What chores do your DC do?

[wheresmyhairytoe]

I've upped my hours at work and DH is working away quite a bit and the house is quite frankly a shit hole.

DC are 12 and 10 and little slobs but I've had enough of trying to do everything so I'm getting tough.

What chores do your DC do around the house? How do you get them to do them without constant moaning? I asked DD to put the pots away earlier and you'd think I'd forced her down pit!

When my dc were 14, 12, and 9 we started a rota so that everyone in the house had to cook the evening meal at least once a week. Whichever ones weren't cooking, one had to unload the dishwasher and the other had to lay the table and get everyone a drink.

No-one leaves the table without taking something to the dishwasher

They were expected to do odd things wen asked on an ad hoc basis.... get stuff out the tumble drier / go and collect the rubbish from round the house before bin day / make a cuppa for anyone, but not a regular, daily sort of job.

Up to them how much they tidied their rooms - but no-one was doing it for them, If they wanted it clean they cleaned it themselves. Same with ironing - if they wanted something ironed, they iron it themselves. Had always had to put dirty clothes in the basket and clean clothes away.

Every now and then (prob about every six week / school holidays) they'd have to join in a 'blast day' where there were bigger jobs like mowing the lawn or cleaning the windows, but that was obviously only a few times a year.

How ?
Partly as they've always been expected to do things (age appropriate).

Partly (for example with the cooking, or with the 'blast days'), first one to sign up gets first choice of which day to cook and what to cook (or what 'big' job to do)- hang back and your choice is limited - always better to do something you've chosen, if you have to cook / clean / whatever.
Mostly I think because they saw it was fair - everyone did their bit, there weren't times when I asked ds2 who thought it unfair because dc1 hadn't done it since last time dc2 did it, etc., etc.
When they tried to push it, then I'd "not have time" to take them to whatever they wanted me to take them to, and I'd stick by it, and not give in.

DSs (7&5) have to clear their plates/bowls, scrape into the bin and then put everything in the dishwasher.

They also have to help unpack the dishwasher and put the clean stuff away (non-breakable).

DS1 is pretty keen to help prepare dinners that he enjoys (spag bol), DS2 is far more eager to sit back and let others look after him. They also both have to help bring down laundry and load the machine.

I'm introducing chores as they get older because I want them to get so used to doing these things that they don't really think about them as chores, more the things that need to get done to keep a home ticking over.

Whatever they are asked to do, they don't have set chores. They wash or dry up when asked, put the bins out, help me hang up laundry etc. We do chores as a team - the three of us work together so one will gather up and start the dirty laundry washing, one will hang it and the other bring in the dry stuff. I will cook, they will clear up afterwards. If they have a lot of homework then I'll do it.

Mine don’t have anything specific either other than that the older 2 (13 and 14) are in charge of doing their own washing. they are expected to muck in though.
They keep their rooms tidy, will hoover, unload the dishwasher, take the bins out etc when asked. Sometimes they even do it without me asking but not often!
My 7 year old puts his washing away, makes his bed in the morning and tidies his room (mainly without me asking).
We have a cleaner so things like proper cleaning is largely taken care of, we just keep everything tidy inbetween her visits.

It won’t be easy to start this now if they have been free of any work up to this age.

Be consistent, stick to your guns and they will learn how to be part of a team. That is what family is, you are all a team and you all need to pull in to get the house sorted. If one of them won’t help out, don’t shout, don’t insist but when he or she wants/needs something you refuse, just like they did. Soon enough they will get with the family program.
Good luck OP it isn’t easy, but worth it.

Ages 10 &13
When asked will : Empty dishwasher, dry up, put vacuum cleaner round, mop floor, make themselves food (beans on toast/porridge, type things), put the washing away, walk the dogs, superficial dusting/window cleaning, putting the rubbish/recycling out.
Their rooms are their own domain, if the youngest asks for help to tidy it because it all gets too much, I will help, but more in a teaching her how to tidy, rather than doing it for her.
They are expected to look after their guinea pigs themselves (although, I do check up).
They are mostly fairly willing, as they see how much there is to be done and want my attention for other things, so they understand that by helping get the jobs done, they are more likely to have me for themselves for fun stuff.