Raising teenagers can be a mess and a struggle in many ways. The biggest struggle for most teen parents tends to be getting them to continue to help around the house or do some tasks to help make a parent’s life easier. However, there are a multitude of chores teenagers can do at home. Of course, after you set some tasks to do the issue becomes getting them to do those chores. Here are some of the household tasks teens can do and how to get them to do these.
Household Tasks Teenagers Can Do
- Cleaning (their room, common rooms)
- Cooking dinner sometimes
- Yardwork
- Laundry or dishes
- Taking care of family pets
- Help siblings
- Making their bed
- Putting away clothes
- Running errands (with a license)
- Organization
- Taking care of dishes after meals
- Packing their own lunches
How To Get TeensTo Do Chores
Make An Agreement
Sit with your teen to discuss expectations for their tasks and come to an agreement on what should be done. This could include creating a list for each day, discussing any allowance they will get, letting them know what tasks are negotiable and what ones are most important, and so on. It can allow both of you to understand what is expected and what’s to come as well as start off the path with mutual understanding and respect. You should also know and understand how your teen feels about their chores and if you’re overwhelming them as well as considering what other responsibilities are on their shoulders such as sports, homework, and more.
Consequences
You should create consequences that aren’t crazy or extreme, and stick to a pattern. The simplest options are often the best ones. Some ideas include reducing their allowance by a certain amount for chores missed or reducing their privileges. If that doesn’t work for your teen increase the amount that these are restricted or reduced when used as a punishment or try to sit down and talk with them to come to some middle ground. Being extreme or acting out of frustration can actually cause the opposite of what you want and lead to your teenager becoming shut down or angry and defiant, which leads to more missed tasks.
Set An Example
Even when they’re older, your kids are looking up to you. If you’re just giving them all your tasks and being untidy, then why should they be tidy or responsible? You’re the one that is setting an example for them and their future. This could also mean staying positive and not becoming mean or extreme when they fall out of line on their chores, as it can help them to handle negative situations better in their future. Another way you can set a good example is to keep calm and not become explosive when they don’t do their tasks. Setting a negative example harms your relationship with your child and their future behaviors.
Be Flexible
We get it, you want the chore list to be done and done right as well as on time. But your teenager is dealing with a lot in this time, and you nagging them or breathing over their shoulder because of chores is not going to help anything. Remember it’s important to be flexible sometimes and allow for some missed tasks. What’s the bigger picture that you want to convey to them? What chores are more important than others? Try to step back and remember how much else they have on their shoulders right now as well as what is more important in this situation. It’s okay to be a little flexible sometimes.
With this help, you can get started in making a task list or starting off with chores that your teen can be expected to do. It’s nice to have a starting point for how to get teenagers to cooperate and do their household tasks without becoming too nagging to them or getting an attitude as well.