Older kids and jobs around the house.

its ok if you are happy with it... my kids arent that old yet but am trying to get them into the habit of making their beds... and cant wait till they can peel spuds and dry dishes! the boys are 4 and 5 and they have to tidy their room and help clean up the lounge in the evening and they also help with putting away groceries and lately i get them to put their own clothes away after i have folded them. oh and they help set the table for dinner.

Edited by Bizzy

We use lots of star charts at our place for chores that need to be done.

I know this sounds weird but DP's daughter (almost 6) really loves doing the laundry with me.

She'll help me put the clothes in, pour the power and fabric softner, then pushing the buttons (favourtie bit) she also loves helping peg the stuff on the line.

Have you thought about getting them to help out in the kitchen? Our favourite meal to make is home-made pizza, kneading is lots of fun as is watching daddy throwing the dough in the air. The recpie here is really easy if you have an hour or two over the school holidays!


Edited by lemongirl

I agree do what works for you guys...

I have a 12 year old who is really a great help at home! Since around 8 she has done dishes and been responsible for feeding the animals and keeping her room tidy. Now she has to walk the dog and feed the animals, keep her room tidy and do one extra chore a day for her pocket money - so she does things like hanging out washing, folding washing, dishes, cleaning the bathroom, vaccuming a room...

Maya is hopeless when it comes to keeping her room clean, but I try not to be too hard on her about it as she is really good about helping out with the other kids - sometimes if she's up early she gets Chiara up and brings her in to me in bed to feed, she does the gremlins seatbelts up while I put Chiara in her seat etc.

One thing I have started getting her to do tho is unload the dishwasher, and the gremlins usually help (by choice), I figure it's a start.

Oh and she sometimes volunteers to vacuum, crazy girl!

whatever is working for your household, I think, so long as they are learning responsibility.

Chloe already "helps" wash the dishes every morning, set the table and closes doors etc. oh and closes the dishwasher and sets it going after we put in the powder. She also hands me pegs etc. while hanging up washing. She helped Daddy to scrub the kitchen floor before. The things I get her to do regularly are putting things in the rubbish, tidying her toys, helping set the table etc. which is age appropriate I think.

We used to have to clean our rooms every Saturday, take turns with dishes, put out our washing, get in the wood and set and clear the table. And feed the pigs, but we were on a farm and that doesn't apply to everyone We had to do vacuuming if we were asked to. We got extra pocket money for things like sorting out cupboards, washing windows/floors, washing the car, mowing lawns, etc.