Stacey in MA Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 Just curious what you guys are having your kids do for chores. I'll start: DS9: Daily wake, dress, get his breakfast, make bed, brush teeth, then school work. Throughout the day, he watches baby DS for me when I need him to for 5 or 10 min. at a time (if I need to use the bathroom, throw in laudry, whatever....). Also, he takes kitchen trash to the outside can and replaces the bag (when I request it), as well as bringing out the recyclables to the garage (when I request it). He throws laundry in the wash or dryer when I ask, but for this chore he marks a chart and gets paid - and he may refuse if he wants (but the money is pretty motivating!). I think there are other things, but can't think of them now. Used to have guinea pigs, and he was responsible for daily feeding and watering 2x/day, but the last one just died, and now DS doesn't have that responsibility. DD6: Daily wake, dress, get breakfast (with assistance), make bed, brush teeth, put up hair in clips or headband, put away the clean silverware (from the dishwasher which ran at night), then school work. DD3: Daily wake, potty, dress, get breakfast (with assistance), working on bed making, clean toys on request, put things away on request. Daily, all 3 olders help with setting the table for dinner (it is in a different room than the kitchen, so this is a little bit of work), and tidying the whole house of toys and school mess just before dinnertime. They must also help clear the table after dinner. Weekends, all 3 older kids take their sheets off for me to wash (I put them back on). They also each have bathroom cleaning chores (change trash and get TP and handtowels for the younger 2, and toilets for the older kiddo - we have 3 baths, so this is a decent sized job. I do the rest - showers, sinks, floors). OK, what's on your kiddo's chore list? (I'm actually looking for some ideas on morning daily extra chores for DS9 and DD6. I want to pass the silverware job to DD3, so that leaves DD6 without that daily chore. And DS9 lost his piggie caretaking job when the both died recently - so he needs something more for daily mornings too.) Thanks for sharing! - Stacey in MA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 Instead of chores, we have a philosophy where everybody just does whatever needs done. I can tell you what each dc usually does, though. Each dd seems to have taken to certain things. Older dd (12) does all of our laundry and younger dd (almost 10) does most of the dishes, with older doing to rest. They both like vacuuming and dusting. They both are responsible for their personal belongings and they keep their common property picked up together (and each other's things often :D.) Ds (5) looks for odd jobs to do. He tries to beat the girls to the vacuuming and sweeping, LOL. Just picking up after himself is enough, though. They all like to cook and help in the kitchen and set the table, so usually the person closest when I say that we need to get ready for dinner will do those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mommytobees1 Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 ::delurking:: I am big on chores. I wrote a blog entry on it. Chores I hope this helps. Kris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gandpsmommy Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 But my two children, ages 6.5 and 4.5, do help out a lot around the house. I am trying to teach them to clean up after themselves. So, when they are done with their dishes at a meal, they need to take them to the kitchen, dump any scraps in the trash, and put in the sink or dishwasher. If it is something really messy, I will help, especially the 4.5yo. When they take off dirty clothes, they need to put them in the hamper. When they are done with something, it needs to go back where it came from. After they brush their teeth, they should rinse out the sink, etc. We are not perfect at doing this yet, but we are working on it. :001_smile: Dd has always naturally enjoyed helping me. She likes to help put laundry in the washer. She likes to help fold laundry when I get it out of the dryer. When she turned five or six I started requiring her to put her own clothes away. She also likes to vaccuum and dust with me. She likes to clean windows, too. Usually about once a day I require them to pick up anything of theirs that is out in the living area and put it away in their rooms. Dd is in charge of feeding her pet chinchilla daily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cindy in NY Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 10 (almost 11) year old: Make bed brush teeth clean downstairs bathroom take trash to cans sweep stairs take recycling to curb (once a week) 9 year old: Make bed brush teeth cleans upstairs bathroom take trash to cans sweeps kitchen take recycling to curb (once a week) 7 year old: Make bed brush teeth feed dogs take boys laundry to laundry room These are there regular chores, i will sometimes ask them to do other things and I expect them to do it. Everyone is also expected to wash any dishes they dirty and clean up after themselves in the kitchen. This takes some reminding, except for the 7 year old, he cleans up after himself without prompting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parabola Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 I have 3 main areas of chores that I alternate the 3 kids on. There's Kitchen, which means whoever has kitchen duty has to wash, or rinse while I wash, the dishes depending on their age, they also have to set the supper table. There's Laundry, which means that whoever has laundry duty has to sort and fold each load done that day, which is usally 2 or 3. There's Floors, which means that whoever has floor duty has to dust mop the wood floors in the morning and vacuum a room after lunch. We also have a list posted on the fridge of various chores any one of them can do voluntarily to earn extra money. If I see a chore on the list that needs done and require one of them to do