Too Young?

[Keli]

I cleaned bathrooms at 11yrs old as well as washed dishes and dusted/vacuumed. Started washing dishes (Tupperware stuff, glasses, plates, bowls) when I was so short I had to pull a chair up to the sink to stand on.
My parents didn't work us to death by a long shot but they made sure we knew how to do basic housekeeping skills.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My 9 and 7yo can clean their bathroom. Well--the toilet is sparkling. The rest, they're still on a learning curve.

And they do it b/c they like it and for the longest time it was an argument over who got to scrub the toilet.

To make it a little less "dangerous"--they use green cleaners (either vinegar/baking soda or something like 7th generation or Clorox's green brand that I can't recall the name of)

I especially don't have a problem if the bathroom is theirs or primarily theirs.

I don't have them do mine unless they volunteer and usually they only volunteer for toilet duty.

I seriously do not get the obsession with scrubbing the toilet.

 

[Cinderella94]

Do you have a housekeeper, or do you make your mom clean your bathroom?

My mom has never asked me to do it--I vacuum & do other chores.

(I shower in my parent's bathroom, so my shower never has to be cleaned. That's just for guests).

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

DD who is 11 cleans her sink, tub, toilet. Sweeps and mops her bathroom floor. My son who is almost 4 is learning to keep his room cleaned and put back his own toys, when he is done playing. I have to help him but try to let him do most of it. If I am the one cooking, washing dishes, clothes and bathing dogs and other chores, they can learn to help.

 

[dismom2]

I don't think it's too young. I try to get my kids to do those jobs, but they never do as good of a job as DH or I would, so many times we end up going over it more thoroughly, or standing over them giving instructions (again). Trying hard to get the kids to do a better job---- it's not because they aren't capable--it's because they are being lazy about it. We're not going to give in and allow them to use the facilities and not help clean them.

 

[hipporina]

It is definitely not too young! My kids all clean their own bathrooms except the 7 yo's that share with older siblings. They do have other chores around the house though. Everyone does his/her part around here!

 

[luvmyfam444]

HA HA - yes its amazing how moms have memory loss when it comes to the darling grandchildren!

My dd's both clean their bathroom - the 6 yo does the toilet with the disposable wand toilet thingy - she LOVES it & will ask to do it a couple times a week

the 11 yo does the sink & mirror. The both clean up the floor & argue over who gets to swiffer it.

I do the tub 'cause its hard to clean

 

[staley7580]

Darnitall - I KNEW I should have had kids!

Seriously, kudos to all of you teaching simple life skills to your kids (girls & boys) at a young age. I was married to one that was clueless and it's tougher to teach when they're 30...

Amen to that sister!! My husband had to be taught to make top ramen.. His mom still cant believe I make him do the dishes!

 

[locolala]

Not only did I have to clean my own bathroom and do my laundry when I was 11, I also had to muck stalls and help feed the horses. I learned I would much rather clean stalls than clean a bathroom that I shared with my older brother. Horses are more sanitary.

 

[LiLIrishChick63]

Not only did I have to clean my own bathroom and do my laundry when I was 11, I also had to muck stalls and help feed the horses. I learned I would much rather clean stalls than clean a bathroom that I shared with my older brother. Horses are more sanitary.

 

[golfgal]

Thanks everyone for your replies. My mother went nuts (ranting and raving) when I told her that my daughter was going to start cleaning her own bathroom.
You would have thought I told her she was using her tongue to clean it.
I really think my mother is insane.

Heck, our kids were doing that when they were 7--start both your girls on bathroom duty. We had them use the Clorox wipes when they were younger but the had to take turns cleaning their bathroom LONG before 11.

when i was 11 i was cleaning the bathroom, vaccuming, dusting, taking out the trash, doing the dishes, laundry(putting the laundry in AND folding all of it) and cleaning up anything else my parents wanted me to do.

but then again....my parents thought that i was a slave, rather than a child....


but i honestly don't think having her clean her bathroom is a horrible thing at 11. even if i wasn't asked to do it, i probably would have at least cleaned my bathroom had i had my own at the time, just to keep things tidy and nice looking, you know?

It isn't about being a slave, it is about teaching the kids how to clean AND learn responsibility. By 11 our kids were pretty much responsible for cleaning the entire house (in the summer anyway) as well as taking turns making, or at least helping make, dinner. I had a roommate in college that had no clue how to do ANYTHING and I refused to let that happen to my kids.