Need Help with a Chore System...

Hi Meagan,

I use a chart that my kids can actually mark off (dry erase) and then if they fill up the chart or do more than expected in a day then I have a "Magic Box" that they get to pick out of. Basically the magic box is filled with toys and such from the dollar store. I don't show them what is in it until they get to pick out and I always tell them that there might be something new in it. It seems to work really well for my 8 year old and my 3 year old is catching on real quick.

On the chart I just fill out about 5 - 8 items that they need to finish (some for the morning routine and some for the evening) before going outside, watching TV and other fun stuff that they like to do. Also, to make the charts more interesting you can have them fill them out each week so they know what they are expected to do. You can have them decorate them and just pump them up about getting a reward for there efforts. All kids like rewards.
B.

well this is definitely the time to get regular chores in place...then they will continue on as they get older...just remember they don't always do their jobs as well as you do and it is usually easier to just not watch...for their age you can use all sorts of tools to implement...chore charts...dry erase board...or make one using a poster board and type up words and use clip art pics from your computer and the internet...i would try a few simple daily things to get them in the routine...my 14 and 13 yr old actually make their bed, feed the dog, and do their chores after school without being told...so my point is eventually it does work...some simple things would be:
--making their bed in the morning (best they can--no military rules apply)
--emptying the trash
--sweeping the floor
--helping set the table and dinner dishes
we always gave ours a couple of bucks at the end of the week for completing them...as they get older the price goes up but then so do the jobs...i love that i don't have to mow my lawn or clean the kitchen floor anymore!...good luck...i strongly believe children need to learn to do some chores regularly...i am surprised how many of my children's friends that come over don't do anything at their homes...not even put their own laundry away...well goodness then how r they going to know how to do it when they grow up and move out on their own!

Hi M.,
I'm a mom of four 8, 10, 11, 19. With two step-grands 3, 5, living with us.
I am somewhat the same way as you. Work on an as is basis.
My husband finially said. WHEN you come home from school, BEFORE, you do anything.. do chores. he assigned each the chores he wanted done.. so when they come in the door from school and we have heard about their day, we say (often in answer to the question can I go play) take the trash out and you can.

Now , my children are homeschooled, so we have a *Task Can.
Draw or cut out pictures of the task you want the child to do.. . Put in can, child draws one paper from the can, that is the task they do. This was they are not stuck doing the same thing everyday and are learning that there are many jobs to maintaining a healthy/clean home.

Of course phrase is still needed.. so at the end of the week (when ever) say to the kids, "lets go to a movie! You all did such a good job this week."

Hope you find a way that works for your family. Take care, D.

Hi M., I'm all for flylady.net & if you go to the site, there is a special site called housefairy.org for kids. it's all free & has helped me soooo much! Good Luck, C.

I was not very organized so I am stealing this from my sister. She color coded her clothers hamper. Put whites with the white clothes, dark colors with the dark, red by themselves and regular colors etc. It saves time for you and the kids love doing it. A chart by itself is not fun but when a star is given for the chore it becomes fun. Then after 25 stars they a choose a family together party. Plastic containers that are see through help a lot with orgaizational skills.

We have a 'job jar' - I wrote about 20 different 10 or 15 minute jobs on slips of paper & put them in a jar. About twice a day, we each pull out a job & set the timer for 15 minutes.
It really makes a difference when once or twice a week one of us is doing each little job - wash all the mirrors, gather & take out the recycling, clean the bathroom counter, dust in the living room, etc.
Since the jobs are short, and the kids are trying to beat the timer, it really keeps things kind of fun. We homeschool and usually get out the job jar during the day when we're ready for a break from schoolwork. It could be one before lunch & one before dinner.

J. W

Hi M.,
You coud go to the school store and get some chore list forms. It is located on Glen by the Krispy Kreme donut shop. The title of it is Daily Chore List. You will have to put down what chores you want done. There is also a slot for each child's name, that way you don't have to tell them what to do, they can just look on the list and mark off each chore as they get done. This also let's them keep up with what they've done on their own.
Good luck.
Q.

I have 3 kids 12, 11 and 8 and here is what we do:

We have 3 nights a week that are "chore" nights, ours is Tues, Thurs and Sat....but whatever works best for you. I have 3 groups of chores 1. Upstairs and basement bathroom, 2. dining room and living room, 3. kithcen and laundry room
The kids alternate the groups weekly. week one is chore !3, week 2 is chore #2 and week 3 is chore #3 and then they start over with one. I give them 5.00 a week for doing these chores and it helps me out so much around the house!!! Plus gives them a little money of their own. Pretty cheap for a house cleaning too! That works very well for us. In the beginning you might write down what the aspects of each room are until they get the hang of it. When they are done you need to go around and check everywhere and "ok" it or have them fix what is wrong.

As far as getting them up in the mornings, I had this problem as well a few years ago, we used a mornign surprise system. I had a brown paper bag that I would put 3 of something in every day (candy, little cheap toys, coupon for ice crem with mom/dad, etc.) and if they were ready by 7:40 or whatever time you need them ready that is when the bag got opened. There are 2 different ways you can handle this, either they are all ready or no one gets it OR the person that is not ready does not get theirs and the others do.

Hope this gives you some ideas! GOOD LUCK!
S.

Okay, if you go to www.flylady.com It will help the whole family know what to do. It helped us alot and I have a 14, 8 and 2 yr old. Good luck

Try a chore wheel they can spin if they get bored of charts, that way, just like drawing from a jar, it'll be a surprise what they have to do.

I use flylady.net She has a great system and it is all designed around a morning and an evening. She even has chores, etc for younger children. It is great.

I second that, flylady.net and housefairy.org (or .com or .net).