How many chores for an 8 yr old?

Question

I have an 8 yr old daughter, it's just me, her and my husband in our house (plus 4 dogs). How many chores is a good amount of chores for me to give her? At this point, I have her keeping her room clean (not daily..once or twice a week), unloading the dishwasher, setting the table before dinner and sometimes clearing it. I also have her putting her clean clothes away. Sometimes she feeds and waters the dogs. Also, she goes around the house and picks up only her things and puts them away. Of course, I do way more than she does. But are these things I am having her do an unreasonable amount? It does take a long time to get them all done and leaves not much time for play. How does everyone else manage chores when you only have one child and how much is too much? I feel like I am constantly telling her to do something!

Answer 1

I wish I'd grown up with you as my mom!  

I had farm animals to feed, clean up after and practice showmanship with, helping my dad work on the semi-truck, gardens to weed, grass to mow, carpets to vacuum, bathrooms to clean, wood to polish and dust, laundry to hang on the line, and dishes to wash and dry and put away.  That's just when I was a kid.  

I had all that AND a job when I turned 15 that was full time in the summer.  I still work and go to school full time and work side jobs in the summer.  (But that's farm folks for you, we'll work ourselves to death if we're allowed.)

So, no, she's doing quite a bit compared to a lot of the spoiled brat kids out there.  As she gets older, teach her how to do laundry (essential for college life), how to do dishes by hand, what each cleaning product does (so she doesn't gas herself by mixing ammonia and bleach), what tools to use, and how to cook and bake.  Teach her how to sew if you can.  Some of my best memories were learning how to do those things side by side with my parents.

I'm as liberal as they come, but I firmly believe that women are not transmitting these valuable skills to their daughters well enough.  And heck, you can and should teach sons all that stuff too.  They will need it just as much or more.

Answer 2

What about regular chores like:

clean room

make bed

feed dogs

put clean clothes away

unloading dishwasher

and give her like $2 a week and tell her if she doesnt do her chores, she doesn't get $2

Answer 3

Giving them a time limit to get things done speeds up the process. My children are 11 and 12 and have been doing chores of some sort since they were 5 and 6. Their current chores are as follows:

11 year old: dust furniture in the den and living room, vacuum den and living room, clean hallway bathroom, put up any shoes at the door, clean the kitty litter box and feed the cat, and Windex the mirrors in dining room and living room.

12 year old: unload dishwasher, reload and run dishwasher, sweep and mop kitchen floor, wipe down kitchen counters, and cabinets and take out the trash. On Monday mornings, he rolls the trash out to the road and brings the empty can back after school. oh yea... he also cuts the grass ( gets paid for that part ) ( the 11 year old picks up any toys, water hoses, etc.. so the lawn can be mowed ).

They are both responsible for doing a thorough cleaning of their rooms at least once a week. They bring the laundry down to the laundry room and when it is washed, folded, or put on hangers, they take their stuff back to their rooms.

I know this sounds like a lot, but I am a single Mom, and we have a lot of house to keep clean.... and since i do all the working that makes the money to pay the bills, then they do most of the work of keeping it up.... it is a partnership.

Answer 4

I think it is a LITTLE much but not overwhelming. Maybe make a chore chart and have her cross it off once shes done it. I think keeping her room clean, setting the table, putting clean clothes away, picking up her things around the house as enough. I think an 8 year old might have some trouble unloading a dishwasher. But remember she does her homework too and she is only 8 years old. She needs time to be a kid and play and explore things.

Answer 5

I have 3 children...my oldest is 6 1/2. I was getting so tired of cleaning all by myself that I sat them all down one day. I explained that I was having a hard time doing everything by myself...and I needed some help. To my surprise, they started volunteering to do chores. I just remember growing up I had SO MANY chores, I kind of resented my parents! My suggestion... sit down with your daughter and ask her what SHE wants to do. Maybe you could switch it up every month? That way she's got a little say in what she helps with, and will feel accomplished when completing a task. Just a thought. Good luck!

Answer 6

We kept it simple for our 8 year old son.  He is our first so we were not sure where to start.  We kept a chart on the fridge which he loved checking off his chores.  He had to make his bed, put his clothes away, keep his room clean and help clean up the table after supper.  He still had plenty of time to play and I didn't feel that I had to remind him or keep bugging him to get his chores done.  We feel it is a good start and plan to gradually add more.

Answer 7

....my girlfriend and me give our children 1 chore a day to do after homework, plus there room needs to be cleaned....we give them 75 cents per year old they are at the end of the week...and will take them to a store or mall to spend it if they wish to...also since there are 3 kids....i give them the option to do bonuses 50 cents per bonus choirs..some times they just want to go play but some times they want to help out more either because they like helping or there saving up to buy something bigger at the end of the week.....i feel its fare and they like making money or just the filling of helping out....some times if its like folding clothes, towels etc. i will help them out with a cartoon on and we have a great time talking about school life or just  watching good old sponge bob act the fool.............lol......hope this can help you

Answer 8

That seems like a reasonable amount.  You should have a short list and keep it consistent, not sometimes you do this , sometimes you do that so she knows what to expect.  You can change this up a bit every so often to decrease boredom.  You can have 1 chore on the weekdays (not including keeping her room clean) and on Sat she can have a short list of chores (maybe 3 or 4 things)  I think this is reasonable for an 8 yr old.  I do not think she should get paid for that because as a family everyone should contribute and help out.  BUT,  You can also give her a choice whether she wants to do a few more chores for some cash.

Answer 9

i think it is reasonable but i wouldnt keep telling her i would have a chart on the fridge for her to mark off her chorse when they are done.  if she doesnt get it done she loses privlages weather that be tv or computer time or allowance money

Answer 10

I think as long as she doest seem overwhelmed and it isnt taking all her time to do her chores they are not too many.  My 7 y/o has a little chart to reminder her what to do.  Set the table, wash it off after dinner, change the cats water, keep her room neat, put her clothes away, and sweep her floor in her room (hardwoods).  She never complained about it and even asked for more hoping for more allowance.  It all depends how much time they have and what they ahve to do.

I think its fair!