7 year old boy

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Hi. My DS has just turned 7 years old and I think should have some responsibilities within the home.

What do you expect your 7 year old to do?

This thread has been prompted by me reading threads about teenagers who cant do anything for themselves and I am determined my son wont be like that!!

Or do you think they shouldn't do anything?

Ds is 7yo and suffers from lazyitis BUT I insist he takes his clean washing to him room and puts his underwear into his drawers. He can't reach the hangers so I do that. I also ask ds and dd to set the table for dinner and do drinks for everyone. They both strip their beds and put linen into utility room. Ds will then volunteer to remake all the beds with me which is nice . He makes himself toast or simple sandwiches and has even made me breakfast in bed (without a cup of tea though) but ate it himself sitting beside me . I get him to pack his own kit for swimming, karate, football etc. He actually enjoys it I think.

My Ds(7) will hoover( badly!) if asked, he is also expected to put his own plate in the dishwasher after tea.

He will help chop veg for dinner and also has to tidy his room. He doesn't have any proper responsibilities though really, although that is all about to change as I start work full time next week

DS1 has just turned 7 and for the last year or so has been expected to put clean clothes away in drawers. He is also expected to put dirty clothes in the laundry basket.

He can also vaccuum the kitchen floor fo me and will do other small jobs if asked.

crumbs

I really need to address things!!!

My son at the moment will put dirty clothes in linen basket, put away own underwear, carry over plate to kitchen, completely tidy bedroom once a week.

Is that reasonable or should he do more.....

Am thinking he should learn how to make simple foods.

many thanks for your replies.

DS makes his own snacks and drinks, can make us hot drinks if fully supervised. He makes his bed daily, keeps his room tidy and sorts out clean and dirty clothes (sometimes clothes are shoved in drawers badly tho!)and strips his bed, we put the clean sheets on together.Every few weeks I get in his room with him if it needs a proper sort out (he is a horder of crap).

He baths, showers and hairwashes himself, but I still have to keep an eye on teeth brushing, he packs his own swimming, football kit.

He helps me polish mirrors and stainless steel and takes the recycling out. We usually get him to lay the table and clear it. He sometimes mops the floor but that is for his enjoyment really- its always a soaking mess!

He does need reminding to do alot of this though. He hates hoovering and sweeping.

My dd is 7 and my ds is 9. And although I have a housekeeper, I expect them to:

1. Morning Chores: make their bed every morning (we're not talking hospital corners, just straightening a duvet), open their curtains, dress themselves
2. Laundry Chores: put their own clothes in the dirty laundry, fold their own clothes and put them away (after I have done the laundry).
3. Table Chores: Set and clear the table, rinse and put dishes in the dishwasher, wipe down table, use dustbuster to clean crumbs under dining table.
4. Personal Hygiene: Brush their teeth, shower on their own (this includes dd washing, conditioning and brushing her waist length hair by herself), wipe toilet seat after bad aim incidents
5. General Chores: Take out the garbage and recycling when asked, feed the fish when asked, water the vegetables when asked.
6. Schoolwork: Do homework without being reminded (they haven't actually mastered this one )

PS. I have expected most of the above from them for several years now.

I would expect a 7 year old to put clothes in laundry ,take plate out and generally help out in a 7 year old way ... .but would not set him 'chores'

Yes, I agree with a general helping out as part of the family rather than set chores as ds then demands payment . None of the above are unrealisitic for a 7 yo imho.

I think that chores are something that should be expected of everyone in the household as responsibility that comes from being part of the household. Pocket money is something that parents give to their children because that's part of parenting. The two were never connected in my family growing up and I am doing the same with my children.

Oh and, I think that if you expect your children to do things like make their bed, it's important to make sure you are setting a good example and doing it yourself (I have to keep reminding dh of this!)

Mine is 7 too.
He puts his washing in the basket & brings basket down when it is half full.

Puts the family rubbish out every other day and sorts the recycling into the correct bins.

He occasionally puts the dishes away out of the dishwasher.
We give him £2 for the bins (a week)

My aim is a self sufficient individual.I am determined that he will pull his weight, and not expect anything from any one. This is very important to me.

£2 is because he is an avid saver, if he wants something he saves and buys it himself.

I work with young people and the number who seem to think that they are owed a living is beyond belief. It is for that reason that I have encoursged both my DC to do as much as possible. They make their own breakfast and drinks. (Cold - wouldn't let them loose near a kettle!)They can empty the dishwasher and load it (badly!) and help with things like dusting and watering the plants. For this they get 50p per job. They have a chart which they are trusted to update. (Exel spreadsheet)- They are learning the value of money and honesty and also some computer skills.
My DS has just saved up and bought a new sonic screwdriver and it meant so much more to him because he had earned it. Also this helped when explaining why we wouldn't buy him a toy in the supermarket- saying that costs £20 doesn't mean much when your 7 but saying you would need to save for even longer than it took you to get the screwdriver meant he stopped arguing straight away.