jobs for the kids

[mumzy]

AIBU to expect my dc (8yrs & 5yrs) to help out by doing some basic chores such as putting away their clean laundry, tidying up at bedtime, unloading the dishwasher at weekends, vacumming the stairs once a week, clearing the table after mealtimes. We've tried to get them to do these jobs and met with full scale rebellion or the jobs being done really badly. What does everyone else do and do you link it with pocket money?
I did loads of chores when I was growing up and it was the norm then for children to help out. Is this generation growing up too pampered?

My dd, 11, cleans and tidies her own room, helps with washing up, sometimes helps with the washing, helps me with dinner and makes her own sandwiches for lunch.

Ds tidies his own toys away at the end of the day, and will put stuff in the bin when he has finished with it - just in the process of getting him to do a couple of little chores while he still likes it

DD gets £20 a month pocket money, and although it's not really linked to her jobs, she loses 50p every time she doesn't do something important - room messy, dirty knickers left in the bathroom etc

I am to understand maybe I should not have sent DS1 up the chimneys this morning and DS2 selling roses on the street corner

No, you should have sent them to Nike to sew footballs. Of course we only have kids now to fix the computer, download our music and put it on the ipod find good youtube jokes videos . Chimneys are so last century or was it the one before

LOL@starbear!

This is there weekend work
In the week they sew clothes for primark

To tell the truth I think the restriction on teenagers working has done this country more harm than good. Of course they shouldn't work in dangerous conditions but there should be more out there for them.
Looking forward to Ds gardening with me and actually helping and not creating more work.
Train now reap the benefits later.
I think parents should never shout 'For God Sake. It's quicker for me to do' & then slap!!! like my Gran, never learnt anything from her but on how to be a martyr that no one liked.

DS1 gets £10 a week to take out the recycling and DS2 £5 a week to feed the cats and fish.

Ds2 will help me do stuff around the house he is a good little soul

am genuinely amazed at 12/14 yr olds who do not get pocket money. please can someone explain how they manage to survive, have any kind of social life etc?

I never got pocket money! I survived. I'm bitter and twisted but I survived! But I did have a Saturday Job in Peckham

I posted this thread as I was getting hacked off that dp and I do everything and the dc make most of the mess. Both my parents worked full time and I can remember doing the washing up, general tidying up, cleaning bathrooms ,sorting out my own school clothes, and making dinner for everyone by the time I was 9/10 (makes me sound like Cinderella!)
I'm amazed by the number of posters who have not had to dole out pocket money to get their children's cooperation. I think I'll have another go at getting the dc involved when the summer holidays starts next week. Usually there's twice as much mess when they're are at home all day long lol!!

Yes make them do jobs!!

My mum didn't make us do anything except tidying our rooms. Now I have moved out and have my own family there is all the washing up, washing etc to do and I never knew just how much there was. I think if I had done it when I was a kid I would find it much easier now.

Kayzr No, I did it as a kid and I still find it mind numbingly boring. I remember reading comics, back of cereal packets rather than get housework done. AS for the ironing it took me ages as a kid,it takes me longer now. That's why my DH & Ds have to help

ds has been helping around the house since he was about 1yo. He is 4 now and still needs help and supervision but is good.

We have 'family cleaning' on saturday morning where we all pitch in and clean and tidy house (god it's a riot round here ). He also helps with whatever we are doing. Cleaning/tidying is very much seen as a family activity rather than the responsibilty of one person.

My mother has perfected the 'martyr' stance perfectly. It is horrible, makes her pissed off and makes everyone else feel worthless.

I am never ever doing that to my family. I won't let it get that bad, which I think is why I am so insistant that ds helps out and gets praise for being helpful when he does.

Whether he'll rebel as he gets older I don't know. But we also do the 'fun activity when boring chores are done' thing to get him motivated.

Ds loves hoovering get better every time.