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Original poster

What to expect 10 year olds to do round the house...

90 replies

eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 30/04/2025 14:26

A friend said her kids do all the laundry... start to finish. I tried this with my kids it lasted one wash and I nagged the hell out of them. Back to me doing laundry.
What reasonable house tasks can I get them to take ownership of?

OP posts:
cloudjumper · 30/04/2025 15:49

Mine are expected to empty/fill the dishwasher, help hanging up/folding laundry, put away their clean laundry, strip and make their own beds.
They always resist and complain/moan. Tough 🤷🏼‍♀️

WhiskyandWater · 30/04/2025 15:39

Mine at 10 did own laundry (not ironing) and put it away. Tidied rooms and changed own beds. Things left out, one warning then bin. They regularly volunteer to set the table and clear away too and to be honest I’m good with this level and can’t see me wanting them to do more. Sometimes I’d like them to do it better (put clothes away rather than on the back of a chair which sometimes happens) but generally they do a good enough job.
Slime is banned in our house after a jewellery box incident 😂

queenofthesuburbs · 30/04/2025 15:34

I don’t think I did much at aged 10 … maybe polishing furniture with Mr Sheen on a Saturday if I were bored!
I think they shouldn’t have a floordrobe and to lay the table, but I’d never expect children to do laundry!! Maybe help change their sheets ( with me) or put socks into pairs.

Countesschaos · 30/04/2025 15:33

my kids did nothing.. and completely my own fault as i a OCD. doesn't bother me and they seem to be coping pretty well in adulthood without my insistence on them doing chores at 10. i prefered them being children for as long as possible.

JustTalkToThem · 30/04/2025 15:30

You gave up after one go!

Of course they’re totally useless if you just do it for them!

KarmenPQZ · 30/04/2025 15:26

Maybe I need a bucket too

KarmenPQZ · 30/04/2025 15:25

Oh god I just can’t face adding another thing to the list I have to nag them about.

I’ve tried ‘sock pairing Tuesday’. Was a hit the first week then never happened again and I’ve given up nagging.

I tried putting you own laundry again and even being your dirty washing to the machine. Wasn’t worth the effort.

I tried when the kids got seperate rooms Friday then needed to spend 10 mins tidying, hoovering and dusting their rooms to get pocket money on Saturday. Again was a massive excitement the first week then constant nagging met with ‘it’s ok mum I don’t mind skipping pocket money this week. Maybe I’ll try next week’.

I got them to cook dinner (frozen leftovers, pasta and veg). They loved it the first week then never again.

10 year olds desk is piled high and I don’t have the energy to nag her about it

im heading towards totally incapable teenages for sure.

Original poster
eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 30/04/2025 14:51

MsNevermore · 30/04/2025 14:40

I expect my 10yo to:

  • Put away her own clean laundry
  • Make her bed, strip it and put it back together on sheet washing days
  • Generally pick up after herself

Other than that, she doesn’t have set chores. But I also don’t suffer fools when it comes to the basics I do ask of her.
Bed isn’t stripped? Sheets don’t get washed.
Laundry isn’t put away? I’m not doing further laundry until I get the empty basket back.
Not picking up after herself? I’ll go round picking up items that aren’t put away and they go in what we lovingly call “The Fuck It Bucket” 🫠😂
If it’s still in the Fuck It Bucket after 2 weeks and hasn’t been put away, I’ll assume it’s an unwanted item and either throw it away or donate it, depending on what it is.

I need a fuck it bucket.

OP posts:
Original poster
eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 30/04/2025 14:44

Ayeayeaye25 · 30/04/2025 14:40

No tips in all honesty mine both did naff all, if nagged they would occasionally make a bad job of say hoovering or emptying half the dishwasher or similar but occasionally taking the recycling out, walking the dog or emptying half the dishwasher or making a half baked attempt to hoover was about as good as it got.

This is exactly where I am! They will do the dishwasher if I nag them... then they will haggle for a quid which they can't really be arsed to get anyway.

I think I have ruined them. They have no interest in screens which is a win - except I can't use that as a bribe or a threat!

They have no interest in pocket money... they get enough from grandparents at birthdays to cover their book / slime / stationary habits!

OP posts:
Ayeayeaye25 · 30/04/2025 14:40

No tips in all honesty mine both did naff all, if nagged they would occasionally make a bad job of say hoovering or emptying half the dishwasher or similar but occasionally taking the recycling out, walking the dog or emptying half the dishwasher or making a half baked attempt to hoover was about as good as it got.

MsNevermore · 30/04/2025 14:40

I expect my 10yo to:

  • Put away her own clean laundry
  • Make her bed, strip it and put it back together on sheet washing days
  • Generally pick up after herself

Other than that, she doesn’t have set chores. But I also don’t suffer fools when it comes to the basics I do ask of her.
Bed isn’t stripped? Sheets don’t get washed.
Laundry isn’t put away? I’m not doing further laundry until I get the empty basket back.
Not picking up after herself? I’ll go round picking up items that aren’t put away and they go in what we lovingly call “The Fuck It Bucket” 🫠😂
If it’s still in the Fuck It Bucket after 2 weeks and hasn’t been put away, I’ll assume it’s an unwanted item and either throw it away or donate it, depending on what it is.

Notyomama · 30/04/2025 14:39

You could try rewards and start really small - e.g. tidy the table and we'll have cake.

Notyomama · 30/04/2025 14:38

Unfortunately you have to be relentless with it and be on them a lot. It is draining and it's tempting at times to let them get away with it but it is worth it in the long run. I joke with my DS that I charge £7.50 to pick towels up off his floor and I make out that I'm trying to make a buck. If push came to shove I would punish him with something like losing his VR set for a while, but keeping it lighthearted gets the point across.

Original poster
eqpi4t2hbsnktd · 30/04/2025 14:36

I don't want to pay them for housework (not yet anyway) - I want them to just own a task! They are totally useless and it's my fault completely....

If I didn't pick up after them I would be drowning in tubs of slime and vampire books.

OP posts:
Notyomama · 30/04/2025 14:29

My kids have both done their own laundry since they were 11. They also change their own beds and take turns cleaning the table after dinner. At no point do I ever pick up anything after them.

My older one who's 14 is paid to be our cleaner - he does three hours of cleaning each week. The 12 year old just cleans the kitchen and gets paid for that.