RE: Do kids do chores these days? (Full Version)

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dottedmom -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/4/2008 4:13:53 PM)

You have got to be kidding about DCFS!! Slavery? Come on!!

I was just going over the list that you all have listed. I have my kids doing the same (expect I don't have them make beds---why bother??---We are just going to mess them up again!! *giggle)

You know years ago kids had to do WAY more than some of this chores just to help the family survive.

Okay I better get off my soap box!1
V



PrincessDonna -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/4/2008 4:32:37 PM)

It probably depends on where you are and the worker who is assigned to your case when they get a complaint. I know my stepson's mother was required by CPS (child protective services) to give her children chores as part of her list of things she had to do to get them out of foster care.

If CPS gave me a hard time about our lists, I'd probably ask them what they think of farmer's kids getting up at 4 am to help with milking and chores. Honestly, I doubt it would be an issue around here, and if it were, my kids are downright spoiled in comparison to farmer's kids.[&:]

I don't make kids make their beds either.[;)]



Karaboo2 -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/4/2008 4:41:36 PM)

Where I am, it is actually called CAS (Children's Aid Society) ... but most of the people on the forums are in the US and I typical hear Americans referring to it as either DCFS or CPS ... so I figured if I said DCFS most of you would know what I'm talking about!



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/4/2008 9:30:52 PM)

Well, I don't have kids, so I'll tell your daughter what I had to do around that age.

I did all my own laundry since 2nd grade. My mom would do it for us, and put neat, clean piles on our bed, and we would just get in bed at night and make a mess, and not put our clothes away, so my mom got fed up and taught us to do our own laundry.

I could clean the kitchen probably since 8 yrs. old up.

I dusted since about age 4. My mom actually made dusting fun, she would hide buttons and pennies for us to find. As a result, I still like dusting to this day.

For a few years, my older sister and I helped with my handicapped sister's therapy at times.

We raked leaves.

When we got old enough for it to be safe for us, we mowed the lawn.

Ironing was the one chore I could get paid for-25 cents a shirt.

As soon as I turned 12, I did babysitting for other families. I got paid for that, though.

And you can tell your dd that even though I did all this, I also went to school. I know from having been both schooled and homeschooled, that it is way easier to fit house chores in one's day when one homeschools, than when one goes to school. It's way harder to fit it in when one is gone all day AND has homework to deal with.



Jenny-Fair -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/4/2008 9:35:09 PM)

quote:

I did all my own laundry since 2nd grade. My mom would do it for us, and put neat, clean piles on our bed, and we would just get in bed at night and make a mess, and not put our clothes away, so my mom got fed up and taught us to do our own laundry.

I did all my laundry from a young age because my mom couldn't differentiate my clothes from my sister's and if my sister found MY clothes in her drawer she'd pull out her handy-dandy fabric paint kit that our grandmother gave her and, ahem, decorate it in such a way that I was sure to let her keep it.[:@]

It was self-defense. I did do family laundry earlier than that...but I got paid, kinda-sorta. I got to keep any money found in pockets[:D] 'Course my dad learned real quick to empty his! LOL, and my gold mine dried up.



cindybode -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/4/2008 10:55:46 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Jenny-Fair

I did all my laundry from a young age because my mom couldn't differentiate my clothes from my sister's


That would be my dh. To this day he will still put Erin's jeans in my drawer. Now mind you, Erin is probably 100 lbs soaking wet, and I am . . . not. [&:] I doubt I could get one thigh into her jeans. I am flattered that he thinks my butt is that small, but it just proves that the man really can't see.



cynthia -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/5/2008 12:07:11 AM)

lol Cindy that is so funny.



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/5/2008 12:14:47 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: OneOfHisJewels

Emma
quote:

. Clean bathroom


Just picking up mess, or all the chemical stuff too, like windexing the mirrors, wiping counters, cleaning the toilet,etc.? Quite impressive for a 3 yr. old.

well, I help her out...but in there her job is to...
put all the laundry into the laundry room
pick up any trash on the floor
empty the trash bag and put a new one in there (we use old plastic grocery bags so that's easy for her)
I wipe off the toilet with cleaning wipes while she does the sink with a cleaning wipe
and when necessary (a couple times a week) we change the hand towel and larger towel on the walls with fresh ones (we use two for drying hands cause some people can't reach where the hand towel holder is...so they use the larger towel hanging on the wall that they can reach...which means it has to be changed often too)

for weekly cleaning I also do the bathtub (oh and the mirror when needed)...and usually every day I sweep everything out into the hall where I then vacuum the carpet out there and get it all up. (that one really depends on how messy the floor is...usually she can get it all up when she picks up the trash). Since I can't get on the floor right now, Jake goes behind me and wipes the floor with mop water and a sponge (the bathroom is too small to really use a mop...esp the mop we have cause I like a big mop to do the kitchen floor with)

sounds like a lot, but really with how small the bathroom is, and doing it every day, it only takes about 5 minutes.

