How Can I Get My Kids to Do Their Chores?

When I was 11 years old, my parents took away my allowance and I had to work for extra cash. They gave me lunch money and bought me school clothes once a year, christmas gifts and a birthday gift: nothing more.

This worked very well. I had to have all my chores done by Sunday, or no money. If I didn't do my chores, I had no cash for makeup, rollerskating, cassettes (LOL), etc.

I am now 34 years old, and the most financially responsible person I know (besides my mom). I have no debt and own two homes. I believe it was the work ethic my parents instilled in me that made me this way.

They may hate you at first, but in the long run, they'll appreciate it.

Good luck.

I would take all privileges away to begin with and make them earn them by doing chores. This seems to be much more effective then taking away privileges from chores not being done. I hope that makes sense. Work on a reward system, not a punishment system.

One thing that I found worked with my son was a token program (his counselor came up with the idea). Together we made a list of chores that he was to do and what days he was to do them. Then he made a list of things that he would like to purchase or things that he would like to do. To keep the math simple we decided that each "token" that he earned would be worth 10 cents. I then assigned a number of tokens that each chore would earn and we assigned a number of tokens that each item on his wanted list was worth. I bought him a calendar to keep track of tokens earned each day and we tallied them up each night before bed. This gave him some incentive to get things done and earn something for doing so. You can vary this in any way you like. My son was around 10 years old when we started the program and it worked well. Hope this helps.....Good luck. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Go back to the first beginning. Have a family meeting and talk it over wuth them, Maybe they need a ccmpernmize. Hope it works. I am a mother of five.
Cheers, M. Royce

well that is where i am at.. lets see what i have decided to start doing is i sat with the kids together and we are going to make out a chart. each name will have equal chores for there ages. of course along the day hey all pick up after them selfs. we will have pay day at the end of the week i pay as cordenly to how well the job was done and have them check what they have done on the chart. then go shopping or save for a bigger thing later on in life. make it fun. exciting a game. that will work and the best thing is to be CONSISTANT WITH IT AND THAT GOES WITH EVERYTHING YOU DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN THAT IS THE KEY CONSISITANTCY

I was a horrible teenager, and hated chores. I can remember being this way like it was yesterday, and it was 15 years ago! I was acting out. I won't go into what the problem was, but it sounds like your kids are acting out and reacting to the fact that their mom is working again. Kids act a certain way for a reason, the key is to find out why.

THEN...have the consequences for their actions. They don't do the laundry or put it away, they don't have clean clothes. They don't make their bed every day, then you don't take them (fill in the blank) on the weekend. Do they get an allowance? In life we get "rewards" for what we do. We go to work, and we get paid. We do a good job, and we get a raise and promotion. So, if we do our chores and help out around the house, then maybe they get to take a friend to the movies, or get those new shoes they have wanted. Some people call this bribery, but I think it is reward for a job well done. I also think that PRAISE goes a long way. Saying thank you and telling them that you appreciate them and the help will go a long way.

I just hope someday I can follow my own advice (my kids are young:-)

Good luck!

I agree with what the others said. Funny thing is with teenagers it is like you have to start over to get them to do things for you. Mine now get 10 a week for allowance and only if they help out and clean their rooms on Friday. They are responsible for a few things to buy with thier money. If I have to clean something that they were supposed to do I charge them. My boys are not able to play games systems at all during the week. They will not have friends over etc if they don't comply. It is tough but the most important is being consistant with them.

I am a mother of four all age 6 and under and my three oldest all have chores. They were not all about it at first but they quickly jumped into doing their chores promptly when i posted an "allowance" chart on the fridge. If they did not do their chores or all of their chores for a day their weekly allowance money would drop. They thought I was joking at first until the end of week one rolled around and they got no allowance. Some people call it bribery but I call it learning the ways of life, you don't get money for doing nothing, you have to earn it.

this may or may not work for you so far it has been working for our familyi made different charts and hung one in the bathroom one in th kitchen one in the living room and one in the front room they have chores on them like feed and water dog feed and water bird sweep kitchen floor clean toilet everything that i usually do daily or some at least once a week and told everyone in my house that i dont care who does the chores as long as they get done if you do something sign your name and for everytime your name is on the chart you get 1 quarter it sounds like a lot that it would add up quick but really it dont because i sign it and my husband signs it and the 18 year old boy that we got thrown on our door step from my hubbys sister we dont get paid but our 4 children do they range from 10-2 usually my 10 year old gets 5 a week my 6 year old maybe 4-5 and my 3 year old 2-3 and so far the highest my 2 year old got is 1.75 but they have been real good about it for the most part and they have actually been doing stuff with out being told to they also get mad if somebody else makes alot more then them if this dont make sense to you you can e mail me at ____@____.com and i will explain a little better.A.

dear L.
have you tryed telling them this is what they have to do weather they want to or not and if they don't there is no extra no computer no video game no ipod radio you know no tv phone it school homework then to there room nothing extra well i am not sure how it will work for you it worked great for mine wich ar 17 13 12 7 and almost two i allso added up all the extra thing they get to do like dance classes basketball and the ever weekend trips to the mall and let them know everthing has a price well good luck

Hi L.,
It depends on how old your kids are. If they are older than they will understand consequences of not helping out. I would figure out what they like best and start taking it away. If they are younger I find that they enjoy helping out and using charts and rewards are a good. My 3 and a half year old loves to see how much he helps mommy and how much more he has to do to get a reward.
Chris

I think it's fairly simple what is going on.

They are acting out...maybe not conciously, but you have been Home nearly constantly since they were born. This is a big change for them. They will get used to it, but it's going to take some time.

Try some natural consequences.

If someone doesn't pick up the laundry or start the washer, then they don't have clothes to wear tomorrow. Oh well it was their responsibility.

If someone didn't wash the dishes...Well you can't be expected to make dinner if the kitchen isn't clean.