Any Ideas on constructive chores for a 6yr old?

Question

My son has been mis-behaving for about 2 weeks. He refused to get dressed in the mornings for school, will not finihs his breakfast, then complains I am starving him, when it's right in front of him. He will dis-respect anything I ask him todo. I have used time-outs, I have take his "entertainment" away, such as TV, Computer time etc. I have used the idea of "letting" him earn his time or items back with being good. He is causing me to be late for work because he misses the bus to school. I need to find a way to get through to him that this is not the way things are done. Maybe something educational? I am at a loss, and I will have a very bored 6 yr old to entertain this weekend. I'm at wits end...any help would be apreicated. Thanks!

Answer 1

He may not have a sense of time, so get a timer (less the $5) and tell him he has until it beeps to finish eating, get dressed etc. You may have to get up earlier (which if you can, means putting him to bed earlier) so you can get to work on time.

As for chores, making his bed (it won't be smooth or pretty, but...), putting silverware on the table for dinner or non-breakable cups.

Come up with a plan and dedicate a weekend to help him adjust to the new rules. It'll be tough because you're breaking long-term habits, but in the end it'll be much better.

Good luck!

Answer 2

He should be doing chores because he is a member of the household, not as a punishment.  Take away his stuff as punishment.  In the morning, are you expecting him to remember to do everything?  Every morning I have to tell my 7 year old what to do at each step, even though he does the same thing every day.  Otherwise, he'd dawdle and we'd be late.  

Here are some chore ideas that my first grader does regularly:

Set the table

Fill my water for dinner at the fridge dispenser

Empty the silverware basket of the dishwasher (he's too short to put the other things away)

Let the dogs out when we get home

Clean up his toys

Help carry in groceries

He also does lots of other things occasionally, when asked, like sort dirty laundry into piles, dust, clean windows, help with cooking (which he loves), and other things.

Answer 3

Reward him for the good things he does so that way he will do more good things. Take him to a fastfood place if he rides the bus. Or other things too.

Answer 4

I have a 6 y/o who tends to act the same way. I also will act the way he does to teach him a lesson and to get him to do what I ask. Example: He won't clean his room, I do. So when he gets hungray, I tell him that I would love to fix him something to eat, but I don't have time because I have to clean his room for him. That he was to do it himself then I could fix him something to eat. Doing  things like that tends to work.

Answer 5

i've copied my daughters teachers "card system" at home.  you put 3 or 4 different colored cards in a card holder at home, like on the fridge, each card represents behavior.  purple is "you have done something special, Outstanding Job!"  this one means she did something good that i didn't even ask her to do.  Green card means good job, she is going what she is asked but not going over and above.  Next would be orange,  Orange means first warning.  you're not listening.  you can do better!  Blue card means 2nd warning, take one privildge away or put some kind of discipine here like a timeout, this is the last warning.  Next card is red, it means 2 privilidges are taken away.  

i think the visual system is good for that age, it lets them SEE how they are doing.  It is hard to keep it up and keep using the system, but I found my kids love to achieve the purple card.  they'll compete for doing things i don't ask them to do!

Answer 6

when i babysit my 7 year old sister sometimes i get old rags and spray cleaner stuff on it and have her skate around the kitchens. She has fun and it helps you out because the floors get somewhat clean :)

Answer 7

try a chart, like do you want him to make his bed or take out the trash? maybe you can start a reward system, for every chore he does on the chart, he will get a sticker or a piece of candy idk.

Answer 8

you need to do something to nip this in the bud b/c a misbehaving 6 year old can turn into a delinquent teenager.  Remember that you are an adult and they are a child, but you still need to show them respect.  Do not try to argue or rationalize with him.  Don't try to explain yourself either. With the food thing, say "you are not starving, you have food. People that do not have food are starving." Make everything that he enjoys something that he has to earn. You can earn 30 minutes of tv or play time if you do this.

Answer 9

you know kids go through these things where they want to challenge just how much they are allowed to get away with. When my daughter was 6 she pretty much tried the same things. I exhausted all the usual. You know time out, taking away a favorite toy, etc...

Finally I just stripped her room. She cried a lot. But I took away her favorite bedspread and pillows and put on a basic blue one. I took all of her pretend dress up clothes and every toy in the room, along with her television and DVD player. I explained to her these are privileges in life and in no way is she entitled t them.

I told her mommy and daddy had to work hard and do what their bosses said so we can get our allowances every week. I told her she would get her things back when she began to listen and follow our directions, then she could maybe get back something every few days.

It worked. By the end of the month she had pretty much gotten back all of her property. Now when I see a few days of her misbehavior I remind her of the rules and consequences, she listens every time.

Answer 10

How about you let him help you make dinner, lunch and breakfast?? A 6 year old can help you cut some things if you are comfortable teaching him how, he can make his own sandwiches, stir food in a pan, mix things, they are able to do a lot.. Then he can help you make the table. You can have him make his own place mat. As far as the entertainment thing goes. I only allow my daughter 2 1/2 hour shows during the day and a movie on weekends.  During the week she gets 2 1/2 hour shows.. or 1/2 hour on computer and a 1/2 hour on tv..  the rest is spent playing with toys, playing games, pretending, coloring, chores, talking... I am her play mate too.  If he is your only child, you need to remember you are his playmate too. You need to set an example for him too. I think us as adults forget to stop and just play. I think that is why a lot of adults are stressed out and depressed.