BellaOnline Forums Family Step Parenting chores - please help

What kind of chores are reasonable for an 11 year old girl and a 6 year old boy to teach responsibility and to help out?

Easy one. Teaching responsibility and support for the household is so important - it gives children a sense of esteem to contribute. Each can choose a night where they provide meals - even opening a can of soup or making a sandwich (with your help around the stove). They get to choose the menu, shop with you for the food and THEY do the prep! They can also be responsible for picking up the floor of their room, cleaning a washbasin or sink, etc. The kind of chore isn't as vital is that it is THEIR responsibility weekly, to reinforce their importance to the family functioning. Make it fun and season with lots of thank you and good job! Doreen at HeartHill facebook page!

Hi Amy, Teach them how to use the washing machine, it is never to early to learn this skill and let your daughter do some ironing, simple things like t shirts. Cleaning their own mess up in their own space helps them be responsible for their own things.. Take out the rubbish, they contribute to it! Look after a pet if you have one, but whatever you do, like Doreen said, make it fun then it is not such a CHORE!

Good luck
Linda - Islam

Thank you both for your responses. That was helpful, I previously have been hesitant in assigning chores because the kids are my future step-kids and I didn't want to come off as the mean stepmother. Ha ha But when you put it that way, make it so that it's not a chore, it does help. This visit was difficult, asking them to help, they act so put out and I have to ask numerous times to do one thing. sigh.