it, they don't get the money. They also have personal things they are required to do daily, such as help clear the lunch table, scrape their own plates and clear their own places at the table, pick up the livingroom before daddy gets home, pick up their own rooms before bed (if it gets really messy, we pick up their rooms earlier as well), put their clothes in the hamper, put away their clean clothes (except hangups, i do that as they can't reach the bar), and they are required to pick up and clean up their own messes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 My kids all have assigned chores. In addition to getting themselves dressed, combing their hair, etc. The break-down goes something like this: 12 year old dd: cleans and vacuums her room and bathroom (she has her own bathroom), loads the dishwasher (she just started this job and isn't proficient at it yet), helps with laundry and general tidying, puts away her own laundry and all the towels and such, vacuums the stairs and ds's room. 9 year old dd: cleans and vacuums her room and the bathroom she shares with ds (she doesn't scrub it though, she just wipes it down), gathers trash from the small trash cans scattered around the house, puts away her own laundry, vacuums the downstairs, feeds the dog (typically her job but dog doesn't arrive until next week). Almost 7 year old ds: cleans his room, puts away his laundry, helps me unload the dishwasher, helps with general tidying. They all have to do things like pick up the yard toys or clear the table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 We just share the work, and the kids (13 and 11), do certain things routinely. They alternate cleaning the cat litter box. They tend our one chicken together. They take out the compost, and wash the dishes. They empty the dishwasher. They clean their room and tidy other areas around the house. They vacuum and dust as needed. They hang the laundry on our clothesline, bring it inside, fold it (I prefer to do the wash myself most of the time). They set the dinner table. They do pretty much anything they are assigned to do (but not always without a groan first!). When we lived on the farm, they were responsible for tending our flock of 130 hens which included lifting 50 lb. bags of feed and large buckets of water. I actually miss them having that particular "job". It was good physical work! :) Doran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plaid Dad Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 6yo dd: tidies up own room and possessions, puts away clean dishes, sets and helps clear table, sweeps around cat dishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doran Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 My kids all have assigned chores. In addition to gettingthemselves dressed, combing their hair, etc. The break-down goes something like this: I didn't list "getting up and getting dressed, get their hair combed", etc. because I wouldn't qualify that as a chore. Not saying you did either, just happened to notice your mention of it and remembered that I wanted to say that earlier. Also, I failed to mention that they alternate feeding our cats. :001_smile: Doran Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 I didn't list "getting up and getting dressed, get their hair combed", etc. because I wouldn't qualify that as a chore. Not saying you did either, just happened to notice your mention of it and remembered that I wanted to say that earlier. Also, I failed to mention that they alternate feeding our cats. :001_smile: Doran I agree, I don't really consider it a chore either. We actually have chore charts and "wake up, make bed, get dressed, wash face and hands, comb hair, eat breakfast, clear place, brush teeth" is all listed under the "chore" titled "prepare yourself for the day." ;) I can see why those with younger kids would consider each of them a chore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Both children (10 and 6) make their own beds, tidy rooms, get dressed and brush teeth. Both children put away the folded laundry in the afternoons. Ds10: daily recycling, 2x a week sorting the laundry and starting the load of whites, 1x a week vacuum living and dining room, 1x a week works with his sister on cleaning the two bathrooms (he does the toilets and sinks), Friday is "special chore" day - last Friday his chore was to make ketchup for us (we have food allergies) and to organize one cabinet. Every day he is responsible for tidying his own room before dinner and helps his sister tidy the living room. He sets the table. We spend 1/2 a hour every non-rainy day doing yard work. On weekends he helps with everything I'm doing (grocery shopping, errands, etc. Dd6: daily feeding of the two Springer Spaniels, daily dosing of us with our morning vitamins, 1x a week tidying and organizing our "church bag" (has Bibles, pens, paper etc.), 1x a week works with brother on the bathrooms (she's responsible for putting toothbrushes in the dishwasher, cleaning off the counters and helps with the mirrors), 1x a week she vacuums the bedrooms, 1x a week she dusts all the bedrooms, on our last "special chore Friday" she did some kitchen repairs (gorilla glued a knob back on the toaster oven and glued/clamped our knife block back together. She tidies her room in the p.m. and helps her brother tidy the living room. She doses us with our p.m. vitamins and feeds the dogs again. She helps with the yardwork and with the weekend chores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 My 15 y/o does the dishes and keeps the kitchen cleaned up. I figured this was fitting since he's the one eating all the time. I admit it was several months before I was able to pull dishes out of the cupboard without a *thorough* inspection, and it did take him awhile to get the hang of it, but he's doing a great job now. So I added the bathroom. He takes out the trash, takes care of his room and does all his own laundry, takes care of feeding the animals -- and anything else that comes to mind at any given point in