Do your kids do chores around the house?

[Empress]

i like the idea of children helping with the housework, does anyone get their kids to help, and I mean really help, and how old are they? i'd love some help with the housework but little ones seem too young to do anything and lose interest after 1 minute, and teenagers spin every job out so long that it's not worth asking them! is there a perfect age somewhere inbetween that i've missed?!!

Mine are a bit little for ironing or washing yet but they will help to put clothes into the washer and dryer. They help to pair up socks. They tidy up the train track at the end of the day (ds1 likes counting the pieces in and ds2 is just starting to try!). They like dusting and polishing if I'm doing it. They will take dinner plates and drop them into the sink (their plastic ones obviously though I have heard the odd tea cup go crashing in!).

They are 3.5 and 2 but will def get chores as they get older. My brothers and I always did.

DS hoovers, dusts, makes omlettes, mends the stereo, sorts out the ice lollies in the freezer and programmes the washing machine. All without my supervision, and without me asking. I wish he wouldn't - he's 3.

blu, LOL

DS2 (5) quite likes doing chores with me, being mummy's little helper; ds1 doesn't! But they are expected to help around the house, and have now got to the stage where they can clear up completely by themselves without me even being in the room and nagging
I tend to insist the playroom gets tidied at least once a week. Atm it's usually Tuesday afternoon; when we get home from school I tell them that if the playroom is tidy at 4.35 they can watch Shoebox Zoo, and if it isn't they can't!

If they are 'being creative' on the table, then they have to clear it away before tea, and lay the table.

I would like them to do what they do with rather better grace (instead of just accepting it's non-negotiable) but that just doesn't seem likely with ds1. I can't imagine him ever doing chores simply out of helpfulness, but only because he has to.

DS2 (5) quite likes doing chores with me, being mummy's little helper; ds1 doesn't! But they are expected to help around the house, and have now got to the stage where they can clear up completely by themselves without me even being in the room and nagging
I tend to insist the playroom gets tidied at least once a week. Atm it's usually Tuesday afternoon; when we get home from school I tell them that if the playroom is tidy at 4.35 they can watch Shoebox Zoo, and if it isn't they can't!

If they are 'being creative' on the table, then they have to clear it away before tea, and lay the table.

I would like them to do what they do with rather better grace (instead of just accepting it's non-negotiable) but that just doesn't seem likely with ds1. I can't imagine him ever doing chores simply out of helpfulness, but only because he has to.

Ds twins might not yet be 3 but I have already started them on tidying up their room. Of course I don't take it to extreme, they are still only toddlers but I want to instill in them the importance of looking after their things (and before the tidying up what a mess they make!)

I don't make it a competition on who finishes first or bribe them with sweets but I do give them lots of enthusiasm which makes them go faster!

They also like to follow me around when I am cleaning and "help", I give them a fuzzy duster each but they prefer dusting each other, which is fine.

Yes - dd1 and dd2 (11 and 9) are a fabulous help to me. We have a mad hour every morning tidying, hoover, dusting, making beds etc so that we have the rest of the day to do what we want. Once a week we blitz the house - the girls think it is a game!! We write a list of everything to be done, allocate names and whizz around scoring off jobs as we go. I feel it is very good for them - I did not do much when I was young, and as a result was dumbfounded when I moved out and had to fend for myself! dd3 and dd4 (5 and 3) are beginning to help tidy their room, clear plates from the table etc. They also ASK to hoover (how long will that continue?).

DD moves the recycling from the container under the sink to the bag ready to be put out. She also gets her plastic dishes, cups etc out for meals and puts them in the dw afterwards. She loves wiping the floor if there has beena spillage and putting rubbish in the bin. SHe sweeps leaves in the garden and puts them in the rubbish bag. No time for tidying toys though - basically, I think we can get her to do anything as long as we don't call it tidying. She's 2.5. Can't wait til I've my feet up on the sofa drinking wine while she hoovers around me. My new aspiration...

