Chores, do your children do them? Do they do them with a smile on their face? Mine usually do and still I wish I had started them sooner, when they really wanted to help and thought it was more fun to do chores then to play, go outside or watch a show on TV. I only started my boys with chores last year and they are very good about there chores and do them daily. They pretty much know what’s expected of them at this point and do their chores with out question or complaining. We did have to go through the “Your a part of this family “ talk though. If you’re a part of this family then it is only fair that you help out and do what you can to make the home run smoothly and peacefully! Mama cant, wont, couldn’t and shouldn’t have to do it all! There are great lessons in giving children chores!  So though at times it may take longer, might not come out as clean or as pretty as if mama would have done it, these little boys are learning how to work around the house (with a smile on there face). About 10 years ago I dreamed of a house full of girls and boys, the boys would be thought to do Men’s work and the girls would be taught to do the ladies work but that flew out the window two babies ago! These boys are gonna be the best husbands any woman could ever hope or pray for, so all you ladies with little girls get in line and start praying!!!  My boys will easily be able to run the household without skipping a beat when their wives are pregnant have a new baby or are ill. They will be able to keep house, cook the food, take care of babies and “Bring home the bacon” when necessary!!

Here is a list of what the boys do now around the home on a regular basis … (Incase your wondering, they are very used to seeing Mama with a camera in hand)

Micah age 6

Micah folding clothes in his "Peter Pan" costume!

• Assists Mama with Brothers, Change wet diapers and help younger brothers get dressed (he looooooves to do this and actually asks if he can)
• Table chores (set table, clean area where he ate, put away plate, vacuum kitchen floor)
• Sort & Fold laundry
• Empty dishwasher
• Clean windows
• Vacuum house
• Dust
• Takes care of Kody (feeds, baths and walks her)
• Pick up, clean his toys and help Ashton to pick up also.
• Make bed
• Helps in yard, pulls weeds or waters

Dominick Age 4

• Assist Mama with Ashton
• Table chores (set table, clean area where he ate, put away plate, pull out chairs for Micah to vacuum)
• Sort & Fold laundry (Towels, Bibs and underwear)
• Empty dishwasher (children’s plastic plates, bowls and cups)
• Clean windows
• Collects bathroom/ rooms garbage
• Pick up, clean his toys and help Ashton to pick up also
• Make bed
• Helps in yard, pulls weeds or waters

Ashton Age 2

Ashton helping out Dominick

• Assist brothers in all chores when able
• Assist Mama with Noah
• Pick up toys
• Put his laundry away
• Get dressed
• Clean windows (with water, each boy has his own bottle with water or cleaner in it)
• Clean up spilled messes
• Put away his plate or give plate to mama
• Dust with socks on hands.

Those are the few I can remember off the top of my head.

We have a magnetic “Responsibility Chart” that incorporates our chores.

On our chart we have the following…

Get dressed (They must get dressed first thing in the morning before leaving bedroom)

Brush teeth (after breakfast they brush teeth and groom)

Lessons (try their best with a good attitude)

Chores (try their best with a good attitude)

Clean Up (if you take it out put it back)

No teasing (this is a problem around here with 3 boys)

No whining (also still a problem)

Bedtime routine (put on PJ’s, floss, brush teeth, mouthwash, potty, read 3 stories and off to bed!)

Some of the above is on our “House rules” posted on the fridge too J Lots of repetition so that they “get it” J

I am currently in the process of figuring out if I want to incorporate “Rewards & Consequences” to go along with our chores and house rules. I like what I saw HERE but I think I can come up with one on my own. Im not sure if we want to give allowance because we feel chores are just a part of being a part of the family, I do like the idea of rewarding good behavior or when they go the extra mile to help out on their own.

Im just not sure, I will keep tossing it around in my head.

So what works for you? Do you reward??? Do you use scripture like Door Posts “If Then Chart”?

P.S.  maybe they dont ALWAYS have a smile on thier face...

A not so happy Dominick when told to clean his room.