Family chore schedule?

[Anonymous]

How does your family divide the housework, and how old are your kids?

I'm not sure how many chores to assign my kids.

[Anonymous]

My two-year-old’s chores are setting the table, feeding the cat, and picking up his toys. He does a crappy job at all of these chores and requires supervision.

DH and I do everything else. DH does cleaning and laundry. I do cooking, shopping, and scheduling. I’m also breastfeeding our infant 5x/day. We meanly split hands-on kids stuff, meaning we each take one kid in the morning and at night.

[Anonymous]

My 4 year old can just now adequately clean up all her toys, make her bed, help clear dishes from the table, fold her laundry and put it away in her room, and likes to help sweep (although this still needs adult help). We've slowly helped her learn these things by modeling them and involving her even when she wasn't able to do it perfectly (especially laundry).

[Anonymous]

Start by having them take care of their own stuff as much as they are capable. A teenager can do their own laundry, but an 8 year old should be able to gather their own laundry in a basket, bring it to you to wash, and fold it afterwards, with a lot of reminders.
Same with cleaning their room, cleaning up after meals, etc. Whatever they can do they should.

[Anonymous]

Kids are 9 and 12. They choose two chores from the daily chores list and we may ask for help later in the day or week. They can do laundry (wash/dry/put away their clothes), trash, recycling, put dishes away, vacuum, tidy the bathroom, and wipe off counters. They make their beds are made every day, clean up toys, and make sure their rooms are tidy regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My two-year-old’s chores are setting the table, feeding the cat, and picking up his toys. He does a crappy job at all of these chores and requires supervision.

DH and I do everything else. DH does cleaning and laundry. I do cooking, shopping, and scheduling. I’m also breastfeeding our infant 5x/day. We meanly split hands-on kids stuff, meaning we each take one kid in the morning and at night.

Um, he's 2! Did you expect a not 'crappy' job? My kid wouldn't even get near the cat at 2. Of course you supervise a 2yo in their chores.

OP-I don't think it's a number of chores to consider, more like, what needs to be done? Typically, chores could be something like
-make bed
-pick up toys
-help set/clear table
-sweep floor
-feed pet

I'm assuming the kids are prek age, not older. Older ones can load/unload dishwasher, fold/put away laundry, do laundry (I wait till age 10 to teach that for safety with the machine), mop, wipe down bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My two-year-old’s chores are setting the table, feeding the cat, and picking up his toys. He does a crappy job at all of these chores and requires supervision.

DH and I do everything else. DH does cleaning and laundry. I do cooking, shopping, and scheduling. I’m also breastfeeding our infant 5x/day. We meanly split hands-on kids stuff, meaning we each take one kid in the morning and at night.

Um, he's 2! Did you expect a not 'crappy' job? My kid wouldn't even get near the cat at 2. Of course you supervise a 2yo in their chores.

OP-I don't think it's a number of chores to consider, more like, what needs to be done? Typically, chores could be something like
-make bed
-pick up toys
-help set/clear table
-sweep floor
-feed pet


I’m the PP, you are responding too. I do expect my 2-year-old to do a crappy job and require supervision. DH seems to think he should be able to tell DS, “pick you your toys,” and that will magically happen. OP doesn’t list her kids ages. But I’m trying to let her know what is realistic for a 2-year-old - don’t actually expect “help,” but know that you are trying to set the stage for more responsibility and independence later.
I'm assuming the kids are prek age, not older. Older ones can load/unload dishwasher, fold/put away laundry, do laundry (I wait till age 10 to teach that for safety with the machine), mop, wipe down bathroom.

[Anonymous]

I have a kindergartner and a two year old. Kindergartner does two "chores" a day. Chores include sweeping kitchen, vacuuming around table in dining room, washing table, emptying part of the dishwasher (based on what she can reach), putting away laundry, making dinner (either something very basic in the crockpot or helping me). She also helps set and clear the table at each meal. Two year old puts own clothes in laundry.

[Anonymous]

The kids are 27, 24, 12, 10, 9 and 7.

Everyone is responsible for their own space (bed, bedroom, bathroom, clothing) and we help when they need it (like the two youngest can't reach to get everything out of the washing machine). The two oldest don't live with us anymore although 27 is staying with us through the pandemic. The other kids each have a designated day when they are responsible for having the table set for dinner no later than 6pm. If they won't be home to do it they can switch with another kid. Each night one kid is responsible for putting all the leftovers from dinner away and another kid is responsible for bringing all the dirty dishes into the kitchen to be washed, and then wiping the table.

Aside from that, we just tell them to do things when we need them done. Sometimes I pick whichever kid is nearest, or whichever kid is least likely to bitch about it, or whichever kid is responsible for the mess, or whichever kid will do the best job, or whichever kid could use a punishment, etc. Sometimes I invite all of them to be my favorite by organizing all the shoes by the front door, or pulling all the leftovers out of the fridge when I'm about to clean it, or whatever the task is.

The 7 yr old is responsible for feeding the dog breakfast because his school starts latest. The 10 yr old is in charge of dinner. 9 and 12 brush her a few times a week.