What jobs and chores do your teens do?

[ShabbyChic999]

Hi lovely people

I have 15yo and 13yo and am realising they have a very easy life....everything done for them, everything bought for them, phone topped up monthly and they get pocket money too. They do odd small jobs like empty dishwasher, put bin out and occasionally put washing out but that's all. I think they are doing jobs I gave them when they were much younger and need to up my game a bit

What chores do your teenagers have?

At that age DD was doing just that. Occasional chores plus walking the dog a few times a week and looking after her own horse. In my opinion having an easy life within reason is a good thing, they’re only teenagers once and they should be able to enjoy themselves + focus on school and hobbies.

When I was younger, my mum had me making all the salads at dinner time. 🤗Also helped with cleaning once a week on weekends.

My 12 Yr old DD doesn't have chores but is expected to make her own breakfast, keep room tidy, clear table after tea etc. On a weekend she might be asked to run the hoover around but it's not every weekend. She doesn't get home until 5.45pm then has a fairly demanding homework timetable ie every night for 30-40 mins plus hobbies at weekend. During the week I want her to focus on school.
Once she has passed GCSE she will need to find a part time job and I will then probably up the chores.
She can make her own lunches, wash up etc too but with no requirement to at the moment.

They're responsible for

Laying the table
Cleaning the rabbits out
Feeding the rabbits every day
Cleaning their own rooms and washing their bedding

Ad hoc, and without complaining they will

Vacuum through the house
Mop the floors
Change the bins
Polish through
Empty the dishwasher

They're good kids.

DS16 walks the dog twice a day during the week and in the evening at weekends
DS15 washes up every night

15 and 11

Cook some meals
Put shopping away
Tidy up
Stack dishwasher
Put clothes away
Vacuum. Polish

Eldest can be occasionally persuaded to mow the lawn

Dd18 does nothing apart from cook once a fortnight. Causes mess everywhere she goes.

Ds12 and dd12 will lay the table, clear table. Walk dog every other day. Keep rooms tidy. Make own breakfast. Empty dishwasher if asked.

ds13 will offer to hoover and help, both dd’s are much more reluctant to help

They don’t really have set chores bar usual stuff like putting their washing away/making bed/tidying rooms, I tend to ask them to do other stuff depending on how busy me and DH are. Both great kids and do anything without complaint

They each cook one night a week, we use Hello Fresh and they chose one recipe a week - it’s been brilliant for teaching them more kitchen skills and they enjoy it

The Hello Fresh things is a brilliant idea. Will be copying.

I have 4 teens and similar to these on here:
Mowing the lawn
Setting the table
Clear table
Empty dishwasher
Put clothes away
Cook meals
Tidy and clean their bedrooms (always)
Hoover
Put shopping away
Driving siblings around if needed
Helping siblings with homework if needed
Feeding pets

I think that's about it!

Mine don’t do much at all.

DS is 14 and his “chores” are to keep his bedroom, bathroom and “other” room clean, that’s the deal for him having so many rooms to himself.

He absolutely loves to cook though and does all of our cooking from cooked breakfasts to Christmas dinner, he does it all. I’m very spoiled!

He also sometimes randomly does the dishwasher which is nice and definitely an extra, which I appreciate.

He loves to come food shopping and insists on pushing the trolley (and sneaking extras in 😂) and bringing all the shopping in. Actually, he never lets me lift or carry anything and even opens doors for me. He’s a proper gentleman!

He walks the dog reluctantly if asked or if DH and I are out and he’s at home with the dog.

And randomly, he loves to mop 🤷‍♀️.

He also has a part time job and of course school. He really is something special!

@Idratherbepaddleboarding Your son sounds like an absolutely lovely young man - a credit to you!

Thanks, we are very lucky to have him 🥰.

DS is 15, he’s been cooking dinner once a week since he was 13 (Guosto recipes).

Takes the bins in and out.

Sorts all the family laundry every Friday for DH to run the washing machine. Folds and puts away his own clothes.

Sorts out his room and packs school bag/sports kit on his own, maybe not a chore, that one.

Bicycle maintenance with DH — they do it together.

Cleans/polishes his trainers/school shoes, admittedly this doesn’t happen often but we don’t do it for him.

If asked he feeds the cat and does the kitty litter.

He’s meant to do the hoovering every Sunday but it doesn’t happen a lot now we have a cleaner coming in on Fridays.

Similar on the cooking to 👆
We've been getting 3 Hello Fresh meals a week and DS 18 and DD 15 cook one of them each. It's been an absolutely brilliant thing ( I got ambushed by a Hello Fresh sales guy at a trade show last. I'm so pleased I did!)

Thanks everyone - really great ideas - the Hello Fresh /Gusto one is genius!!!