time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Almost 12 yo: Personal maintenance (shower, teeth, deal with retainer, etc) Wake up on own (and on time) Make own breakfast Make own lunch Clean up after own lunch Clean room Vacuum specified area each evening Garbage out Recycling out Empty wastebaskets in house Carry firewood around Help with gardening 6 yo: Clean room Take compost to pile Vacuum when asked I think there's more but that's all I can think of now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in Orlando Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 I use a rotating (weekly) chore chart for the boys - that way no one is totally stuck cleaning the bathroom or doing the dishes. Each week it shifts. My 8-yr-old is not expected to do as much as the older boys. The chores on the chart of fairly minimal and repetitive. I just got tired of saying the same things over and over. But all the boys know and are willing (sometimes grudgingly) to help with what needs done at the moment. One of my 14-yr-olds spent the day helping his dad grout the shower in our bathroom. Later in the afternoon, he helped me tear carpet out of one of the bedrooms. Just depends on what needs to be done that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 My children choose their chores each day (but they have become quite predictable.) dd 10 morning: room clean/bed made fix breakfast for 4 children wipe counters and clean up after breakfast afternoon: pick up outside after free time pick up and sweep the porches mop the kitchen floor (every other day) mop the bathroom/porch (every other day) evening: dry the dishes wipe counters and clean up after dinner dd 8 morning: make bed/clean room feed cats / cat litter box afternoon: Fix lunch bathe the toddlers clean the bathroom (sink/toilet daily and tub weekly) wash/dry/fold/put away towels (usually one load every day) evening: feed cats / cat litter box carry out the trash dd4, ds - nearly 3 help make bed and pick up room help pick up living room help dry dishes (only because they want to) help fold laundry wash all windows (also because they choose to) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalynnrmc Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 DS9 unloads the dishwasher, takes the trash bag to the outside trash, weekly takes trash and recycling down to the curb, weekly takes dirty laundry hampers to washing area and sorts, cleans own room including making the bed with clean sheets, and helps pick up living room nightly. Oh, and recently folds and puts away his own clean laundry. DS4 and DS3 pick up after themselves as much as I can get them to do so, in the living room and in their own rooms (and if they make a mess in brother's room). Sometimes one or the other of them will want to help me with whatever (loading the dishwasher, switching or folding laundry, etc), and of course I never refuse the extra "help"! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 9 yo ds: Unloads the dishwasher everyday but Sunday Helps tidy up the house (we do different rooms on alternating days) Vacuums the schoolroom twice a week Vacuums the living room and bedroom once a week Cleans the kids' bathroom three times a week (basically wiping things down with a wet rag and antibacterial wipes--I scrub the tub and toilet) Keep bedroom clean (daily) Fold and put away his own clothes (every other day or so) 6 yo ds: Unloads the dishwasher on Sundays (he really wanted to do this job!) Vacuums the exercise room once a week Sorts the laundry into piles (one for each person) after it is dry (every other day or so) Folds and puts away his own clothes (every other day or so) Empties the recycling box when it gets full (maybe twice a week) Gathers the garbage from small cans around the house (probably once a week) Helps tidy up around the house (daily) Keep bedroom clean (daily) 4 yo dd: Helps sort clean laundry Folds and puts away her own clothes (she loves this job) Helps tidy up around the house (daily) Uses the small hand-held vacuum to vacuum the stairs (once a week) My kids love to vacuum. They actually argue over who gets to do it so I had to add it to their chore schedule. 2 yo dd: She does what she can. She loves to help out. She carries her clothes up to her room after they are folded and helps pick up toys, that sort of thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisN in NY Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Current chores in our house: All my dc are supposed to make their beds every day, but since I'm not consistent (AT ALL!) about checking up on it, no one does it. They also fold and put away their own laundry. 17yo has the attic bedroom to himself for this year, however, and he doesn't really put his clothes away -- they're just on the floor. Ugh. He's going to college in the fall. I'm quite sure he'll be significantly neater there. Anyway... 17yo: cleans attic bathroom (supposed to be twice a week), sweeps the dining room (supposed to be daily), takes the toter out to the road every week and back, takes the recycing out to the road every other week. Watches the youngers when I need him to and he's home (as opposed to being at work or cc classes). 16yo: gets lunch ready (sets/clears table, gets ready what is needed) everyday, washes dinner dishes every day (& puts away the previous washing's dishes, etc.), vacuums stairs (supposed to be twice a week), cleans the 2nd floor bathroom (also supposed to be twice a week), some other odds and ends cleaning-wise, and is reponsible for the younger 3 while I'm at work 4 mornings a week. 13yo: sets/clears dinner table, washed breakfast/lunch dishes every day (& puts away the items from the previous washing), cleans the little bath on the 1st floor twice a week, dusts down here weekly, and some other odds and ends. 10yo: sets/clears the breakfast table, my plan was for her to help 16yo with those dishes but 16yo doesn't want the help, sweeps the kitchen floor every day 8yo: helps 13yo with the dinner table and with the breakfast/lunch dishes, vacuums the living room every day I used to have the youngest 2 alternate vacuum and sweeping each day, but they asked if they could always do the same thing everyday, and they each LIKE the job they have. They all help with yard work now that it's getting to be that time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 My kids (6 and 8 years old) straighten their rooms each day, do the dishes, unload the dishwasher, bring down the dirty laundry, put away their clean laundry, and vacuum under the table after each meal. They are also responsible for keeping the playroom cleaned up. