How much should a ten year old help in the house ?

[whitecloud]

I'd appreciate any advice on this. My 10 year old dd is supposed to clean and tidy her bedroom (!), lay and clear the table and tidy up after herself. What do other Mums expect their children to do? The problem is it can be hard work to get her to do that - I have to stop myself doing it because it's quicker. I don't want to be too heavy or start World War 3 over it, nor do I want to be a slave. I think this is the beginning of teaching self-reliance as well. She is good at remembering things for school and helping do her lunchbox etc.

Also she is an only child so it's not so much trouble if she doesn't do it. But it isn't very good for her, I suspect. Any advice, please ?

That's hardly anything.

I think it's fine that kids share the load at home. Well done for starting it.

Mine have to cook, do dishes, laundry, hoover, tidy rooms, help their siblings etc etc.....

We all live here so we all share the work.

Mine are 12.5y, 10.5y, 7 and 19m (clearly their job is to create as much mess as possible)

Agree with ML, that isn't a heavy load.

My 10 yo does room tidying, laundry (sorting, loading & unloading machine, hanging out and putting away), making packed lunches, loading and unloading dishwasher, laying & clearing table, changing sheets, bathing younger brother and sister, and bringing me and dh cup of tea in bed on Sunday morning.

5yo does dishwasher, putting laundry away, tidying room, laying & clearing the table and entertaining the little one.

My argument is that these things all need to be done to make things nice for everyone, and I don't see why I should have to do it all myself. Also helps to point out that the more I have to, the less energy and inclination I have to do nice things with them.

Mine are 12, almost 10.5, nearly 7 and 20m (almost "same here" ML, minus one of your twins of course!). The 3 eldest have to make their beds, keep rooms tidy, put dirty crockery in dishwasher, put a wash on (not the 6yo), keep ds3 entertained where necessary, eg. during Archers (oops, sad confession...),lay table, etc. Agree with frogs. it's also good from a self sufficiency point of view. My sil has produced 2 domestically hopeless teenagers who tower over her and do nothing to help in her house...she says she would do it differently next time.