Chores - Mount Royal,NJ

Super nany has a reward chart on her website that has you move the person 10 places. I used this to do chores with my kids. 10 really easy simple chores everyday and they get tpo move a space each time. Also the movie tickets/raffle tickets you get from walmart in a big roll, we've done those before where when they've done something they get to have one put into a cup nad at the end of the week if they have so many they get to have a movie night or stay up late etc.

There is a really great website that I refer to with my kids. It gives a list of appropriate chores based on the age of the child. It also helps you to set up a chore program with printable charts and a reward list. Here is the website address: www.youthonline.ca/parents/chores/index.shtml

How about a chart with a list of basics for each day: Make beds, clear table, etc and put a chip with each child's initial for who is assigned that on that particular day? My son is 5 and, God bless you--I can hardly get him to do a thing! I'll be watching to see other suggestions that might work for me!

Hi K. -

I am a mother of 2 boys and girl ages 7,5 and 3. In my house my kids do "family contributions". This way my kids feel like they are contributing to the family in positive ways instead of being forced to do chores. They love to take on the responsibilty. I made a chart of ways they can contribute(ie. set table, clean table, swifter the floor, take out garbage, empty dishwasher, sort clothes in laundry)and every Sunday they pick their contributions for the week. Some of these things you will want to train them ahead of time how to do them. Kids love to feel they make a difference and that they contribute in significant ways, this is a great way to do that. I would try to stay away from rewards because kids become reward junkies. They will expect some kind of reward for everything. My kids can earn money by doing odd jobs like rake the leaves, but daily household things that need done are their way to contribute. If you think about it you or your husband work outside the home and make money. But at the end of the day you still have to do the housework and you do not get a reward for doing it, so neither should your children.
I hope this helps.
Take Care
H.

Thank you for asking this question. I have 5 year old triplets as well and wondering the same thing!

S.

I would just set up a chart for each child with three or four jobs each. Then at the end of the day, or at dinner or whenever you decide, go down their list and if they did their job they get a sticker in that slot. Then at the end of the week if they have all their stickers (or all but three, whatever) they get a reward. The reward is where it really depends on your kids. It could be a gummy treat for my little guy, but maybe pick an outing or choose dinner or dessert.

I would probably start by trying to make the chores fun. Turn them into games and reward them for doing a good job. That way they look forward to doing them

Anything done alongside you would be good. They will be learning what you do and how to help along the way. That is how my Mother taught me how to cook, do dishes, and laundry. I actually enjoyed helping sort the laundry before washing and I was in charge of socks when it came to folding (not easy with 2 brothers and our Father). I cannot remember what age we were, but she started leaving the laundry where it was folded to put away ourselves.

My daughter, who is 4, likes the anitbacterial wipes for the bathroom. They clear the mess on the sink and counter pretty well and it is the basic responsibility that makes her proud. She also tidies her room as needed and has started stripping her bed so we can put clean sheets on. I am sure with 3 little girls, their room can get quite untidy so possibly make a rota that never changes. Bed sheets come off on Sat morning, room tidied every other night, everyone clears their own plates at each meal...you get the idea.

Good luck. Sounds like you have some wonderful little helpers. Happy Mother's Day!

My triplets are 3 1/2, but I also have two sons who are 21 (married with a baby on the way) and one who is almost 13. Your best bet is to make a chart for the day, week or month, specifically listing what chore is for each child daily. We don't allow our kids to have any free time or play time (no videos, TV, etc) until homework and chores are done. You can put a star on their day when theirs are done or cross it out, whichever works best. Some do tickets for each chore or each day that is completed correctly. They can turn in their tickets for video/TV time. You can offer money for each day, 10-25 cents a day, so they buy something at the end of the week. There's many rewards you can do, but the best thing is to start with a chart and write down who does what and when. Rotate the chores or let them decide what chores they want to do. Sometimes kids prefer certain chores and they can choose on their own. Or put all the chores in a hat and let them draw them. However it works for you. At age 5, they may be able to help you come up with ideas, what will help motivate them to do what they need to do to make you, Dad and them all happy in the end. Good luck!

If you're interested in our online triplet parent group for more triplet support just go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Parents_Of_Triplets_Club

I live in New Cumberland if you'd ever like to chat.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HarrisburgPAChat

Dear K.,
As a teacher, I'm sure you seen the "chore charts" for the classrooms. The room that I am in for Sunday School is used during the week as an elementary classroom in our Christian school. The teacher has a brightly colored animal with various items - each item has a "chore". Each students name is also on a tag that goes next to an item. They rotate their chores each week. Perhaps you could do something similar to this at home. You might allow them to choose some of their chores, and then the ones that no one seems to like, you can assign. ALL chores should probably be rotated so that everyone learns to do all of them. For the first week or so you'll probably have to "check and review" their chores, so that they know how you expect them to be done. As for rewards, those should probably be personalized - ask THEM what they would like for a reward/prize, and then set the goals accordingly. If one child has as significantly smaller/larger reward, set the goal smaller/larger. You'll also probalby have to explain the difference, then, but at least they get to pick their incentive. BTW, www.chuckecheese.com has several reward charts available. AND they have a birthday registration. If you register them for their individual birthdays, they'll each receive an e-mail coupon for 20 FREE tokens! Good luck & God Bless!