Kids and chores.

[hatchaholic]

My DH and I have 5 kids: 18,16,15,11,5. Everyone has chores and no one gets paid for doing them. Can't really make a list because there are many and they vary each day. Basically, everyone has to pitch in to keep the house going. My teenage boys even do much of the laundry and some of the cooking.

I think it has helped to make them very responsible. And, it's kept them out of trouble because there is not time for it!!

 

[CountryMom]

We are a family of chores. I can't really list for definite the exact chores as everyone pitches in and does different things each and every day. Since we are home schoolers and are here a lot of hours in the days we have a lot of messes here and there. Two rules we live by is that if you don't pick it up you loose it. And if you want to own an animal you take care of it or it finds a new home. There have been times when that second lesson is a hard one to learn, but I also have children that are passionate and responsible about their animals. Both of my daughter's have competative horses and they are cared for - almost fought over to care for really. LOL My middle daughter will run after my oldest if she beats her out the door to the feed room in the morning. My little guy will be 7 on Halloween and he has many chores including sweeping the lawn with his mower and trash collection and burning (supervised.) Each kid also gets a turn at dishes at least once a week. And both of my girls (9 and 12) know how to cook. My son is learning quickly. All three also know how to sew and do laundry. My main goal with chores is that they can take care of themselves.

I do not pay my children allowance as I have found they only turn around and spend it on junk or candy. Rather, we do some pretty expensive activities (cutting horses for one.) About once a month they get something enjoyable and not just a junky toy.

 

[debilorrah]

One thing we do: because the kids are all older teens, if they leave something around, like a dirty dish, after we tell them to put it away, it lands in their bedroom. Some really gross stuff has been put in there, including a bag of trash with onions in it.

 

[EllyMae]

THis is a thread I am definitely making my 13yro read. She thinks she is the ONLY kid that has parents that are sooooo mean and make her "work like a horse", lol.

 

[kstaven]

Quote:
This sounds like the household I grew up in. As a child I didn't always like it and as an adult I thank them everyday for it.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

We split wood this weekend and the girls had to work with us. I'd let them carry the split wood and pile it for 15 minutes then they could play for ten then carry etc.... They are still only 6 and 8 and we worked for several hours. But, I am making mine read this too!

We also took them to a coal mine tour in PA that showed how children worked and what their lives were like - 12 hour shifts in the mine by 8!!

 

[Buff Hooligans]

I'm reporting all of ya's to Child Protection Services right now!!!!!












[just kidding - I'm callin' the cops!]

 

[GopherBoyFarms]

I think we are very fortunate .....Our boy does his chores each day without being reminded, and never stomps his feet about doing anything we ask of him. We where very proud when he went to stay with MIL for 2 weeks over the summer. She called and told us "I have never been around a child so well-mannered, and courteous, and does everything you ask him, and does it to the best of his abilities, with a smile on his face."
I will confess that in the winter months he has one chore he doesn’t like.....firewood. That’s the only heat we have for most of the house so we all have to work together. DH normally brings home wood from his job sites and we all unload the truck and stack it, then Coltin has to load the wood boxes. And he has to earn his Xbox time on the weekends by doing something either out in the yard or in the garage for an hour. Against our better judgment we got him an Xbox for his birthday last year and he wanted to do nothing but play that thing, we saw his attitude change, and he wouldn’t be able to focus in school so now there is NO Xbox during the week, and it has to be earned on the weekends.



~Tiff~

 

[Daycare Mom]

Quote:
We have been through this with our kids also. When they play to much we call it "mush brain" We limit all the electronic garbage too.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Ya'll need to show your kids The Andy Griffith Show" Opie and the Spoiled Kid (1963) Season 3, Episode 21

Opie finds out what allowance and chores are all about. The Spoiled Kid finds out what a woodshed is!!