Is it to young to make them clean?
By mystic_0318
@mystic_0318 (937)
United States
September 28, 2007 3:28pm CST
My daughter is 11,9,and 7....They have to clean their bedroom and pick up their stuff they do get out...Well today my youngest daughters got up before it was time(when the alarm clock goes off)and they didn't wake me up..They trashed my living room and kitchen..They had everything everywhere..Oh I was so mad when I got up I could of spit nails...It was hard for me cause I like everything clean and in order..But I left all of the mess for them to clean when they got home from school...And they are still working on it..They keep saying I'm to young to do this or I don't know how cause I'm little..They werent' to young to make this mess so I don't think they are to young to clean it up....I don't ever make them do dishes, sweap the floors ,mop , wash the windows or any of that...Today I am makeing them do all the dishes that they had out this morning...They had sugar everywhere and cereal all through my living room and kitchen and they know they are NOT aloud to drink or eat in my living room...I just can't believe they did this and amde such a mess...Do you think I'm being to hard on them? What would you do if it was your kids and at that age? I'm still mad sitting here thinking about it.LOL but I guess kids will be kids but this got out of hand...They are grounded to the house all weekend...Do you think I'm doing the right thing? Any advice would be wonderful...And I thank you for letting me vent!
3 people like this
13 responses
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
28 Sep 07
You are doing the right thing! This may sound harsh but I already have my 23 month old "trained" to put his toys away when done with them, throw garbage in the can, take his shoes off at the door, and put his dirty dishes by the sink. My 11 year old is responsible for her room, her and her sisters bathroom, picking up after the dog in the backyard and we've been working on learning how to do laundry. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a "chore Nazi", I just believe that to make a household function smoothly (especially with three kids) everyone has to chip in and help. My 4 year old loves to dust and does it every Saturday. It never hurts to teach them responsibility and respect for their environment. Hang in there mystic!
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
30 Sep 07
Thanks for the best response! Kinda funny we had this discussion, my oldest wants to go on a church retreat for a weekend that costs about $200, and we told her she could go if she does extra chores to earn it. We're working on a list that has extra chores with dollar amounts so she can "earn" her trip. She thinks she should just automatically be able to go. I asked her where's the fairness that I have to work extra to afford this trip, so far no answer, except for a fake sweet "Because you're my mommy". LOL The only time she EVER calls me mommy is when she wants something.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
28 Sep 07
I think they are of an age were they can do housework,but I would take it slow,and in my day,we also started getting an allowance for doing certain chores each week,No chores done,no allowance.
the older child got the more harder chores and got the most allowance,the next less and the smallest usually got a quarter for keeping her room tidy.
If one of the others do the next ones job,she gets the money.In todays age,you need to make it worth while,but it does work.
2 people like this
@wisedragon (2325)
• Philippines
28 Sep 07
You have to accept that you can't have 3 kids and a clean, orderly house at the same time. They just don't go together.
You can give them a mild punishment to teach them that what they did was wrong. Then take out the punishment once they have cleaned up. At that age they can at least help in cleaning up.
@sharonercastillo (888)
• Philippines
28 Sep 07
hey mystic...
i know i'm not really experience to say this.. but i read from a book, its a true story. sorry i forgot who wrote it ( i lend the book, it was never return)
the author train her kids, as young as 5 years old to clean their messes... but you have to be creative... it should be not like a chore but like playtime for them..
my daughter is 23 months old, i'm trying to practice what i have learned in that book to her,
as early as now, i have her help me arranging her books, or if she throw her crayons on the floor, i ask her to help me pick it up...
its hard to train a little girl to clean her mess... but my little girl sometimes amazes me... just by putting her things in one place... and if you ask her where she put her things, she knows where to get it...
2 people like this
@crazed_moma (1054)
• United States
28 Sep 07
Sounds realistic to me! My kids have done that sort of thing before (hey my oldest three are the same age as yours) and they are definately not to young to clean up a mess like that. I don't think I would've been able to leave it that long though and would've wound up cleaning a bit my self.
I hope they learn not to do that again. :)
1 person likes this
@bluesapphire1978 (61)
• Canada
28 Sep 07
your first mistake is to NEVER have them do dishes, sweep the floor, mop, etc. my son has been cleaning his own room and toys that he plays with in the living room ever since he was 3 years old. you're not helping them at all by doing everything for them. it will just make them take advantage of you. if my son did what your kids did, i would spank him and then also make him clean it all up. i would not tolerate that.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
29 Sep 07
You definitely are doing the right thing. They are never too young to clean up the mess they have created. Even a two-year old can be taught to clean up a spill.
My 7 year old has to clean up his room and put things back after he's done playing (he does slip up sometimes). He even helps me when we do spring cleaning. He also has to wash his plate (only his) after meals. He loves doing that though.
But you really have to be careful that the cycle of them messing up and then you grounding them doesn't continue. Maybe you can take away a privilege then or ground them in their room. If they mess up their room, let it be (I know it's tough when you like a clean place). But soon they'll realize they don't like it that way either. Maybe the clean fairy would refuse to cook for them till they've cleaned up?
@gloria777 (1674)
• India
29 Sep 07
I think its a good idea. Children should be accomodated with such routine works so that we don't get bother later.
@emarie (5442)
• United States
3 Oct 07
Crime and Punishment. They're old enough to know that by now. My child is 5 and if his little butt makes a mess, he cleans it up. and if he doesn't he gets privileges, or items taken away, but there will always be a punishment. kids come up with a lot of excuses...enough to write a book on. Its better hard on them now and have then learn then to have them act wild and not listen to you when they're teens.
@cipher2004 (1183)
• United States
29 Sep 07
I do believe that you are correct in making them clean.And they should be punished.They are old enough to know what is right and what is wrong.And they are surely old enough to clean.I have been watching 2 children since they were 3 and 4.They also have been cleaning their rooms since then.They are now 4 and 5 and still cleaning.They even fold there own clothes and out them in the drawers theirselves.When I bring them over to my house to spend the night they even make the bed in the morning.They are really grown up for their age.My husband calls them aliens because they are such neat freaks.
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
29 Sep 07
I know it is hard to leave the mess all over your house until they can get it cleaned but I think you did the right thing. Teaching them that they cant make excuses and that they are part of the mess so they will be part of the cleaning is great to start kids young. I have chores for my 2 year old. She does not do them as well as I would hve done them but I refuse to be the family slave.
@ssf12ster (488)
• India
29 Sep 07
yes dot need to make them do that they r too young. if they are above 14 its ok ifeel.yes make them understand things.yes u may be a pretty hard on them avoid it.
@mikeb270 (54)
• United States
29 Sep 07
My oldest duaghter used to wake up before everyone else and like to get into staff in the bathroom, she is 7 now and does not do it anymore but I still put stuff high.
I think your punishment was not too harsh.
