To expect a 10 year old to put his own clothes away?

[StayOutOfTheLight]

I wash and iron the kids clothes (obviously) but I do expect them to put them away once they're done.

I gave a pile to my 10 year old yesterday as normal. He was reading so I said when you're finished, put these away" and I left them on his bed.

Just before he went to bed I said "don't forget to put those clothes away" and he said "I won't"

Anyway I've just been in there now and all the clean, ironed clothes are strewn across his bed and on the floor

Is it alot to ask from a 10 year old? really?

That's true bigTillyMint

Personally I think if you want them to learn (so it becomes ingrained) to pick up after themselves and put things away you have to start much younger than 10.

how much younger ? I have been trying to convince my 6 and 7 year old boys to pick up and put away for years - but with little effect.

Often if they do manage to put my carefully folded piles of clothes in the drawer they are no no longer folder and just stuffed in - and usually they don't shut the drawer either (why is it so hard to shut a drawer and et so easy to open it ?!)

I find bellowing PUT THESE AWAY NOW I AM NOT YOUR SLAVE has results, usually.

my 2 year old puts her clothes away !

throckenholt it's just a theory at the moment as DS1 is only 7 months old. However as it usually takes me a week to put my and DH clothes away I will be vigoursly testing this theory as soon as possible.
If the theory fails I have plan b, which is motherinferiors tried and tested method.

ah yes, but 2 years olds think "putting stuff away" is a great game - mine even used to help fold clothes at that age...things will go downhill, believe me!
and the problem with leaving them to it re: room tidying, is that eventually they won't be able to find anything and it will be ALL YOUR FAULT! I hate it when they start with "Muuuuuum! where's my .....(insert ANYTHING here)"

Well it will make a change from expecting to know exactly where all your DH/DP stuff is....

I know, I'm making the most of it whilst she still enjoys it!

I do like it when motherinferior appears on a thread-she makes me feel normal

Ah yes, the Bellowing Approach to child-rearing.

Seriously, at 10 I do think that it's time kids took a bit of responsibility for their own stuff. But then I seethe with resentment about most household chores, even putting away my own clothes after DP's washed them.

Not unreasonable - just unrealistic!

Lol at Niftblue's mum launching all her clothes out of the window in rage. Can imagine doing that myself.

Actually, think seeker's got the right idea that, to some extent, they should be left to get on with it. If they want to live in a pig sty that's their business. I do make her tidy it before a friend comes round so they don't go back to their mum and say 'so and so's bedroom is really messy'

I am with seeker, close the door and stop ironing. In fact at 10 he could do his own washing I reckon.

My DS is 4.5 and is responsible for his own room (he can't put clothes away yet cause he can't reach the shelves). Its a bit of a mess, but I just close the door. He does however have to tidy up any messes he makes in the communal areas of the house.

I would be annoyed and stop ironing.

DS, 4 years-old, can put dirty clothes in the right basket (whites or colours). DH still struggles When I fold DS's stuff he puts it in his drawer. DS aged 3, places folded clothes in the wrong drawer, but I just thank him. Because they are young, they just do it and don't argue too much about it. DS1 knows that when he is bigger he'll be able to do all the things one needs to do at home.He is already feeling proud about it, he'll cook us a good meal! Fingers crossed. I don't know about the teenage years.