Do your kids have chores?

[Wildsky]

My kids don't do enough!!!!

 

[Break an Egg]

My kids can't even eat breakfast until they have brushed their teeth, washed their face and made their bed. I feel as though I am not denying them anything, they can have pancakes and sausage when they come to the table prepared.

I also don't let them have any fun time until they have done their daily chores. They each have 2 chores a day, and it rotates daily.

If she refuses to do her chores, I would refuse to allow her the privilege of free time.

I hope my advice helps, kids can be so tough, I have 4 stepkids that came to live with us recently, and a 2 yr old.

 

[max13077]

Quote:
That's the real problem. When he does hold out his hand, they fill it! It’s a quick fix sort of thing. Like setting a little kid in front of the tv. They continually perpetuate the problem then complain when they are met with the further repercussions from doing so.

I actually had one kid who told his parents they had to buy him a Nintendo or whatever they are or he would turn them in for neglect and child abuse. That’s how warped some of these kids minds are. They have such an unbelievable sense of entitlement, they can actually rationalize saying something like that to their parents, and believe it!! That’s the part that scares me!

I’d loved to have seen the look on my fathers face if I even said anything even remotely close to that!!!! My parents are my two best friends don’t get me wrong. I never wanted for anything. However they and I both knew where the line was and just never crossed it.

 

[dixiechick]

You are dead on! These were the rules when I was growing up too. My kids don't eat until all the animals eat...not a really big deal, it would seem. But chores do teach responsibility, and gives kids time away from video games, TV, etc.

Families should pull together always.....chores should be no different!

 

[Beekissed]

I’d loved to have seen the look on my fathers face

....as I went flying through the air into next week!

My kids go to Sunday school with one such child and he was screaming at his mother one day (16 years old). My son was watching in amazement with his mouth hanging open and this kid looks at him and said, "What?" My son just replied that he couldn't believe he was talking to his mother in that way. The boy asked him if he never talked to his mother that way? My boy looked at him and laughed and said, "Not unless I wanted to spend the rest of my life in a wheel chair!"

 

[max13077]

Quote:
That's the thing, but with an ironic twist. Did you ever say stuff like that to your parents that would possibly elicit a response like that from them?? I know I didn't. I was scared. They never put a hand on me though. Did you know what would happen if you did say or do something? I did not, and I didn't want to find out either. That's where the ironic twist is. Parents back then could say and do stuff, without saying and doing stuff. You knew if you pe'od dad, things were looking pretty grim. So did you? Maybe it happened once or twice. Those landmark days you remember.

"Doc, all I remember is that I told my Dad "I don't care if you don't want me driving the car."

"Then what happened?"

"Well it got all black then I woke up here with the nurse putting in the cathe(oops family forum)..."

But most of all, I think it was you knew it really bothered your parents if you did something wrong. You had the respect for them so you didn‘t do it. Kids today just don’t care. They have their sights clearly focused on numero uno. Maybe it will change, but I doubt it as this rate.

 

[me&thegals]

I am SO, SO, SO grateful for my parents' and grandparents' work ethics. Hard work was highly valued and good workers highly respected in the family I grew up in. My grandparents would call my parents with reports on how we had worked for them when we helped out

Now that I'm all grown up, I have an endless capacity for work and actually enjoy it. Thanks, mom and dad!

My kids help with all day-to-day chores without pay. They also get a small allowance to learn how to deal with money. Half ($1) goes into savings, the other half is theirs to blow or save.

Because I have a gardening business and profit from that, anything they do to help me with that is a way for them to earn extra money. For example, I pay one penny per trapped Japanese beetle (approximately--I don't count!!) When either child starts to get a bit greedy and start asking the value of every extra job, I get really stingy and start talking to them again about how much they are cared for, how we all work together.

What I find really challenging is being consistent. It can be REALLY HARD WORK to teach kids how to work--SO much easier to just do it myself! When I'm really in a rush, I can sometimes slip back into doing it myself rather than dealing with whining, slipshod jobs, etc., that I sometimes have to work through with them.

On the other hand, I have also noticed that they (ages 6 and 8) seem to have a real sense of self pride and accomplishment the more work they have to do. So much better than just lying around (we don't have TV or all the other stuff). They do not ever complain of boredom since then know I'd be happy to assign work to help them out

 

[pdsavage]

If one of my kids said give me this or ill call child abuse on you I would say give me the phone ill call em for you.
I have great kids who show me respect and i show them the same respect.Even though other kids have alot more then them they don't complain.
In my house we don't use credit/cards,but we have been able to buy or house and vehicals and there bought lock,stock and barrel.So my kids are learning to buy with only the money you have and to save up for what you want.
They know that when they get a good education and have thier own life they can buy want they want.
i was at the sale ysterday and picking up my new chickens from the loading dock.This little girl winned but everytime i would give her a stern look she would stop.I wanted to say so badley hey thats enough of that young lady.
In my house the more you wine* and ask for something the more i say no.

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
The choice would be totally yours . Just because other parents do differently does not mean that your choices of how to raise your children are wrong .


I am wondering about this 1 1/2 acrea of property that SHE has to mow every week . Seem like alot for a 10 year old to do .
I might be paying her for mowing that OR hiring an older person to do it .

 

[Beekissed]

Please, my sister and I were doing 6 acres with push mowers at that age. We started at one end of the week and started again at the other end of the week. What else does a 10 year old have to do with their time, at this point? Play video games? Watch TV? Talk on the phone?

People, its walking in a yard, pushing a mower. Once a week.

Exercise, sunshine and a sense of purpose and contributing to the family work load is not going to kill a 10 year old. Its not heavy lifting, its not strenuous, one can stroll, listen to music, sing a song, contemplate the universe, whatever. Anyone who feels this is work of a strenuous nature needs to do some "real" work.