quote:

they would usually trade off week by week
growing up we did that. One day I will probably do that with mine, but at this time I can't. Even though the older two are only 16 months apart in age, they are opposites in size (the older one stays around the 95% range for weight and height...the younger one stays around 3-7% for weight and height....so he can do much more then she can at an earlier age because he can lift it or reach it easier). One day though we will switch them around more.

quote:

We used to have lists something like Donna's and Sarah's, but when we ended up involved with DCFS, they told us that our chores and routines for the kids was far too advanced and bordered on slavery & abuse ... and either we eliminate their 'extensive' list of chores or they would be compelled to place the kids in care.

ok...that's just INSANE!!!!!!!

quote:

I have my kids doing the same (expect I don't have them make beds---why bother??---We are just going to mess them up again!! *giggle)

LOL...for us "making beds" doesn't include much. We don't use top sheets (flat sheets) cause for some reason I can't stand them, so I never think to put them on the beds...so no hospital corners like my mom had me doing by 4yo...lol. Their blankets are pulled down at night (comforters) and in the morning they just have to put their pillow in place, pull the comforter up, and put the blanket they sleep with on top. Most days though, the goal is just to get the pillows and blankets that they sleep with out of the living room where they carry them to when they wake up!!!! As long as that is accomplished then I am mostly happy....until deep cleaning day....or unless I am going to take pics of something in their room...lol



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/5/2008 1:45:06 AM)

I want the OP too come back, and tell us what her daughter thought of all of this.[:D]



creationtalk -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/7/2008 10:03:41 PM)

Age 7 (as of this past Saturday!)

Help feed the horses and fill the water troughs at least 3 times a week
Help clean stalls and barns
Help sort and hang laundry and put away his own clothes. We are starting to work on him also folding his own shirts and washcloths
keep his bedroom and bathroom clean (we're still working on this one)
Help sweep and mop the floors
Clean off his place setting on the table
Cook a meal (with help from Mom) once a month; help with cooking more often.
Unload and put away all dishes and pots and pans that belong in the cabinets he can reach from the dishwasher (once a week...dishwasher is used maybe 2 times a week)


He also helps with clearing brush, mowing the grass (has his own riding lawn mower he drives while I drive the tractor), building fences and buildings, brushing the horses, or what ever needs to be done.



Homegrownkids -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/8/2008 9:17:16 AM)

Thanks guys, I am going to print this off and read it to my children. My children are 13,12, 10 and 6. The older kids do most of the chores and I am trying to remember that 6 yr old can be doing them also[;)]

On a rotating schedule #1 cleans the kitchen,#2 bathroom and entry way, and #3 living room and take out the trash in whichever room is their room to clean. 6 yr old picks up the other entry way which is used as her toy room. She has a closet all her toys return to. They vacume and pick things up in the living room, spray the mirror, sink, toilet seat, sweep and take out trash in the bathroom. In the kitchen they unload and load the dishwasher, clean sinks and counter tops and sweep and once in a while mop with a swiffer. They are responsible for their own bedrooms, laundry and beds/ sheets. They are also asked to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer. And, they occasionally babysit 6 yr old.

In the summer they usually help with some form of yard work. On occasion they are asked to dust, or clean windows and organize VHS's and DVD's.

Despite all this, we must be slobs, because it is a never ending battle to keep the house clean!

Usually over the weekend I clean the whole house, except for their bedrooms. I do all the vacuming, dusting, scrubbing floors and toilet because they tend to miss things and if I didn't it would really get disgusting here.

When I was DD's age, my mom hurt her back. My mom 'hired' me to clean the house. We had a good size house and I was responsible to clean 2 bathrooms, wash kitchen and dinning room floors, vacume, and do ALL laundry (folding and putting away). I also cleaned the kitchen. I was responsible for ALL the cleaning in these rooms, except for shaking rugs and dusting, that is what my sister did.



dottedmom -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/8/2008 9:39:21 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: creationtalk

Age 7 (as of this past Saturday!)
from the dishwasher (once a week...dishwasher is used maybe 2 times a week)




*giggle*
Man--we run the dishwasher 2 times a day if not more!!
V



zoebob -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/8/2008 9:43:19 AM)

I run the dishwasher at least once a day too I think



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/8/2008 10:11:38 AM)

our dishwasher runs about 10 times a week (for 6 people)...so some days it's once, some days it's twice.



Homegrownkids -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/8/2008 10:43:50 AM)

We run ours at least 2 times a day for 7 people.



