How to get teens to do chores in the house

     Long before they become teens, children can be taught how to help with simple things to contribute to neatness in the home. By the time they are in their teens they pretty much know that things have to be picked up or they remain left for someone else to take care of for them.

     With many trials and errors,I will tell you what I initiated for my 3 offspring.

1.  Chores were listed for each, so they could accomplish them during the week. By the weekend, if chores were not complete, free time, for them, to do what they desired to, do became limited. So if they left many things out during the week, the jobs had to be done before they got their time. 

2.  Rotated lists helped so the chores were not always the same. With that in place, no one could say they had the hard ones all the time.

3.  Open for help from me, they learned how to successfully carry out the duties that were asked of them on the list. In time each learned the duties that were stated.

4.   They always knew that I was not asking for more than I would do myself. If one was ill, I carried out their chores for the sick time.  When they became well again, they in turn, helped me with my jobs. I did not wait for my illness for them to work on "paying back" for the time they required me to step in for them.

5.   Chores were also assigned when traveling for a vacation. We all had the fun, so we all needed to pitch in to prepare and sustain a semblance of order while away too. Team work was expected and we were a team working for the same purpose.

6.   Praise was the norm after a job was done and done well. No one was taken for granted and that included me.

7.   My children never got an allowance. Most often times, if I had the money and they wanted to do something or buy an item, they got it. I did not wait until Christmas to reward them for good behavior and they knew with accolades when they did well.

8.  Happy day presents were the almost weekly event at our house.  If everyone did well for a particular day, a little gift would be greeting them on their beds when they came home from school. I would just say" Happy Tuesday" or what ever day it happend to be during the day or day they kept accomplishing their chores.

9.  Trading jobs between the teens was always permitted. It was between the 2 of them. Just so the chore got done, everyone was in a good spot.

10. As they grew in years, the responsibilties did also. The rewards matched the efforts. Driving a car meant returning it the way you  borrowed it as well as coming home safely. Driving was a priviledge. If they abused it, they lost it.