Scuff Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 My older 3 do their own. The 6yo does need help. I do the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 My older 2 (9 and 7) did their own last summer with some folding help. During the school year we just don't make the time. DH does get them to help with folding towels and sorting socks many weekends and they bring their clothes up to their room once folded. Brownie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Right now they help me, but don't do it independently (YET!). They each have their own laundry basket. On "their" day, they scoot it to the laundry room before breakfast and help me put it in the washer, add the soap, and start it. Then at lunch they go transfer it to the drier and start the drier. After dinner, they put it away (only dd7 does this by herself). Works pretty well! We do Sunday, grownups & kitchen/linens; Monday, DD7; Tuesday, DS5; Wednesday, DD4; and Thursday, DS3. Dreaming of the day when I only do 3 loads of laundry every Sunday. :) And I almost forgot - everyone tosses their white shirts/dresses (I don't worry about underwear/socks) into a separate bin in the laundry room as they put their laundry in the washer. I do that white load on Sunday too, so I guess that's 4 loads for me! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anita in NC Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I voted YES because they do their own clothes but they also do the rest of the families laundry. DS14 is now training DS11 to take over laundry duty. Eventually DS11 will train DS7 when he is old enough to do everyone's laundry. The kids are responsible for washing and drying and I fold and put the laundry away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I have a front load, and I do one to two loads of each "type" of clothing each week. One load of socks with everyone's white socks in that load, one load of "grubbies" for dh and ds's work clothes, etc. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Dds began doing their own laundry when they were, I dunno, 12ish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I do all the laundry. I have them bring their laundry downstairs to me, but I actually run them through the washer and dryer and fold them. I don't mind doing laundry. I HATE doing dishes. That's what I have the kids do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafiki Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*Jessica* Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I voted "no" but my children are only 7 & 5. They do help load the washing machine sometimes, and also sometimes unload the dryer. They also help put their own clothing away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 My kids have helped with laundry since they were toddlers. By the time they were 11 or 12ish they were doing it all on their own. I do dh's and my laundry. And we help each other out as needed. My middle one BEGGED to do his own laundry, so he started younger! :lol: We did not see a differenece in costs with them doing their own laundry. They do it so infrequently that it IS full loads when they get around to it! :D Our HMO doesn't allow clotheslines and we don't have a basement, so we mostly just use the dryer for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melinda S in TX Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 On a regular day, I wash at least three loads. Dh and I wash and do most of the drying. 13dd and the littlest three, fold and put away. 16dd and 10ds have too many other chores to bother with laundry. The two little girls, 5 and 3, do like to help me. We don't have the space or the time for everyone to do their own clothes. Blessings, Melinda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.S. Burrow Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 When we started homeschooling I made it a point to divide all of the household chores. Now, since I am The Mom, I get first choice on chores. :lol: I really, really, REALLY, don't like to load/unload the dishwasher. The kids do that. I really, really, REALLY don't like to fold all the "whites" (socks, undies, undershirts, boxers, etc...)....do DD folds the whites and delivers them to the appropriate person's room. I don't mind folding towels, but DS needed a laundry related job, so he's in charge of folding, putting away, and straightening towels and linens. Everyone sorts laundry into one of three hampers: "whites", lights, and darks every night after showering. When the hamper is full, I will wash & dry all types of laundry, but I only take care of the clothes that *I* don't mind folding. Each person is required to gather their folded/hanging laundry from the utility room and put it away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinsfamily Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I didn't vote because my oldest will only be 7 in a couple of weeks, but he does help me with the laundry. All of my boys help in some way. I plan for them to take over that chore sooner than later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 No, I do the laundry. There is usually some of everyone's in every load. Really, I sort and start the washer, Ds moves laundry from the washer to dryer. Then I make stacks of laundry for each person when it comes out of the dryer and then everyone puts their own away (except dh, I do his). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Niffercoo Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I started my son doing his own laundry at 14, and plan to start my older daughter at 13 - or 12 (which is next week) if she keeps complaining about how I'm handling her laundry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testimony Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 My children have to do it or I could not survive. When I was 11 years old, I was doing laundry and I was never homeschooled. Blessings, Karen http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 Obviously my kids are too little for any such arrangements, but when I was growing up, whoever was doing the washing did everyone's washing. Priority was given to that person's things, Dad's work clothes and everyone's school uniforms. Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Love2Smile Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I do all the laundry in our house. I like it that way, and feel it's part of my job to do so. Do my kids know how to do the laundry? Yes, but I like being the caretaker and taking care of my family, by doing laundry, cooking, etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy in TN Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I am the only person in the house who does laundry. The laundry is mine. All mine. No one else shall be allowed to touch. My college son tried to "help" over Christmas when I had a bum ankle and he broke the knob off my dryer!!! My dh always ruins something, because he can't separate to save his life and he dries everything on high heat for the maximum amount of time. AARRGH! My dh and dc need to stay out of the blasted laundry. They always cost me time and/or money when they try to help. Before anyone says that they need to learn, my dh was over 30yo when I married him. He washed this way when I met him, but whenever he ruined something he just bought a new one!!! I can't do this. And apparently he doesn't mind his whites turning dingy. I do. Dc are shown how to wash. Away at college my oldest ds washes his own clothes. Middle ds is free to wash his own clothes. Little ds is 8yo and unless he climbs on top, he can't reach the buttons. I would strongly prefer that my dh touch no laundry... ever. Oh, and no one better touch my clothes. Mandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in CO Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I voted no. It is easier for me to sort and