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 1:30:59 AM)

HomeGrownKids, did your dau. read your printout of this thread? How did it go?



creationtalk -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 6:48:27 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: dottedmom

quote:

ORIGINAL: creationtalk

Age 7 (as of this past Saturday!)
from the dishwasher (once a week...dishwasher is used maybe 2 times a week)




*giggle*
Man--we run the dishwasher 2 times a day if not more!!
V


we would run it much more often if we were home...most weeks I work 4 days a week, 10+ hours per day...my son eats all his meals at his caregivers and I eat at work, we eat out before church Sat. evening, it is just the two of us...and if I cook one day, we will eat left overs at least once the other times we are together.



Homegrownkids -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 8:53:05 AM)

She said "Of course they have chores, they are almost all homeschooled kids".... and then she said... "I bet most kids get paid for doing chores"...

The getting paid for chores is a whole other thread! ~ lol. I'd rather not even go there since we can't afford to pay our children, and I disagree with paying them to help out around the house anyways. I am trying to work it out so that they feel like they are 'earning' something. I want them to earn their computer and PS2 time since I feel like they are always taking advantage of their 25 minute limit and there seems to be a fine line between "their time" and "educational time" on the computer.



dottedmom -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 10:01:05 AM)

quote:

I'd rather not even go there since we can't afford to pay our children, and I disagree with paying them to help out around the house anyways.


Same here--Besides they get FREE room and board, Clothes, and other necessities of life!!!
V



cynthia -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 10:54:32 AM)

I've gotten that attitude and my response is that everyone who lives in this house has to contribute. I am not going to do everything, as that is not my job and would not do anyone any good. It is, however, my job to teach my children to be properly functioning adults, which includes being able to run a household and make sure it remains clean and tidy. If they don't like it, then the problem is not chores, it is attitude and I'm not going to put up with a bad one. As a matter of fact, a bad attitude will likely result in additional chores, not less chores. It really irritates me when someone suggests they have too much to do, because the alternative is that I do it for them, which is ridiculous.



Ellie-Mae -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 11:16:57 AM)

Anne,

We are in a flux right now so I can't really tell you exactly who does what chore right now.

My kids are 12, 10, 8, 6, and 4.

They are currently working on making a daily, weekly, monthly schedules for each child. they are working on putting it together themselves loosely based on flyladies control journal and with guidance from us.

My kids have set up their own Kingdom that they are learning how to make it work on their own (under the supervision and guidance of the parents) It is working out really nice so far, but it is some work to get started. You might want to think about something like that for your kids. They are old enough and there is enough of them to do it.

We don't pay our children for chores. but if they do all of their chores and other responsibilities they qualify to pick something from the list of extra activites that flylady has for different zones. they get 50 cents per activity and are not allowed to do them more than once a month.



OneOfHisJewels -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 11:22:49 AM)

quote:

She said "Of course they have chores, they are almost all homeschooled kids".... and then she said... "I bet most kids get paid for doing chores"...


Actually, when I was doing most of my chore list, I wasn't! That's why I tried to point that out..plus did she see the part about helping with my handicapped sister's therapy? Even at 28, she is now at a 4 month level, so you can imagine her therapy was pretty intense. Anyway, only God can change her heart..just like the rest of us,[;)], but I'll pray she comes around. Maybe when she gets to where she realize ultimately it's done for God's glory will be when the change occurs. I'd love for you to keep us posted, if you want.



PrincessDonna -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 11:30:10 AM)

quote:

She said "Of course they have chores, they are almost all homeschooled kids".... and then she said... "I bet most kids get paid for doing chores"...


My older kids aren't. If you'd like, we could move this to Parenting and get the lists of those who aren't homeschooled.

Hsed kids may do more, but they are also home all day (most days) and so the house is more "lived in". My two in-school children also jobs at school and have to work with their classmates to keep their room clean. Everyone has to pick up after themselves...it's just a matter of where.

BTW, I agree with Cynthia about giving MORE chores for a bad attitude. Happens often around here.[;)]



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 1:08:59 PM)

quote:

"I bet most kids get paid for doing chores"...

LOL...sure...they get paid the satisfaction that we get to live and reside in a cleaned environment!!!!

quote:

BTW, I agree with Cynthia about giving MORE chores for a bad attitude. Happens often around here.

one very keen memory I have of growing up is when my older brother (about 10-11yo) piped up to my mom that she just wanted him to be a "slave" and do chores ALL the time. WOW.....he found out quickly just how slave like she could be!!!! We had the cleanest windows in the whole neighborhood that month!!!! He never said anything like that again...neither did the others of us...we learned many lessons well through his mouthing off....lol!!!





Jenny-Fair -> RE: Do kids do chores these days? (4/9/2008 1:25:59 PM)

I don't pay my kids for chores. They LIVE HERE! LOL



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