Say what you mean. Mixed messages can frustrate the most patient teen. Make it clear what you need your teen to do and what your expectations are for how good a job you want done.
Watch what you say and do. Your teen may be mirroring your attitude concerning chores. Behavior modeling an appropriate attitude about cleaning and maintaining your living space is mandatory for a parent who is expecting the same from their teen.
Set up a reward and consequence system. Remember that rewards do not have to be anything out of the ordinary; you can tie a privilege to a responsibility. For instance, a teen can be allowed to go out with friends on the weekend just as soon as their room has been cleaned for the week. That way, if they want to go out on Friday night, they will need to have their room cleaning chore done Friday afternoon or Thursday evening in order to earn their out-with-friends privilege.
Frequency and repetition will help your teen form a high-quality chore habit. Chores should be set up as daily, weekly or monthly. They should be expected to be done on time, with some reminders if needed. The rewards and consequences should be immediate. When your teen completes their chores again and again, it will become second nature and you will find that you no longer have to give them a reminder.
Give your teen ownership of their chore. Do not help them do it or make it better after they have done it. The more your teen has to depend on themselves for getting the chore done and done well, then more dependable they will become.
Following these tips over time will empower your teen to accomplish household chores with minimal effort and a good attitude. A cleaner home is an added benefit!
