How much do your children help?

[Boo321]

I have four children, a daughter aged 11,2 sons 9 and 7 and an 18mth old.I work a little and most of the time have an aupair who would help generally clearing and tiding up.I feel that it is important for the children to understand that they need to help in the general scheme of family life but always run into confrontation when I ask for help. My daughter is great at helping with the baby ,chivying her brothers along and even does a bit of ironing for me but always on her terms,if she is not in the mood forget it!one son is more willing and the other very good at being busy when needed.Sometimes it seems easier to do it myself,especially if they are playing nicely(rare)but I just don't feel thats fair on me or them as they will not be prepared well for adult life and surely it is important for them to start assuming some resposibility,no matter how small. As a child I was always expected to help with laying /clearing the table and would never have dreamt of walking away leaving a huge mess.
How much do your children help you and how do you manage it without world war 3 breaking out?

Tigermoth, my two boys like hoovering although you have to supervise because after a while they get bored and start hoovering up vital items (like the cat). Have you tried bribery? Mine get a bonus on their pocket money if they'll do an agreed chore for a week - like picking up the windfall apples. Worked for a while....

Hi,I have three boy's,age's 5,11 and 12.
My children hate house work,it's the youngest that like's to help me,he like's to hoover the living room,and dust,he also like's to help me in the garden.
My older two boy's don't like doing chores,I ask them to dry up for me during the week,I get them to take turn's.they used to do the washing and drying up together but that just ends up in argument's,so I wash up all the time now.
As for their room's,I am fed up telling them to do them.I end up going in there and doing their room's which I know I shouldn't,but every room need's that woman's touch,as boy's are useless at house work,well mine are!.
They alway's tell me they've done their room's and I go and see,and they've stuffed stuff under the bed's etc.
Has anyone got some tip's for me?.

We were like that, it always ended in arguments when it came to doing the dishes.

It's nicer if they want to help but maybe I'm dreaming. Unfortunately, my little boy thinks he's helping but makes more mess LOL!

my 3 year old boy loves helping mummy load and empty the dishwasher which is great!!!
He also tries to help when I wash the kitchen floor which is not so great. Either way he has started to love helping me in cleaning the house etc. Long may it last but I'm not holding my breath.