortunately, I know how that feels!!

 

[caravarela]

My kids are little (5 and 3) so their chores are simple and they do them together.

They make their beds (no tucking in, but they pull the covers up, smooth them out, and straighten all the pillows up). They actually like doing this, and sometimes they ask to make my bed too for "extra" praise Also, if they want to go somewhere, watch a movie, or play outside, they first must have the sunroom (their playroom) picked up.

DD looooves to help, so she also helps make dinner (bringing me things, mixing ingredients), and if I'm wiping, dusting, or mopping, she always wants to also.

 

[luvsJack]

dd (11)
help with supper and with clean up after (its just me and her most nights so not a lot to this)
clean her bathroom daily
feed/water dogs
vacuum the living areas of the house
weekly: help with laundry (mostly fold and put away)

 

[disneycruising]

My kids will tell you that I give them way to many chores.

I am a big believer in everyone has to help out. We are a family of six (DH, Myself, DD16, DS14, DS12, & DD10 )....and we DO NOT have a housekeeper. Each child has 3 house chores, one bedroom chore and one bathroom chore they have to do every day. Plus they each have a dog care chore, too.

The house chores are things like: dishwasher, trashes, recycle, fold towels, match socks, dusting, get the mail & newpaper, vacuum, clean the loft (kids hang out area).

Dog Care is: feeding, brushing, walking, brushing teeth.

Each kid has their own bedroom and bathroom and is responsible to keep them clean. Everyday they have a different Bathroom chore...monday --counters ,tuesday --toilets, wednesday-- sweep floor, thursday -- mirrors, friday --showers. Same for their bedrooms: sweep, dust, clean off desk, etc.

Every month, we change everyone house chores.

My children do not get paid for doing chores. They do chores because they are part of the family and they have to help out! They do earn an allowance for being a"good" member of the family.

 

[foltzy]

DD ~ 5
Her room
Her bathroom (Though just stuff on the floor and dh and I take care of cleaning the fixtures)
Help clean up the living room at night

DS ~ 3
Helps with his room
Helps with the laundry (He likes to put stuff in the washer and in the dryer)
Helps with recycling

They both help put away dishes (Usually this is them handing the stuff to dh or me, they put away silverware after dh or I remove the sharp knives)

 

[a1tinkfans]

Based on the teen thread, some posters made good points about household responsibilities and the lessons that kids learn from them. I know my kids could do more than they do now. So I'm curious, how old are your kids and what chores do they do? Love to get some ideas for additional jobs to assign them.

one male teen, and my response,,,,NOT enough chores, like nearly nil actually. And he gets "paid" to do one or two, what a life

 

[hsmamato2]

teen son 17- cleans room,does own laundry\ironing etc.- empties and loads dishwasher daily-cleans sink area after- trash/recyclables daily and weekly to/from curb.-keeps rec room area decent- brings in groceries/helps put away,etc. anything else that needs doing as it comes up....
10 y.o empties compost daily,keeps dog yard scooped- walks dog-cleans own room,puts away own laundry- helps to clean bathrooms when I ask-helps set tables for dinner-works on the garden daily on his own-
they both clean up after themselves in the main areas of the house too-(mostly)
I like the kids to feel like active particpating and vitally important members of our household.
the reality is we all pitch in and do whatever needs doing at any given time. In addition to assigned chores that is and no, I don't pay them to do a job, they get a VERY small allowance monthly as a part of our family -to have some cash they can work with. Not tied to specific jobs.

 

[jackie101]

age 9
both bathrooms, dishwasher & her bedroom

age 8
vaccum stairs, living room, & clean room

age 6
clean outside of all kitchen appliances, bedroom

age 6
vaccum kitchen & dining room, bedroom

we have them do chores on Sat but they are all resposible for putting their on dishes in dishwasher

Once school gets it they will do more for the summer months. I find during the school year it is harder for them to do stuff during the week. There school day is leave house at 6:50 get home at 3:15 and bed by 7:30

 

[punkin]

I don't have assigned chores. They do things for me though.

DD17: helps with laundry; vacuums, dusts, walks dog, takes out garbage, babysits for free (used to more. now youngest prefers to stay alone), grocery shops.

DD11: irons, sets and clears table, runs dishwasher, helps cook, walks dog.

They both refuse to touch the bathroom.

Also, when I am doing housework, they are both right next to me doing it too.

Their main job (IMO) is school and I am a SAHM so I do most of what needs doing anyway while they are in school. They also play 2 instruments each and the youngest is HEAVILY involved in a sport. They just have no time to do much.

