Struggling with Teenagers and Mess: How Can I Get My Kids to Clean Up After Themselves?

[nobert]

@sanlee05 did it once with mine lasted two days had nothing but butter milk and bread in the fridge so they had toast toast toast and I warned them I was thinking of turning the electricity off to save money. No tech, toast, no hot water no help they soon came round d to my way of thinking

 

[nobert]

@igivemylife2jesus turn off the electric or hide the baking trays.id go as far as putting locks on the cupboards.

 

[nobert]

Replace a bag of sugar with salt

 

[igivemylife2jesus]

@nobert you must be fun to live with!

 

[nobert]

@igivemylife2jesus it's not about being fun. That comes when they respect you, your house and what they have. Like I said my two lasted two days. I didn't talk to them nothing. Since then they ask to help. My daughter said sorry for not seeing what she has and realises now there is time and energy to do fun things

 

[sanlee05]

@igivemylife2jesus mine does too however wouldn't have Google to find a recipe lol

 

[mustardseedmin]

@nobert don't not pay the bill the poster will get bad credit if they do that. Yes ring the phone company and ask to put a block on it

 

[marylp911]

Don't let them go out until the chores are done.

 

[gillr]

Next level: take away chargers and plugs (eventually the batteries will die). Hide clean washing. Lock cupboards to the best/favourite foods

 

[gospelmidi]

We turn off the WiFi, put screen locks on their phones via an app and they can’t use them until -
Clothes put IN the wash basket
Dishwasher unloaded & reloaded
Bedding changed on beds
Bedrooms floors clear enough to vacuum
Walk / feed the dog .
Mine are 12 1/2 and 15 - this was what I had to do at Easter break to save my sanity .

 

[suzyandkids]

Take phones away and hide all the leads for all gaming stuff and laptops. No pocket money. And ground them not going out with friends. Or other one iv done gone in each bed room baged everything they own and just left bed and unites with a week's worth of pants socks, with 3 tops and trousers and that's it took every thing away

 

[adamfromwaterford]

Same! Affects my mental health so much living like this but I’ve tried everything with my 14 year old, she just will not keep her room tidy! I feel like I’m just nagging all the time but if I don’t nag she won’t even do the basics, I can’t keep on top of everything myself so the house is just a constant sh*t tip and drives me insane
My ten year old will help with certain things if I ask her to

 

[j185]

If they don't hand over their phone, don't pay the bill / cancel the contract?

 

[demetria]

Bin bag all thier room up. I've only had to start doing it the once. And now when I ask for her room to be done she does it...it takes a day but she does it in a fashion. She's 18 next month.

 

[jeanier]

There's an app u can control screen time with also I had this issue with my eldest she's nw left home but she use to shove everything under her bed or in the wardrobe so I use to bag it up and throw it away I also took her phone off her for 6 months I'll be honest none of it worked each child is different some work well with rules others don't my youngest whose still at home is an absolute gem pre teen 13 this year does as shes asked and cleans her room better than I could lol but she's seen the effects of her older sister so nws I mean buissness and just does it

 

[lejeuna]

Take SIM cards out of their phones when they are asleep can’t use any data then and buy paper plates and cutlery soon be embarrassed if their mates see them not being able to use a proper plate etc if they can’t be bothered to wash them up after themselves or when you wash up just wash what you have used and put their stuff to one side same with washing and drying etc

 

[madk]

I go onto the account I have for my daughter and turn off the use of mobile data if she refuses to give it me , and for longer . She just gives it me mostly now so although it’s a pain to do it was defo worth it to get my point across x

 

[baabaasheep2010]

Re-instate expectations... write it down... list to do for eqch room to be tidy... or a list for them to follow when they get home and before they go etc...Might seem a bit dramatic... but when they're out... remove everything from their rooms ? (Pop it in the loft but don't tell them that) block their phones... return back to basics.
Maybe you've got too much stuff ? (I know I have and I've been looking into minimalism a little bit... bit not 100% practical for me... but inspires me ) When I get overwhelmed.... I purge...less stuff overall means less stuff to put away. Good luck lovely.. I have 4 who will all be teenagers at the same time too ... tough love now... for happy adults later ♡

 

[j185]

Just chuck all of their mess onto their bed, and I mean everything, plates, washing, rubbish etc. Yes it requires a minute or 2 effort but not as much as putting everything away. Stop doing their washing if they don't want to put it in the wash basket or put it away. Don't buy snacks or goodies and do not give them money. Treat them like they treat you to show them it is unacceptable. Cancel their phone contracts, they don't deserve them and are.clearly too busy on their phones to respect you. The eldest are teaching the youngest to treat you like dirt, and if it's not stopped now you will end up with years of this as the youngest grow.

 

[furyoftheox]

Our rule is they have to do 7 jobs a week (that’s one a day so not excessive). If they don’t do the jobs they don’t get electricals at the weekend. This is enforced. At the minute your kids obviously think you won’t go through with the punishment of taking their phones away. You are the one that needs to enforce it. You are the parent and in charge, not them!