Would You Make A 12 Year Old Tidy His Room?

[magsmay]

Two differing opinions here between me and OH - the floor of son 's room is terminally covered in various things -clothes ,plastic bags -lego he's been playing with -his computer desk covered in various electronic equipment charging up and his bed an explosion of duvet ,dirty underwear and usually about three pairs of pyjamas in various states of cleanliness. He has a laundry bag but can't be bothered to throw his dirty laundry into it. I usually go ballistic about once a fortnight and threaten to put everything in a plastic bin liner and put it in the garden -OH says I'm over reacting and its his room -if he wants to live like that that's his prerogative - just close the door and when he runs out of clean clothes, or loses something he will tidy things up. I reply it's my duty as a parent to make him realise a tidy environment is both psychologically and hygienically important - who is right?

[chaptazbru]

I was an untidy kid, I had a lovely bedroom, but it was often untidy. I can't remember Mum (or Dad) telling me off about it, but I must admit I grew into an untidy adult!! My house is only really tidy whenever I have visitors, but maybe we're all a bit like that ?! It's clean by the way, it's just that I'm a bit lazy about putting things away !

[Togo30]

Maybe instead of spending sooo much time on friendly and jovial q&a sites you should venture onto news sites or maybe out in the real world where there is an epidemic of violent teens who drink, take drugs, have underaged and unprotected sex and who to be frank don't give a toss about society, other people or property who's parents should be flailed and put into the stocks for allowing their kids to become like this.

I've lived on some of the roughest estates in the uk and can tell you first hand not all kids or parents are butter wouldn't melt in your mouth halo wearers.