What chores are your 9-11 year old responsible for?

Question

I am just curious as to what your kids do around the house to help out.

Also, do you have to nag them to get them done or are they pretty good about doing them on their own.

Right now, my almost 10 year old has to:

* make her bed

* keep her room tidy

* set the table

* help clear the table after dinner

* gather all the trash and take it out to the curb on trash night (and occasionally take the trash out during the week.

* fold her own clothes (just started this one this week)

* help iron some of her easier to iron clothes (also started this week)

* pick up the dog p**p in the yard

* feed and water the dog

Also, do you pay an allowance? We don't per se, but she is given money for other reasons because she is saving up for Disney World.

Answer 1

My 10 yr old has to:

Help feed the horses and bunnies.

Feed his dog and cat

Keep his room clean

Takes turns with his 5 and 6 yr old sister cleaning off the table

Brings out the garbage and sorts recyclables

Help, along with his sisters, tidying up on Saturdays.

Packs his own lunch for school

We usually pay him for bigger tasks like hay unloading, cleaning the van, etc. He usually gets what he wants (sometimes) so we use that as a reward for helping around.

Answer 2

I think it's great to have children involved with chores as long as they are rewarding for doing a job well.   My seven year old daughter has to feed and water her dog, make her bed, keep her room picked up and on Fridays she helps me with the dishes.  All the other kids have set schedules on dishes and room duties.

Answer 3

An interesting question!

My 11-year old has to:

-keep her room tidy

-feed the cat (wet food)

-clean the litter box

-sort clothes for laundry

-take out and bring in trash bins

-fold and put away her clothes

-set/clear the table

-help load the dishwasher

-help bring in and put away grocery

-keep bathroom tidy.

My 9-year old has to:

-feed the cat (dry food)

-set/clear the table

-go around the house and pick up trash

-bring in trash bins

-gather bottles for recycling

-sort dirty laundry

-fold and put away laundry

-rinse dishes for the dishwasher

-keep room tidy.

Hmm, we seem to be the few that pay allowance for chores but, after reading some of the posts, I think that paying them for extra contributions make better sense.

Answer 4

my daughter's almost 9.  every evening before dinner she (like all the kids) helps with a general cleanup of the family areas and her own room.  she clears her dishes after meals and she takes turns with the other kids setting the table.  she also takes turns feeding the fish.  i will sometimes ask her to do other jobs on an as-needed basis (e.g. sometimes, but not regularly, she will help with laundry or cleaning smudge-prints off the mirrors or dusting or something).

we don't currently give an allowance (we did, but honestly it kind of fizzled out ... the kids are totally uninterested in doing anything with their money except sorting it into piles, and i started forgetting and they didn't care.  at some point i will start it up again just for the money management skills, but i think it would be more useful when there's something they're actually interested in buying).  i rarely have to nag her about the usual jobs (though i do have to sometimes nag her younger brother).

Answer 5

kids arent maids they should help but not run them ragged theres time enough for that when they are teens

Answer 6

they sound very normal, other jobs she could do is put away clean dishes. You do need to praise her, but you are taking care of her needs so allowwence is not necassary

Answer 7

We're a little out of the range (our son is 13) but he has had regular chores for years.  He has to

*take his clothes down to the laundry room

*tidy his room

*help walk the dogs and make sure they have water

*help me bring in the groceries

*help clear the table after dinner

Recently I added

*cleaning the bathrooms

*fold and hang up his clean clothes

Now that I look at the list, its strikingly similar to yours in that we are requiring him to help with everyday "life skills".  As part of our family, we each have responsibilities that make our home more pleasant to live in, and he knows that his work is important in that regard. He has developed a good understanding that while no one likes to clean, everyone likes to live in a clean environment.  When everyone contributes, that's the most enjoyable situation.

I think that allowance is another great way to help prepare a child for real life, and I suggest you start one for your daughter immediately.  For example, we give our son an allowance of $12.00 per week.  He saves $2 as part of his college fund, and $1.00 is put aside for charity.  Four times a year, he chooses a charity and donates the savings.  The rest is his to spend or save for big ticket items.  He is expected to pay for everyday treats (games, movies, slices of pizza etc.)  He also earns extra money by dog walking and cat sitting in the neighborhood.

Our deal is that we will pay for 1/2 of big ticket treats (like game systems or ice hockey camp) and he has to contribute the rest from his savings.  Three years ago, he bought an Xbox with his savings.  Right now he's saving towards extra weeks of ice hockey camp plus having extra cash for the canteen while he's there.  

I feel strongly that children have a much better chance of being financially responsible by learning early the value of  money, saving, and using it wisely.

Answer 8

Keeping their rooms tidy does not fall under chores in my house.

My kids feed the cats, wipe down the bathroom and help with laundry

Answer 9

Sounds like you are doing well with age appropriate chores. The only thing I can reccomend is maybe paying her a little to open a savings account. I wish I had done this sooner because my 11 year old still doesnt understand much about money and spending. We are on a very tight budget so its hard. I think you are on the right track. Unfortunatly I still have to nag the younger kids to clean up, but the 11 year old is getting pretty responsible.

Answer 10

My kids are younger so I will address just the allowance part. They do NOT get paid to do things they SHOULD do. Like making the bed and picking dirty clothes up. However they get paid for going above an beyond.

Just this passed weekend my 8 y/o son helped out with my spring cleaning. We cleaned out cabinets, scrubbed base boards and rearranged our shed. He also did the laundry, start to finish with me. I gave him $10 for a days work. :)

Answer 11

That sounds appropriate.  But, I dont see homework on top of that list....that should be #1.

Answer 12

I believe chores and allowance are two difference issues.  Chores are part of the family score, a job just like school.  Where allowance is a way to learn the basics of budgeting.  

I would suggest you try positive behavioral supports where she is rewarded by points for completing her chores, etc.  Since she is saving for Disney World, you could gear the reward to that.  Start with counting how many items she should do in a day.  Then on a calendar you have an entire week, with each day's and week's chores listed.  Have her check them off when done, not you but her to see she is accomoplishing things.  This could be placing a star on the chore.  Then at the end of each week you sit down and the reward begins.  Week one she has to accomplish XX percentage (say 60%) to get $, then next week 65%, etc.  You can do it on a daily basis but she is old enough to project forward a week.

The biggest issue is consistency.  She does them and independently to completion or NO credit.  You are setting a great example for your daughter on responsibility that will one day caring into her work ethics.

Answer 13

maybe throw in washing dishes or sweeping the kitchen floor once in awhile

Answer 14

I would say those are all normal chores, she could probably wash windows on occasion, maybe vacuum too.

Allowance is not necessary, but they do need to have verbal praise when they do a really good job, or do something without complaining.

Answer 15

We only give allowance for above and beyond chores that they aren't expected to do.  Our expectations (to live in our house and eat our food=) ) are make bed, clean room, clear table, do dishes, clean litter box, feed pets, put toys away.  Above and beyond chores are helping mom with cleaning, picking up dog p**p in yard, raking or mowing, babysitting younger siblings (for a short time, of course).