Housework

[ailbhe]

It is way, way harder to teach a child to clear and sweep a floor effectively than to do it oneself...

... the first few times.

Bribing children to do hosuework is abhorrent and probably immoral. If I could make it work, I'd do it for EVERYTHING. It might work, you never know. I'm willing to try.

Writing down all the housework that can be clear, small, limited tasks not involving water or cleaning products was an interesting exercise. As was pricing them.

Comments

[pauamma]

Are you looked at Chore Wars?

[ailbhe]

I used to use it for myself but need a screenless method for the kids.

[pauamma]

Screenless as in "not requiring a computer"? I'm not sure that's possible unless the kids can use mobile devices, or someone can update their accounts on their behalf. (Which is possible using NPC accounts for them, per http://www.chorewars.com/help.php#roles.)

[ljgeoff.livejournal.com]

My kids know how to do housework, because I *sometimes* made them do it, but they don't do it as a habit. It's a big, eye-rolly, heave a deep sigh, horrible thing that they must force themselves to do. One of my biggest regrets is not making keeping the house tidy a normal we-do-this-everday thing.

[ailbhe]

I had to learn the habit myself as an adult, though I knew what to do and how to do it when I *did* get around to it. Rob didn't know WHAT needed to be done, HOW to do it, or how to make it a habit - none of the three.

[feanelwa.livejournal.com]

It is less morally abhorrent than ending up with adult offspring who can't clean up after themselves and drive everybody they live with crazy for the next 50 years.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

Please please please share the list?

[rmc28]

Seconded.

Over the last year we have discovered that a motivated 5-year-old can:

* fetch milk from the step and put it in the fridge
* make his own breakfast cereal
* cut a slice of bread and butter it
* slice cucumber
* feed the cat
* tidy up his toys (if they have bags/boxes to live in)
* unload the dishwasher and put things away (a few things he can't reach their homes - they get placed neatly on the counters until an adult comes along)
* load the dishwasher
* take clothes out of the washing machine
* load clothes into the washing machine
* peg clothes on the lower washing line (the one in his reach)
* unpeg clothes from the washing line
* make a half-decent fist of hanging things on indoor airers
* take dry clothes off airers and fold them in his preferred way, and put them away in his room

With hanging out the laundry, he isn't good at doing the shaking-out that I do to reduce creases, but it is better than not getting hung out at all.

I spent much of my recent pregnancy too ill to do much housework. Having a helpful child around really made a difference.

[ailbhe]

I think L, in particular, did so much when I was seriously ill that she resents doing it when I'm well. But I could be projecting.

[cherade9.livejournal.com]

This is precisely the system I adopted with Adam as soon as he was old enough to be responsible. Payment = Computer time. Still do it at age 12 :)

[ailbhe]

We have to seriously limit exposure to electric screens for other reasons, so that's not going to work. But money might!

[ailbhe]

Oh, they can do it. I need them to have things they can do *without being told to*. Once-weekly marathons aren't my preferred way of handling things at all.