Chores
By jchampany
@jchampany (1130)
United States
March 27, 2007 5:10pm CST
My son is 8. I started to give him chores about 2 years ago. I started with making his bed and cleaning his room. Things I used to do for him. Then as he got older, I added taking out the trash and helping me with housework. Now that we live in a house with a yard, I have added mowing the lawn. Now I did not just throw him out there with the lawnmower and say have at it. My dad brings his lawnmower over and he helps and shows my son how to do it while I clean the house.
When I was living with my ex, he had a daughter that was 12. I don't think she ever had a chore, or was never taught how to clean correctly. (And when I say correctly, I don't mean some OCD thing, I mean actually getting the dirt up.)
What do you think about chores? Do you give them to your kids?
1 person likes this
5 responses
@PunkyMcPunk (1477)
• Canada
27 Mar 07
I have a 4 year old son. I have already begun to give him chores. He has to clean up his toys when he is finished playing with them. He has cubbies for each kind of toy. For instance his farm animals go into one bin while the parts for his Mr. Potato head go into another bin.
When he comes home from school he helps me feed his goldfish, He helps me set the table for supper etc... I ahve given him small little chores and when he does these things without being asked I praise him. When he does a good job I let him know. I think that by starting early he will grow up to realize that in life he has chores. It will teach him responsibility as well.
2 people like this
@deesamps (653)
• United States
27 Mar 07
I personally think that having chores is important for children. It teaches them responsibility and how to do their share.
My son is 6 yrs. old and his job is to keep his room clean, make his bed and help sister keep her room clean.
My daughter is 4 yrs. old and her job is to keep her room clean and to make her bed.
They are both responsible for cleaning up their own toys if they are brought into the living room.
To help motivate them we pay them an allowance. My son gets 6 dollars a week and my daughter gets 4 dollars a week. If for some reason they do not get their chores done that week they do not get their allowance. Or if they only do half, then they only get half of their allowance.
@jchampany (1130)
• United States
28 Mar 07
I think it is very important to learn responsibility also. Like I said in my original post, my ex's daughter had no idea how to clean. It was like she had never done it before and she was 12. Teaching her how to clean things like the bathroom, or even vacuum properly (like move the stuff off the floor, not to just not vacuum there) was like pulling teeth. All she wanted to do was sit there and watch everyone else do stuff. I had to teach her that she was not the only one that lived in the house and was not allowed to just be a slob.
1 person likes this
@jchampany (1130)
• United States
23 Apr 07
It was very sad. I can't imagine what her house will be like when she gets older. I used to tell her dad that. I would say "you know, you won't even want to go to her house when she has one. It will be so disgusting." It never seemed to make a difference.
@michmdmama (77)
• United States
27 Mar 07
My girls both have chores. They are 6.5 and 3.5 and generally the oldest does her chores without being asked. The little one still needs some assistance, especially staying on task, but we are working at it.
1 person likes this
@silvermoonmyst (943)
• United States
27 Mar 07
I have my 3 year old help me with cleaning up his chores. He also likes to sweep and vaccume. I dont think its ever to early to start teaching a child how to pick up after themselves. And then as they get older. Chores are a very good thing. Teaches them responsibility as well as how to take care of themslves once they move out.
1 person likes this
@mummymo (23706)
•
28 Mar 07
I started off with mine when they were really young - like helping with the dusting when I was cleaning! I add more chores as they grow more. It does a child good to be involved with chores and not to think that some machine comes along when they are at school to do it all! It also helps to build their self-respect and confidence to do chores - no matter how much they grumble about it!
1 person likes this
@jchampany (1130)
• United States
28 Mar 07
You are right. I know I hated it when I was younger and always had to do chores. I thank my parents all the time now for it. I keep a clean house and could not imagine living the way some people do. I sometimes wonder if I would be a slob if it wasn't pressed into my brain to always keep things neat and clean.
1 person likes this
