To expect my children to pick up after themselves?

[Healthyeater]

The age old bug bear of many Mums, I know, but it drives me completely nuts .

They are 14,10 and 8years (x2). I think I have tried every trick in the book...ask/tell/pick up after them/throw stuff away/give stuff back at Christmas (!! Yes,really)/rant/cry/reward/punish but none of itseems to make the slightest difference for more than a day.

Has anyone any advice please???

If you consistently put things in a bin bag, they should soon get the message, surely? If they don't, then you move on to their computers/wii/whatever and remove them.

Once they've got nothing, including clothes, it should sink in!!

I hate to sound negative.........but already been down that road!

YANBU to expect them to pick up after themselves
But I have no advice, mine are teenagers and seem to have gone from bad to worse!

YANBU??

Your job (one of many) as a parent is to raise them so they can look after themselves in big wide world.
Put stuff in a black bag and remove things they like (psp's)etc. Give them fair warning to tidy it away. Then stop feeding them until it is all tidied up!

My dd is 9yrs and going through the scruffy stage (owing that mum did it all before lol. What I have found is that if its ALL a mess she gets confused and doesnt know where to start. Loads of rubbish come down but nothing looks done as she goes from place to place.

I basically go up with her and say "right today your desk needs tidying before tea" and she does it. Next day I go up and pick another corner and so I go on. I know its not all done in one go but by the end of the week she is back at starting point :)

Its a lot less stressy as half to three quarters of an hour is enough before they get bored with the idea, also far better than saying you are in all weekend and the whole room needs doing (oh the moaning!).

Your 14 year old? Well no doubt they want to go out and look the tops for their mates. No socks and no fav hoodie as still dirty should do the trick. If they run out of clothes they will soon learn I should imagine. Or you could do the same as I do with my ds and tell them you need them to help out and show their younger siblings responsibility.

That's great advice, thanks so much Mumsnetters. Yes Coff33pot, that's about where the 14 year old is at & consequesntly does his own washing when he realises he has none! Just the other three to crack before I do!!!

Great ideas tidying one thing per day & insisting all stuff is in their bedrooms so thanks, guys. Much appreciated.