to start the washer, although I have taught them how to do both jobs. But they will frequently switch the laundry from one machine to the other. And they always fold and put away the laundry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 My oldest two do, but the one isn't here enough and the other has other jobs too, so I am the main laundry washer and folder--but they all put their own away. When the others get a little bigger, they will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 (edited) Dd's do most of their own laundry, but I ususally do bedding, towels, whites & synthetics (that leaves colours & the red family, which is the bulk of their clothes. They don't have enough whites to warrant doing their own). Each of my dc has a laundry hamper or basket in their room; I have plenty from when they were little and we pre-sorted the laundry whenever they changed (they were taught how early; at first I even labelled them with letters for my eldest who was 3 or 4 when I started that.) We have a front loader which is easy to use. Ds folds and puts away his laundry as well has puts some loads in the dryer and starts them (not just his laundry). He also folds dh's socks & briefs. He will be doing his laundry by the end of this summer. What's interesting is how my dd's now make clothes last as long as they can before washing them; my eldest has quite a system for this so she's not repeating clothes too soon. Edited March 16, 2011 by Karin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGin Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 At ages 13, 14 & 15.5 - most certainly. I started teaching each one how around age 6 and gradually turned it over to them so that each could handle it easily by about age 9 or 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tree House Academy Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I wash it and fold it. They put it away in their drawers/closets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 No, they don't, but they are not exactly old enough. But they have been required to put clothes in the hamper since 1yo, transfer to laundry basket since 2yo, sort laundry and take to laundry room since 3yo. My plan is to make sure that they cannot remember a time that they did not do laundry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarreymere Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Mine are required to do their own laundry by the age of twelve at the latest (latest being when our SN kid was able to do it). Right now the seven year old can load the washer, swap, start the dryer, fold, and put away her own laundry. I just have to check how much she has put in the washer and pour the laundry soap. The four year old can get things out of the dryer and put them away after I fold them. I do the laundry for DH. I am of the opinion that living at home is a training ground for learning and practicing the skills they need to run their own homes at some point. My kids can all put a full dinner on the table by twelve too, although at that age it is a fairly simple meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Buckin' Longhorn Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I need an OTHER :lol:. Everyone is required to get their laundry in the appropriate laundry area and separated on the regular laundry time and day. I then wash and dry all laundry because I will only do laundry with nice full robust loads. I like to fold it because I'm anal about how laundry should be folded, then everyone puts their own laundry away. So we combo-tag-team our laundry. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lllll Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 (edited) ... Edited December 23, 2012 by ksva Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanvan Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 DD helps me sort all laundry. Ds is responsible for loading it into washer & dryer and bringing it back up from basement. DD helps me with folding. Everyone has to put away their own folded clothes and match their own socks. Ds & DD will eventually (as DD gets older) switch places. My brother thinks my poor kids are so overworked -- he never seems to think I am though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katiebug_1976 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 I have tried to have my older kids do their own laundry, but it just seems that it works better to run all the laundry through at the same time. With 6 kids it seems like the washer is running almost non stop, so finding a time for someone to do "their" laundry just doesn't seem to happen. All my kids are responsible for getting the dirty laundry into the basket in the laundry room, and everyone helps with the washing, hanging to dry, folding & putting away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 There are far too many people here for everyone to be doing their own laundry. It is all done together and divided among chores. One kids starts the wash, another empties the dryer, three are in charge of putting all of it where it goes. The only time they do their own, is their own bedding on sheet changing day for their room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom4him Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Not yet but they will in a yr or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janice in NJ Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 Anyone who can drive a go-kart and a dirt-bike can drive the washing machine. :001_smile: Peace, Janice Enjoy your little people Enjoy your journey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnowWhite Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 :iagree: And LOL about the dirt bike and go-cart. I needed an Other. My ds stb10 does his own laundry- has for a few months. I wanted to make sure I was not raising a mama's boy who could not do laundry. At the same time I changed the way I do laundry, based on the thread here about keeping the laundry done. Now instead of having MOUNTAINS of laundry all the time which never gets done (we don't have ONE load of darks here, it's more like 3), I do the adult clothing one day, the little boys' one day, and ds stb10 does his one day. Then we start the cycle again. It's not a hard and fast rule. If ds10 has only 4 pairs of socks, I throw them in with our whites. I have loosened up the sorting regimen. I mean, red stuff is actually fine with jeans. It is SO much better than the other way. I can carry the little boys' clothes in their room and fold/sort/put away all in one fell swoop. Same with the adults' clothing. Ds10 can do him the same way. No more painstaking sorting of five sizes of white socks. Today a brand new development materialized. Ds6.5 VOLUNTEERED to always fold and put away the towels. I am not sure he is tall enough to dispense detergent yet, nor that I trust his ability not to spill it. It won't be long though! muah ha ha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted March 17, 2011 Share Posted March 17, 2011 They both know how to the laundry. All clothes go in the communal hamper. If there is something specific they want and I have not gotten to the laundry they can either do a load themselves or do without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 18, 2011 Share Posted March 18, 2011 My kids do all of their own laundry (they have for years), but not because we have some sort of system or because I told them to... I think I just never got around to it quickly enough! I do tell them though that when they run a load, they have to ask their siblings, etc., if they have clothes to add to the wash so that it's a full load. I do think my youngest has sweet-talked her older sisters into doing her laundry... I've never seen her in the laundry room! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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