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonia Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 One dd (4 years old) - makes her bed, picks up her toys, dusts, helps set and clear the table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 Well, older ds is back in private school now, so has to be up and out very early in the morning. If he gets up quickly enough and gets ready, then he will make his bed and pick up some. If not, then he may leave his room messy until he gets back home, when he generally straightens it, as he doesn't like a mess much, himself. He is responsible for keeping our main, large trashcan in the kitchen emptied, as well as our recycle bin. He takes the garbage cans to the curb on Sunday nights and retrieves them on Monday afternoon and puts them away. He helps my husband in doing the dishes by emptying the dishwasher and putting things away. He folds all the bath and beach towels in our house, of which there are a lot, because he swims daily. He keeps those put away, too. He does his own laundry, mostly on the weekend. He cleans his bedroom and a bath that he shares with my younger son, generally on Saturdays. He keeps the cat litter box cleaned out (it's in their bathroom). He mows the lawn in summer, weekly. That's all I can think of for him right now. My younger son (just turned 10) folds all the smaller hand and dish towels, washclothes, etc. and puts those away. He empties all the small trashcans into the larger one in the kitchen, pulling out recyclables as he goes.He helps put his clothes on hangars and put them away. He tidies his room on command and does other chores as we ask for them to be done. He feeds and waters the cat daily and also helps in caring for her litter box. He is her primary caregiver. When we have other critters in the house (as we will next year), he is also the primary caregiver for those. He tends any plants we have in the house, as well. We are getting ready to ramp up his chores a bit, this summer, as he's finally getting tall enough to be able to do some more things now, LOL..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crissy Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 My guys are 14 and 9. They do the same chores, but the quality of the work differs because of the age gap. Every day they do all or some of the following: Make the beds Sort the laundry Wash and dry the laundry Put away the folded laundry Sweep or vacuum the floors Load or empty the dishwasher Take out the trash and recycling Empty the food waste/compost Set and/or clear the dining table Dust the book shelves Clean their own bathroom (counter, floor, tub and toilet) We don't have a schedule for chores. Instead we start each day with some agreement about which chores will be covered by whom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emzhengjiu Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 We don't have a specific schedule for chores either but I probably should make one. My daughters are 11 and 7. Both: make the beds, pick up and vaccuum sweep and mop wash, dry and put up the dishes take out the trash clean the bathrooms except for the toilet bowl feed the fish and cats sort the laundry fold and put up the laundry walked and picked up after our dog before she died this past year help in the kitchen 11 yo takes care of the cat liter washes clothes helps more in the kitchen Judy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shannon in MO Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 ds: unload the dishwasher whenever it needs it take out the trash whenever it needs it sweeps upstairs & down 1x/wk but sometime in between sweeps upstairs where the muddy boots land whenever it needs it clean both bathrooms (he loves this job!) help daddy build/repair fences for horses, feed horses & dogs, stack firewood dd: fold all her & her brother's laundry 2x/wk (we only do laundry on Mon & Thurs) & put it away dust 1x/wk vacuum at least 1x/wk, usually twice help daddy do outside stuff like ds & feed cats help cook meals & doing many on her own (whew!) Shannon dust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 My kids are: DS 17 yrs - only has to keep his bedroom clean, take out garbage, and keep the downstairs bathroom clean, since he is the one who primarily uses it. He used to do more, but with post-secondary school and work, he doesn't have as much time. He started his first meal clean-up at 5 years, like all the rest of my children. DD 15 yrs - she currently does kitchen cleanup after supper every night. She also has a zone in the house which is her responsibility to keep tidy. And once a week on our cleaning day, she cleans more thoroughly in her zone and helps out anywhere that needs help. She gets paid for doing laundry. $1 a load (wash, dry, fold, put away). She also started out with breakfast cleanup at age 5. DD 12 yrs - she currently does lunch cleanup everyday. Like her sister, she also has a zone to keep clean. She also gets paid for doing laundry. She also started out with breakfast cleanup at age 5. DS 8 yrs - he currently does breakfast cleanup. He also has a zone. DS 4 yrs - he will be 5 by the time school starts in the fall and he will be assigned his first household chore. Right now he just helps as needed, picking up toys, clothes, vacuuming stairway, sweeping, dusting. DS 2 yrs - he makes most of the messes! With joy! Stacy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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