I recently read a blog post over at
Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers about kids doing chores. Awwwwwesome!
I think a lot of kids nowadays think mom and/or dad are their personal slaves. I know of a child who is *over 10 years old* who can't even tie their shoes because the adult in their life does it for them. Every. Single. Day. And no, not putting the kid in velcro. Actually tying their shoes everyday. When I was a kid you'd be totally embarrassed if you hit even Gr. 2 without knowing how to tie your shoes!
I know of children who are 6, 7, 8 years old who own iPods, cell phones, the latest gaming gear, ect... Then the parents have the nerve to complain that their child spend 3576 hours a day in front of a screen.
Then there's the parents who complain about slaving over the house all day to have it trashed 3 seconds later. And I'm not talking parents with nothing but toddlers or babies at home. I'm talking parents with children that are 5 years old. Or 10 years old. Or even 15 years old. These are people who LET their child trash the house, do nothing about fixing it, then have the nerve to bitch about it!
Do they really think the cleaning fairy is gonna pop into their kid's head and teach them how to take care of themselves? Do you want to either be having the child live in a condemned house or do their housework for them once they are living on their own? No, of course not. We how the hell are they gonna both know how and even have an inkling to do it if YOU DON'T TEACH THEM?!?!
Children as young as a little over ONE YEAR OLD can be taught to clean up after themselves. My almost 20 mth old thinks it's great fun to put her blocks back in the bin. She even helps me unload the dryer! Of course at this age you can't expect them to scrub the ceiling fans or cook dinner, but when you're picking up the toys, make it sound like a great game and get them to help you.
My 8 year old does more chores than most nowadays teens. She changes the cat litter, wipes down the vanity, sweeps the whole 1st floor, vacuums the 2nd floor and more. Heck she even helps with the bigger chores as needed, scrubbing baseboards, cleaning the toilet, washing floors, shoveling, ect... Guess what, I'm the parent, she's the child. I don't care if she doesn't want to do it. I make her do it. This is part of being in the family. This is learning how to take care of yourself. No she doesn't do it perfectly, the first time, every time. But I take the time to teach her the right way of doing it rather than letting her do a half fast job then fixing it for her later. Next on our list is doing laundry and dishes.
Post in a point.... rather than complaining all the time that your kids do nothing but make a mess all day, make them DO something!
