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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

What household chores do your teens do?

28 replies

KittyConCarne · 27/12/2017 22:44

Looking for a bit of inspiration/ plan going forward.
We're right in the middle now of several Christmases and birthdays, plus New Year celebrations, and although I do love all the festivities, I'm feeling absolutely shattered with being the only organiser/ cleaner/ shopper for everything in our large family.

I'm thinking in the new year, I'd like to have a bit of a re-organisation of household chores for everyone (DP being a main target in this), but I'd also like to get older DC more involved with helping out as I'd prefer them to be growing up/ taking more responsibility in preparation for adulthood.

We are:
DP (full-time work/ few household chores only when I actually request them),
me as SAHM (doing 95% of chores/ childcare etc),
DSS (20yrs/ full-time work/ rents own place/ jumps straight in to lend a hand with anything without being asked, whenever he pops in),
DSD (18yrs/ part-time college 20hrs/ part-time work 8hrs/ no chores whatsoever, BUT only here 2 nights per week),
DSD (16yrs/ school 30hrs/ pretends to tidy her pigsty once a week/ will wash up after dinner around 3 times per week once nagged),
DD (7yrs/ vaguely tidies her toys & art bits away after herself),
DD (23mths/ kindly puts anything apart from rubbish into the bin- "I's HELPING!"

I think I'd just like to know how other families with teens organise chores and household tasks as they get older?

OP posts:
BackforGood · 31/12/2017 12:57

Every now and then when I was feeling a bit overwhelmed I would make a list of chores and they would have to each pick in turn which ones they were going to do

I do this still. Works well as I usually write out a list of about 20 things that need doing, and they'll crack on straight away as don't want to be left with the jobs they really hate doing, whereas some, for some reason (probably novelty value) are more appealing.

KingscoteStaff · 31/12/2017 19:33

DS 16 and DD 14.

Both clear bedroom floors and hoover once a week. DS is asthmatic so it's in his interest to keep his room dust free.

DH cooks in the evening (the weirdo enjoys it) so both DC stack dishwasher and wash up pots after dinner.

They have their own laundry baskets and put their own laundry on to wash. I tend to get it out, put it on dryer and then fold up while they're doing homework. They then take piles off to bedrooms.

DD feeds and cleans out her animals.

They cook a weekly evening meal each during holidays.

midnightmooch · 31/12/2017 19:48

We are working on our teens being observant and helpful - not having a defined list of tasks but considering others....but the things that are their responsibility are their rooms, laundry, uniforms, setting the table, feeding the dog. cleaning up after themselves, but generally being helpful is the goal.

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