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What does your 8/9 year old do around the house to help?

23 replies

Bednobsandbroomsticks · 23/08/2018 18:55

Inspired by another thread, I was wondering what does your 8 or 9 year old do around the house? And do they earn anything for it?

OP posts:
Stillme1 · 23/08/2018 19:31

My DCs never did anything in the house even when they were all grown up

DinosApple · 23/08/2018 19:37

Mine both have to:
make their beds,
bring dirty washing down,
put already folded clean washing away neatly,
clear plates after meal times either into dishwasher or beside it if a load is on,
Tidy their room/playroom.

It's only been instigated since the holidays as I've been working loads, but they are 7 & 8 and well capable of doing these things. Also I don't think it's a lot to ask.

Anyonewhoknows · 23/08/2018 19:37

My 8 year old ds strips his bed, lays the table, helps clear up after meals, runs the hoover round. He wants to mow the grass but I won't let him. We don't talk about it in terms of chores just that we all need to pitch in together. Then we have more time to play games, go out etc. His pocket money is a separate thing.
I am a single working mum with 4dc - we all have to pull together. Plus I am a tad obsessed with my sons not turning out like shit men who can't do anything for themselves.

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DinosApple · 23/08/2018 19:39

They earn star stickers and rewards like trips out through the holidays, after the holidays it'll probably be for pocket money.

Anyonewhoknows · 23/08/2018 19:42

Oh if any of my DC want to earn extra money i will find other stuff for them to do but I have a basic expectation of what they should do daily without being paid.

Beechview · 23/08/2018 19:45

From that age, mine were tidying their rooms, putting dirty clothes in laundry, general tidying up, clearing their plates and cups, helping in the garden and any other odd jobs they could manage.

They don’t do chores for pocket money. It’s part and parcel of life.

Bednobsandbroomsticks · 23/08/2018 19:45

Thanks for all your responses. #anyonewhoknows - wish there were more mothers of sons like you in this world!

OP posts:
RSTera · 23/08/2018 19:47

DS, just 8, puts his laundry in the washing machine, lays the table if asked, helps with clearing up after a meal, tidies up his own room and things before the cleaner comes in and puts certain things away after the weekly shop.

He doesn't get anything for it.

unicornchaser · 23/08/2018 19:48

8 year old tidies his room, brings his washing to the basket/machine, takes his plates and glasses to the sink and occasionally hoovers.
He is a step son though and only here 3 days a week so don't want helping around the house overtake quality time with him here.

He gets pocket money every weekend separate of 'chores' which he will bring when we go to the shops for magazines/books/toys etc

KeiTeNgeNge · 23/08/2018 19:48

They load or unload the dishwasher each day, make their bed, cook dinner once a week, take clothes to the washing machine, sort out their lunchboxes each day and keep their room tidy.

Clutterbugsmum · 23/08/2018 19:49

Mine

Make their beds - I'll put clean sheets on them.
Tidy their rooms
Lay the table and clear the table.

If they want to help while I'm doing something them they help but I don't expect them to do anything.

Flaskfan · 23/08/2018 19:51

Tidies up each night (with lots of moaning), tidies room, takes plates, cups out, puts clothes in laundry. Packs own school bag and is responsible for own homework/ remembering extrA curricular stuff.feeds cats.

Can, technically, make toast.

StyleOfTheTimes · 23/08/2018 19:51

I don’t have any children but when I was around that age my mum would expect me to help walk the dog with her, keep my room tidy, make my bed and other little tasks around the house. I did get pocket money and if I didn’t do my chores I didn’t get my pocket money. Tbh I helped my mum out as my older brothers did nothing in the house and neither did my dad at the time as he was working 13/14 hour days 6 days a week. It depends on how grown up and responsible your children are.

Chopsypie · 23/08/2018 19:54

Keeps his own room tidy
Clears or lays the table
Sorts out clean laundry and puts it away
Unloads the dishwasher
Helps generally tidy around
Occasionally helps me prepare a meal, but generally only if he asks.

It’s not linked to pocket money but I will sometimes ask him to do something ‘extra’ for me and I’ll give him money.

He’s fairly good at tidying after himself and I make a point if he complains about doing chores that we all live in this house and we all have to help out.

Anyonewhoknows · 23/08/2018 19:55

Bedknobs I have 3 sons - I want my future dils to actually like me and I definitely don't want to be the subject of a thread on mn Grin
I have a dd too - I don't want her growing up with a fucked up view about housework like I did

Matilda1981 · 23/08/2018 19:59

Mine are only 5 and 6 and they make their beds each morning, put dirty washing in the wash basket and put clean laundry away (I fold it and put it in a bag for life type bag and then leave it in their room to put away. They also clean my car out and hoover it and pressure wash it for me!! Also, they stack and unstack the dishwasher (with supervision). They also wizz around the house with the hoover. Mine get pocket money - not much yet as they don’t really understand the concept of money yet but it all goes in a big money box and when it’s full they know they’ll be able to buy toys with the money!!

Matilda1981 · 23/08/2018 20:00

But I am 38 weeks pregnant and huge so have spent quite a bit of my pregnancy getting them used to doing jobs around the house for me!!

FuckyDuzz · 23/08/2018 20:02

Make their beds
Tidy their rooms
Tidy the playroom
Put their dirty washing in the basket
Put their clean washing away
One empties the dishwasher & fills the dog water bowl each day, the other one lays the table for dinner and brushes the dog, they alternate each day
Once a week they sweep the kitchen floor

Everybody as to chip in, I’m not a slave

Dementedswan · 23/08/2018 20:04

Mine are 8 and 7. They will help tidy up and I expect them to keep their rooms tidy. They love cleaning windows and pushing the Hoover around. Will also happily help prepare meals and feed the dog.

TrappedByATurtle · 23/08/2018 20:06

My 8 year old has to:
Help tidy his room and living room (i.e. his toys and books) when asked.
Strip bed and put the clean pillowcase on.
Pick up the leaves from the annoying corner.
Sort the socks and take his to his room.
Put his laundry away.
I've just introduced him to folding the underwear and towel laundry batch.
Clear/set table when asked.
Vacuum when asked.
Unload the bottom half of the dishwasher when asked.

Basically if he is there and something needs doing, I expect him to help without too much fuss.
Let him help in the kitchen if he asks too, but that's rare. Although he has decided it's time he learnt to work the barbecue with DH!

AngelsAckiz · 23/08/2018 20:32

Make beds
Put clothes away
Wash up
Make a simple breakfast or lunch
Tidy up
Help clean the car

PurpleCrazyHorse · 23/08/2018 20:42

DD is 9yo and she does the following for pocket money...

  • makes her bed
  • helps with getting things ready for dinner as asked (laying table, putting dirty stuff in kitchen/dishwasher, making drinks etc)

She would like to cook a meal and know how to use the washing machine!!!

Flobalob · 23/08/2018 21:19

My 8 year old does all the regular stuff:

  • change his bed sheet and pillowcase (I do the duvet).
  • put dirty washing in linen bun and clean stuff away.
  • Tidy bedroom
  • Clear up plates, cups etc
He also mostly sorts out his breakfast and often volunteers to make his own sandwich lunch and make that kind of lunch for the rest of the family. His 9 yo sister will do the above except sorting g out breakfast and lunch. He will often do it for her (she is HF ASD and so is he but he is more independent than she is).
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