to ask you what jobs your children do around the house

[biddysmama]

spin off from my packed lunch thread, serious question tho, i was my mums (and brother and sister) carer when i was 10 so not sure whats normal

DD (7) sets the table, is a fan of a spray bottle and cloth for wiping, tidies her bedroom and is learning to Hoover. She can cook.
DS (4) clears the table and is ENCOURAGED to tidy away his toys every night. He doesn't want to but he is badgered into it every night.
In response to the "childhood is too short" comment upthread, my quality time is too precious to repeatedly pick up Lego.

DD2s job is to give me a dirty look if I ask her to do anything. She's a very capable 11 year old. Has been known to hover very nicely.

DD1 (14) mostly makes tea and helps cook.

Both excel in the art of putting washing away badly. Then moaning because they can't find things.

DDs and DH are all excellent at making mess.

My dcs are 15 and 13; I'd be embarrassed if they couldn't help around the house and get things done where necessary.

They get £10 pw pocket money - and doing stuff around the house is how they earn it. The only thing that ds can't do that dd can is the ironing, and that is down to his poor motor skills (dyspraxia).

wish I could hover Star !!

I've never made DDs put toys away every night. My mum drove me mental making me do this.

My childhood house was tiny with doors everywhere, it was going to get stood on.

Our house has areas where toys really aren't a great problem, so I was probably too laid back.

Oh I refuse to use our Hoover, horrid great dyson bought by DH.

DD2 likes to show off by using the hateful thing.
Only DH fights with the stairs.

Star I think your dd's hovering is impressive :) can she teach my children so they make less mess on my floor?!

DD 18 months old, unpacks the dishwasher badly and unpacks the shopping into the fridge regardless of where it goes. It's a start.

We do the ad hoc thing. DP and I ask for their help when we need it.

DD1 is 6 at the end of the month and has recently asked to be given her own jobs on the rota. So, she is cooking once a week (she can make veggie soup and bolognaise) and mopping the kitchen floor once a week. As well as this, she likes washing the windows, gets snacks and drinks sometimes when we ask and weeding.

DD2 is 3 and does a lot of taking used nappies to the bin and loves helping with washing and cleaning the bathroom.

Wow, mine do practically nothing compared to your lot!

I have 2 daughters, 9 and 5. They share a room so, between them, I expect them to keep it tidy and make their beds every morning.

My 9 year old does the drying up and putting away while I wash up.

They might occasionally help me with weeding or washing the car in the holidays when we have a bit of time.

And that's it!

Fucking hell a 6 year old able to make bolognaise? Genius child!

Scrap plates in bin and put cups and plates in sink

To put any rubbish there finished with in bin

Tidy up after themselves (toys,games)

Hoover with hand hoover after there meals

Put dirty laundry in basket

Thats it, there only 3.5 and 5.3

we dont have set jobs but they are expected to help around the house, my rule is we all make the mess so we all help clear it up!

so they are exepcted to keep their bedrooms tidy, the littler ones get help with this.

put laundry in the wash and then help fold laundry and put it away.

set and clear the table.

the elder 3 will help hoover, wash up, sweep the floor etc.

the elder 3 again help cook, ds1 can cook meals on his own, ds2 helps chop and prepare veg etc and can cook with supervision.

basically they are just all expected to pitch in as and when asked, so when ds1 gets in from school (he gets home about an hour before i get back with the little ones) he will do any washing up in the sink, or tidy sitting room and run the hoover round etc.

i dont expect them to do all these things everyday but they help out as and when :)

they are 12, 10 today! 7, 4 and 18mths and even the littlest one will tidy toys etc, she tries to help with laundry as well...

Mine do not have any particular chores except from tidying their rooms and picking up any rubbish/bowls they leave laying around.
Thats it really i believe kids should be kids and have fun whilst they still can before they are fully grown and have bills/mortgages to worry about

Actually, there is research to suggest that doing chores helps children in later life. Here. Letting them be kids is great but it may be that they will be more successful adults if they do help out around the home.

Crikey. My 3 are lazy slobs I think.. possibly take after their Slummy Mummy ... I'm off to draw up some chores lists now.

my children have plenty of fun as well, they can do both! i just think that them helping out is part of being a family unit and a household and it means that they know the work that goes into running a household smoothly.

plus as i have 4 boys i do NOT want them growing up to be men that are clueless about housework, you know the kind that dont 'see' mess and happily leave it to others.

My children don't have any set chores. If I ask for help they give it willingly. I spent many years looking after 4 younger sisters and doing housework - no time for a childhood - I do not want that for my children.

As long as they appreciate what I do and when I need them to help then I - and they - are happy! As I said on the other thread, you are a grown up for a very long time, you do not need to be spending time doing domestic stuff when you are little!!! imo.

5madthings as the mother of a DD I thank you. If she marries one of yours at least I know she won't be destined to the life of a house elf!

MY KIDS DO NOTHING!

And I'm fed up to the point of shouting about it. Sorry. DP's not exactly a shining example of picking his socks up off the floor either and I blame him, but now it's just a mess and chaos and blaming will get me nowhere.

The tv's now off, the internet's off (when I've finished) and I'm going to do some serious bossing about. They won't even do chores for money, I'm saddled now with making them do it BECAUSE I SAID SO.

Any handy hints on this strategy would be welcome...

My 5 yr old tidies up his toys, keeps his room tidy, does the polishing and vacuuming (he demands to do this, I'm waiting for the novelty to wear off) and helps with dinner, he's very good at peeling potatoes and carrots.

mrsterrypratchet in my family it may be that my dd (who is the littlest at 18mths) is the one that grows up expecting everyone to run around after her, she has the boys wrapped around her finger already! she will be expected to pitch in just the same as the boys tho and she does help tidy toys etc. i think you just start as you mean to go on, they ARE capable of helping from a young age and its just what is done in our house, as i say no specific chore list but we ALL pitch in, including myself and dp :)

5madthings I silently thank my late MIL every day that she trained my DH. At least your DD will have lots of training in how to get boys people to do what she wants.

I actually think if they do it from really little as DD does, they enjoy it. Of course, at 18 months DD is not really helping but she thinks she is and it makes her really happy.

DS 1 (15 )
keep his room tidy (don't happen)
unload dishwasher daily
take dog for a walk when his brother dosen't
on a shared rota to set the table for dinner

DS2 (11)
keep his room tidy (don't happen)
take the dog for a walk when his brother dosen't
on a shared rota to lay the table

DD1 (4)
Tidy the dogs basket up by putting the blanket neatly on his bed
on a shared rota for setting the table for dinner
opens the kitchen windows (damn co kitchen counter in the way)

Ds is only 2.6 but "helps" me clean up, puts toys away in the wrong places, polishes (with a baby wipe) and helps me hold the hoover. More of a nucience than a help but I am hoping that as he gets older doing things to help a bit will seem normal to him!