My kids do a lot of things but laundry isn't one of them. We have too many people living in our house for one person to be hogging one of the washing machines or dryers.

Usually by late elementary school they can and will do a load if they need something that they discovered wasn't in the laundry basket. Other than that they don't start doing laundry for real until the summer before they leave for college. That's the system I've set up and I'm sticking with it. They are doing so many other things outstandingly well that I am not worrying about laundry.

If doing laundry is your line in the sand for whether a kid is a lay-about or productive then I think it is a dumb metric.

Anonymous wrote:when they could reach the washing machine

Yep. For my son that was age 6, he was tall. For my daughter a year or two older than that. Now they're adults and not only do their own laundry but know how to do a million other things for themselves that many other adults can't seem to figure out.

Completely responsible at age 13. Prior to they helped put away. As young as 3-4 to have sock matching duty.

If they are super busy with work and sports (pre-Covid) I will fold for them.

when they could reach the washing machine

Ages 10 and 13, they do their own though the older one probably didn't do it when they were 10 so they've been doing it for maybe 1-2 years?

This is weird to me.

Just from a privacy standpoint, it’s weird to be washing a teenager’s underwear. It’s not that I’m worried a college student wouldn’t be able to figure out how to use a washer in the dorms — of course they would! It’s more the principle that you’re having someone else wash your dirty underwear. It’s weird. It’s the equivalent of continuing to wipe your teens buts because “of course” they’ll be able to figure it out when they leave home! Some things are about privacy and bodily autonomy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They do their laundry and mine and sometimes I do theirs but its usually a joint effort.

I admire the moms who go out of their way to train their kids for adulthood and I have nothing but contempt for those who baby their kids until they go to college without any practical life skills. Its disgraceful and its also "narcissistic mom" behavior.

That seems like a harsh judgement. My mom explained the theory of laundry to me before I left home. But she did my laundry for me because she considered school my job. Since I got a full ride scholarship that was a good decision.

And guess what- the laundry machines in college have instructions written right on them. It wasn’t hard to figure out.

That said, I am having my kids help more because I have a full-time job too and it is a way they can help the family.

So, you’re saying you don’t care about your children’s education? Seems shortsighted. Maybe if they considered school their job they would be able to get a full ride to college.

i still do it. Unhappily.

late elementary school. for me it's not about "will they know how to do laundry in college" -- of course they can figure it out in about 2 minutes if they don't already -- but about being responsible and taking ownership of yourself.

Anonymous wrote:I can’t believe how many of you baby your children. We have three kids, and then they’ve been doing their own laundry since age 10 or 11. The 14 and 16 year olds are responsible for figuring out when to do it, they fold it, put it away, hang up what needs to be hung to dry like bras, jeans they don’t want to shrink/fade, etc.

Its not babying your kids. You have three kids and don't want to deal/take care of them. Mine can do it and help but at 10-11 they are still young. 16 is a bit different than an 10-11 year old. You sound lazy.

11, I do all the laundry together. Sometimes I have my 11 year old help fold or put away but I'd rather them focus on school/activities. They know how to.

Anonymous wrote:
There is one family laundry bag and it has to be filled before it gets washed.

We operate for minimal water and electricity waste.

Usually I get to push the button on the washer and dryer, but my teen and my husband have done it as well.

Me again. Chores are really easy to learn as a young adult, so please don't stress about teens leaving the house without a lot of practice in that department! I did not lift a finger in my parents' house before I left, but transitioned really smoothly to doing my own laundry, cooking, cleaning, etc. Nothing to it.

I can’t believe how many of you baby your children. We have three kids, and then they’ve been doing their own laundry since age 10 or 11. The 14 and 16 year olds are responsible for figuring out when to do it, they fold it, put it away, hang up what needs to be hung to dry like bras, jeans they don’t want to shrink/fade, etc.

There is one family laundry bag and it has to be filled before it gets washed.

We operate for minimal water and electricity waste.

Usually I get to push the button on the washer and dryer, but my teen and my husband have done it as well.

Anonymous wrote:I taught DD to do it when she was 11. I will help if she is overwhelmed, asks for help, or I want to spend time with her.

My oldest is only 6, but this it my goal! Pass it over like 75% of the way, and then support and move along as needed.