It's Just Common Sense
Ruth Beechick, Curriculum Specialist

I see numerous clever and useful charts and systems that homeschoolers use for getting chores done, and I have to admit that I used nothing like that. In fact, I don't remember that chores were ever a problem. Maybe that in itself is good news for you who are not this far along yet.

What I do remember is working a lot with my two sons. Together we would work on the yard or re-shingle the roof. That group work led to solo work by each of the boys because it was obvious that only one person could push the lawn mower or paint while on the ladder. I remember trying to teach now and then about the pleasures of doing jobs well and the necessity of doing them. I would say, "We need to do some upkeep on the house each year or it will deteriorate too much." My purpose was that they would take good care of their own homes, and both are hard workers today.

Making beds? Again, I can't remember. And I ask my sons if they remember me nagging them to clean their rooms or make beds, and they don't remember. But their rooms were always neat. Our family routine was to get up in the morning and quickly make our own beds. We just did it. Nobody complained.

I remember my mother sometimes going with us to our bean-picking job, picking along with me, and teaching how to do it faster and thoroughly. Lift the leaves to look underneath. Use both hands. Clear the pole from bottom to top before moving to the next pole.

With your larger families I'm sure the charts and checklists help. Teaching good attitude will help too. Work is not "work." It's the main part of living.

-Ruth

The Familyman
Todd Wilson, Familyman Ministries

The thing to remember about chores is that their purpose isn't to make our lives easier but to train our children for the future. We all know it's easier to sweep under the kitchen table ourselves than to have one of our children do it.

All I would have to do is get the broom and dustpan, sweep the floor, put the chairs back in place, and then return the broom and dustpan to the peg on the wall. But hey, I'm a parent who wants the best for my children so instead, I make a chore chart, post the chore chart, and enforce the chore chart, teaching them what's expected along the way.

Sometimes it looks like this:

Twenty minutes after dinner, I notice that the floor is covered with food. I check the chore chart and see who the guilty party's name is next to "sweep kitchen".

"So and So," I call, "You need to sweep the kitchen."

"I will," he answers.

"Now!" I say.

A few minutes later, the floor is swept, but the broom and dustpan are lying on the floor and the chairs are scattered about.

"So and So," I call again, "You need to put the broom and dustpan away and straighten the chairs."
"Sorry, I forgot," he or she responds.

A few minutes later, the chairs are in place and the broom is put away but the dustpan is still on the floor. That's usually when I start to rant and rave about the merits of being a team and that we must each do our job well in order for things to run smoothly. So you see, what would have taken me 5 minutes to do, instead takes ME and them 45 minutes to do. So what should I do?

I keep training. I keep assigning chores and making the kids do them because they're part of our family, part of the Wilson team, and because I know that if I don't train them to work now, they won't do it when they grow up.

Gotta go now and check the chore chart.

Be Real,
Todd

Homeschool Freebies
Julie Nott, TOS Marketing Manager

Chores, schmores! A couple of my kids need constant reminding to look at the chore chart every day and get 'em done. And then there are a couple who have realized the benefits of getting them done without being nagged to death!