Chores

The dreaded word the kids hate to hear..... Its time to do your chores.There aren't to many chores that are fun to do but with a little ingenuity you can have those kids working right along with you.In our family we do not give allowance for chores that the children do. Although this can be a good incentive, for us doing chores is a part of belonging to our family. We live together, eat together, craft together, school together and we will clean up together too. Really it starts early when they are little and want to help. You have to take the time to allow them to help. Folding washclothes and underwear while you are doing laundry, give your child a dish rag to wipe the cabinets or table while you are working in the kitchen, and have them pick up their toys right away. Now what if you have not started from the beginning. How do you get started. ...

Our family has a regular family meetings each morning. During our family meeting we do our devotional and pray . This always helps things start out right. We then talk about famiy grievances and then

Check how chores are going. I have a list of chores for each child. I check them daily to see if they are completed. If they are not complete they may lose something. I do not say here are your chores you have the day to do them. I specify when I want them done. By what time.

I dont want breakfast dishes in the sink all day while I am stewing about it getting angry at them. I am specific in my desire. The children have morning chores before they come downstairs and afternoon chores. They are so used to doing them in order that they are just done. I also teach them how to do a new chore. You shouldn't expect them to know if they are not told exactly how you want it done. You may have to check it the first couple of times .

For example here is my 9 year olds chores

Morning

Make your bed.

Bring a load of wash down

Wash it.

Start breakfast (She loves to cook by the way stove items supervised by mom)

Let the dog out feed and water dog.

Meals

all meals she is to clear he own plate

I have sponges for each child they are to wash their spot and

chair if need be.

During the day she is reminded when needed to pick up after herself

Lunch time chores

ON alternating days she vacuums the living room

Let dog out

Evening

Pick up toys before bed. (I check all their rooms. When I tuck them in and gently remind them. Opps I see your truck here can you put it back before we read a story)

Let the dog out.

Alternating with sister doing the dishes.

Now my older daughters chores look differently than this and my young sons is simplier but is generally the same. I also in the morning may add a few here and there depending on what I see might need finished. When we first started I gave them checklists to cross off but now they are so used to the routine I dont have to anymore.

To help with the clutter I bought cute baskets that can sit on our steps.

When the kids leave something small that needs to go upstairs I put that object in there as I pass. Then when they go up the kids check their basket and take it up with them. Sometimes the kids also will put things in there saving them an extra trip. The basket is not allowed to overflow or they have to make that special trip.

We have also played the chore jar game which was on the porch before but in case you missed it.

You walk around writing all the chores in detail.

Then cut them apart and fold and put them in a jar. Each person then picks from the jar. Completes the chore until the jar is empty. You can have a special jar for you younger children. We like to play this when the house has gotten away from us while on our home school travels.

So everyone Get to work. :)