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AIBU to ask my kids to help around the house?

9 replies

IsItTimeForWine · 09/10/2016 22:34

AIBU to ask my DDs 14 and 10 to help around the house. Almost daily I have a battle on my hands getting them to do anything. It is getting ridiculous. I have tried asking nicely, praising them, pocket money incentives... nothing really works. It always ends up with me getting cross and even then they don't always bother! I'm only asking them to wash a few pots or tidy their bedroom! Has anyone got any good strategies that might help?

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Babblehag · 09/10/2016 22:36

I turn technology off and tell them I need help. It is the only way mine do anything...3 boys.

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Sofabitch · 09/10/2016 22:42

Mine have set chores that have to be done before and after school. I just keep it simple. Before school. One empties the dishwasher. One puts on a load of washing and folds the dry lot. One feeds the animals. After dinner no one is allowed to leave until everything has been cleared from the table and the floor swept.

Same chores every day. But they have been doing them forever.

Their bedrooms are their own domains though. I don't make them keep them tidy. But I don't wash anything gets unless it's in the basket.

Mine are actually pretty good at picking up the odd extra chore too actually.

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Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016 · 09/10/2016 22:48

No chores =no cash.
No chores =no dm taxi service.
No chores =no staying up to watch fav programme.
No chores =no take away /treat out.

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IsItTimeForWine · 09/10/2016 22:49

I did take technology away today which caused an hour of crying from my 10 Year old. She did put the pots away in the end but it took about 3 hours till she gave in

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PassiveAgressiveQueen · 09/10/2016 22:56

With any training it takes time, you have to keep at it, let them know you actually mean business, that you are not going to give in to tantrums.
And everybody's jobs have to be done before internet is back on? So make the one throwing the longest tantrum everybody's enemy.

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Famalam13 · 10/10/2016 12:18

Could you do the trick of changing the Wi-Fi password until they have done their jobs?

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Flowersonthewall · 10/10/2016 12:20

Have you seen the fb post in which a mum has put a poster up which basically says you can have the WiFi password when certain jobs are done? Would that work?

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NotCitrus · 10/10/2016 13:40

Mine are younger, but only hiding the TV remotes works (there was the horrible weekend when the boys were banned from telly but dd was allowed what she wanted that they didn't like, so we had Peppa Pig on repeat...)

Currently trying to instil the concept of taking ones plate etc back to the kitchen after eating. Yes, this means the SPOON as well as the bowl... And putting clothes either in the laundry or back in a drawer. And taking your pile of clean clothes up to your room to go IN THE DRAWERS.

Been going for about a year on these... I tried pocket money for tidy bedrooms, but after a month ds didn't want any. He probably gets about £40 a year for birthday/Christmas and by the time he's spent that he's not bothered. The threat of fortnightly chucking everything into a large box so room can be cleaned doesn't bother him.

Currently homework is done because Minecraft is only allowed after that, but ds has never had the 'want to be helpful' feeling. Dd used to but now whinges she "has to do everything". She's four!

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IsItTimeForWine · 10/10/2016 17:29

Famalam and Flowers I've seen the wifi password thing.. might be worth a go. Will have to work out how to do it though!
NotCitrus I'm feeling your pain! Sometimes it feels like an uphill battle doesn't it? I suppose it will be worth it in the end