Last night my dd (6) said I spend too much time on housework and not enough playing with her. I agree, however explained I would like to play more but jobs need to be done and she needs to help a bit more, even if only 5 minutes tidying at end of day. She already makes her bed and puts her clothes away. I know people who think kids should do nothing but enjoy childhood, however I think its important for them to take responsibility withing family and learn there aren't magic cleaning fairies (as my dh obviusly was brought up to think!). Trying to get ds (2) to help put toys away at end of day.

My toddler (22 months) is Mr Tidy too, Chandra. He stands and waits for us to finish blowing our noses/eating a yoghurt so that he can put our rubbish in the bin! He even put dp's (dirty) yoghurt spoon back in the cutlery drawer this morning! He also has a job taking the milk bottle out (although we have to open the front door!). He does "in" - tidies away his toys every night and in the bath and puts his clothes in the laundry.

It's the "helping" that gets me. His "help" with the washing up is anything but! Ditto with vacuuming.

DS1 (3.5) has to take his cup and plate to the sink and help tidy up the playroom. Also has to put his pjs under his pillow, night time nappy in the bin and dirty clothes in the laundry basket. DS2 (1.5) is weirdly tidy too! Puts any clothes he finds into the laundry basket, shuts drawers and cupboard doors and says "Dere!" as he dusts his hands off on his t shirt.
I think it's massively important that children don't see you as drudge, cleaning up behind them, without assistance. I will be adding small tasks to DS1's chores, gradually. It's been a real eye-opener living in SE Asia, where just about everything is done by the Filipino maid. Children are rendered completely helpless and clueless about manners and self sufficience. It's not attractive.

I find it helpful to break down the chores into bite sized chunks. Hence my 5 yo twins (dd and ds) have little plastic veg boxes for the different toy sections - Dolls clothes on the red basket; action mans armoury in the green basket; My L'll Pony (yeuch!!) and friends in the white basket. That way it gets done in chunks.
Their own laundry basket helps as well (cheap plastic bin, decorated with decals by the Duo) and let them enjoy things like washing up and hoovering. I KNOW i will have to finish it (kids don't do under beds and behind sofas) but they do get an awful lot done.

my grandaughter is 4,and when im doing housework and she is here she loves to do big girl jobs,drying plastic dishes,and things that wont break, helps making bed ect all my three girls started from about 3/4 by helping me,its amazing the adventures chores can be turned in to with a bit of imagination

Ds1 nearly 5 always helps me do his room, sometimes under protest but aometimes he is eager to help. He helps me clear up his school uniform when he comes in.

I'm glad this thread is here as I was going to start one on this very subject. Ds is 11 and dd is 9 so they should be able to do a lot by now. I'm going to chat with them and we'll draw up a list of what they can do. I must remember not to be critical of their efforts as jamast said. I'm too much of a perfectionist, sometimes. Good thread!

dd is 16 and is doing GCSE's so has been let off a few jobs at the moment, but she does all her own ironing, puts her clothes away, changes her bed and keeps her room tidy. If she is not eating with us, she cooks her own meals.

ds1 is 11, keeps his room tidy (HA!), empties the dishwasher, gets drinks at meal times and does his own ironing (this is because he stuffs clothes in places and I told hime I was not having my ironed clothes treated like that, if it continued he would do his own ironing - it continued!), he puts away the rest of his clothes and changes his own bed. He can make beans on toast and his own breakfast if needed

ds2 is 8, keeps his room tidy, puts away his clothes away and sets the table.

All of them, will take their plates and stuff away from the table and put near the dishwasher after a gentle reminder!

My 2 dds aged 6 and 4 don't really have to do anything much! I like to think I teach them to treat me with respect and I get them to put rubbish in bins, take plates out to kitchen etc but I do most things. But that's the way my brother and I were brought up and we are definitely NOT lazy or useless now. My Mum always thought we'd have long enough doing domestic drudgery! But my brother is a totally hands on, domesticated husband and father and my house is very tidy and clean (the cleaner does help admittedly but she's a new addition.

To be honest I'm too much of a control freak and like things done my way so it would be more hassle to let them 'help'!!