 

[sk!mom]

Their main job (IMO) is school and I am a SAHM so I do most of what needs doing anyway while they are in school. They also play 2 instruments each and the youngest is HEAVILY involved in a sport. They just have no time to do much.

I agree...I'm surprised by how much some kids are doing.

DD14 is an excellent student and heavily involved in ballet and other activities. During the school year, she really doesn't have time to do much in the way of housework. When she's home she clears the table and loads the dishwasher after dinner. She takes care of her own room and is naturally neat so she doesn't make many messes. She puts away her own laundry.

She's spent all of today doing her semi-annual room cleanout. Filling a bag of trash and another for donation.

 

[Mas17]

My boys are 22,21,19 & 15. They have been doing chores since they were little.

Don't remember what ages they started but they:
Do dishes, either by hand when we had no dishwasher or load the dishwasher
Do their own laundry
Trash
Cut grass & trim
Clean/sweep pool
Vacuum
Clean their rooms

Basically, they help when asked. Many more things, such as bing muscles for me if I need something moved etc.

 

[momejay]

Autistic son 14: carries laundry upstairs, drags garbage to street on garbage day, washes own sheets & hangs them out to dry, hangs up own school clothes, scrubs bathtub & empties silverware out of dishwasher

Autistic daughter age 16: babysits/mother's helper & puts half in the bank for "IWANTS" does own laundry on Saturday, washes bathroom with exception of bathtub, uses swiffer mop on kitchen floor daily (well when it needs it), dishes every other night, washes fingerprints off glass doors, takes out trash, feeds cats & litter box duty, vaccumes living room & dusts once a week, cooks lunch for herself & brother on weekends & makes sure he is wearing clothes...

"normal?" daughter 16: PAYS OWN CELL PHONE BILL & PAYS ME $50 RENT per month (I set aside for car insurance) washes dishes, does own laundry on Sunday, mops kitchen floor once a week, walks, bathes & feeds dog, supervises others with their chores, cooks dinner about twice a week, wipes finger prints off walls, prepares veggies for dinner, makes salad, dusting, walks or rides bike 1/2 mile for groceries on occasion (usually when she wants ice cream) works part-time in clothing store...

19 & in college: calls for $$ every week usually for food but pays for most everything for himself, taxi for younger ones, cuts grass, landscaping work around house, does own laundry or pays sisters to do it, makes sure dinner doesn't burn when sisters are cooking, takes cars to be serviced, cleans pool, clears & wipes table, fill ice cube tray, works full time job during summer...

 

[mjbaby]

My son, aged 9: clears dinner table and loads dishwasher, makes bed, cleans bedroom (to my satisfaction - an important detail!), takes out recycling, assists sister with cleaning play room, puts clean clothes away (after I've folded). For this he earns $6/month. Other ad hoc assignments are also assigned.

My daughter, age 6: sets dinner table, puts silverware in drawer when clean, makes bed, cleans bedroom, dusts living room and hallway, assists brother with cleaning playroom, puts clean clothes away. She earns $4 month and also receives ad hoc assignments. Lately she's been begging to clean the bathroom, to which I can only say, "go on girlfriend..."

I have to confess I don't understand the "my kids are too busy for chores" concept. To my way of thinking, you don't get to do sports, band, the school play or whatever in the first place unless you've mastered the management of your responsibilities. My kids don't dawdle with their chores and they get them done right the first time because they know that I have no problem having them be late (or, in extreme cases, absent) from some more fun thing until they fulfill their responsibility to their family and home. Sure, my son may be on a baseball (or football or whatever) team, but he was on the family team first.

 

[hsmamato2]

I agree...I'm surprised by how much some kids are doing.

Why? they live in the house and are part of our family,we all make messes together,so we all are responsible for cleaning it up together! By segregating 'school' as the kids 'job' they may start to believe that if they're busy with other things in life,the usual rules just won't apply to them..i.e. 'normal' person rules-as in,most of us don't have personal maids and butlers,so life is all about responsibilties,along with education and recreation...... learning to manage oneself,and ones time is a gift we can give our kids very early in life.....

 

[punkin]

Why? they live in the house and are part of our family,we all make messes together,so we all are responsible for cleaning it up together! By segregating 'school' as the kids 'job' they may start to believe that if they're busy with other things in life,the usual rules just won't apply to them..i.e. 'normal' person rules-as in,most of us don't have personal maids and butlers,so life is all about responsibilties,along with education and recreation...... learning to manage oneself,and ones time is a gift we can give our kids very early in life.....

It's not that the kids don't so anything. It's just that they have no set chores. If I need help, they help. School is their job and housework is something they help me with. If I worked, none of us would probably do housework because I would have someone come in to do most of it.