Chores!

Chores are something I strongly believe in. Not just because kids should help out. But I think a great deal of issues we're dealing with are because people don't really know how to work anymore. Plus, when a person can do something well, really well, it gives them identity, self esteem. Who doens't need that eh? They have a purpose in the home. They have a part, and they are needed. We think by doing everything for our kids we're being nice to them, in reality, we're stripping them of what they really need. Accomplishment. Meaning. Purpose. A place. You belong here, take part, dig in. How many people join churches now and don't do a blooming thing? Lets start in the home, and hopefully they'll spread they're wings farther. My hope is, that I can teach my kids to be hard workers and to love learning. With those two traits they should be able to achieve whatever they need.

But, easier said then done. Whew.

Since the kids were 4 and 5 they've been helping out regularly with household chores. Never anything scheduled, but we expected them to do what they were able to, when needed. Plus clean they're own rooms, by themselves. Talk about battles.

See, kids hate work. Kids are selfish. Oh yes. Selfish. If you have an issue with selfishness in your own life, have a child. If you already have one, have another one, and keep it up till the selfishness is purged from you. Kids are really good at that. That's why I had kids. Hahaha, no, no. But, it sure has made me change!

Ok ok, back to chores! Yes, so kids hate chores. And with every ounce of energy, they fight it. No matter how you discipline, or beg, or or or. Kids are resiliant that way. You'll think you've got them happily helping out, then *whamo*, next time they are crowned the Whining Prince(ess).

So, I was whining one day, rather, many days, to my friend, SW. She's got 5 kids and her house is always looking great (ok, I have to admit, if it wasn't I might not notice) and I know that her kids always help out. So I whined enough to hear her tricks. It's like verbal jewels I tell ya, info like this. So this is what she does.


Consistant chores. Oh yes... I hate that word. I'm bad at it. Ugh. But, I'm also deseperate, so I will try anything! She communicates well with the kids about what is expected, and is consistant about it. But, some of the tricks are theses.

*Chore day is every Friday, or Saturday, depending on convienience.

*Chores are all listed on seperate cards/papers.

*Each child has their name on a card also. The morning of chore day the parent will list 8 chores under each childs name. Yes, 8!! Now, some are fairly small, some bigger.

*Each chore is worth 25 cents, which is paid after each individual chore was completed. *this was actually a big difference for us, we'd tried paying before, with the payout at the end of everything. And this imidiate gratification made a big difference in their attitudes. It seems as though dropping that coin into their jar renews their energy.

*This is a biggie. Mom doesn't do housekeeping at this time. Mom supervises and teaches. Anyone who's put a child to a task knows that, the minute you leave the room, inspecting the carpet suddenly becomes very interesting and there they sit! Doing nothing! Till you come back in again and blow off a little steam about how nothings been done, blaa blaa blaa. And I would also get rather frustrated when they would be shown how to do something, and they do something completely different.
So... The idea is, you stay on them. The whole time. Show how to wipe the mirror, watch to see it's done right. Watch them vacuum, make sure they got the corners, so on and so forth.

By planning on watching them, not trying to achieve all my work done at the same time, most of my frustrations with chores faded away. Plus they're happiness about recieving money made it so much better too!

*Ok, remember I said jars? Way back there. Yup. Ok, the money jars is neat too. I think I do this a bit different then my friend, but the same end result.
So I have 3 jars for each child. Savings-Spending-Giving. This was a terrific idea too. Since whenever I wanted to pay the kids to help out with things it seemed that they'd end up with a little bit of money and want to spend it all on candy. This way, they could do a little of that, but they also had funds set aside for other stuff too. The money is equally divided. The kids are so excited to have money of they're own making to put in the offering at church. And to walk through walmart and see a toy they like, then we tally up how many weeks of chores it will take to get enough. I'm curious to see if those toys are better taken care of too.
The first chore day Levi was so overwhelmed with all the money he was making ($2 total) that by the 6th chore he came to me at the end of it with one of his quarters and said "Mom, it's just too much, you've given me so much...This time I'm going to pay you a quarter for my chore" . Amazing huh?

Even Emily get's right into it. She gets a penny now. She makes her own bed, picks up toys and helps hang shirts onto their hangers. I'm sure we'll find more that she can do in the future too.

But, I'm no where close to the expert on all this. I've only done it two weeks now. But it's worked so well, that I'm very excited!! Here's some pics of the kids working.


oh yes, this one of Larry isn't chores, it shows how much Nathan enjoys chore time, haha








List of chores, in case you're interested. These are divided differently each week, and they only do 8 of them each. (I got my friend to list me hers, and it's helped me a lot to know what other kids where doing)

-pick up toys in play room (they should be sorted right)
-vacuum play room
-clean living room windows, where little fingers touch, and china cabnet glass
-collect garbages
-dusting
-vacuum kitching/living room hardwood
-tidy front and back entry, including vacuuming
-pick up toys in the yard
-empty/fill dishwasher
-pick up toys in the trailer part of the house
-vacuum hallway, laundry and bathroom
-wipe down bathroom counters, sink and mirrors
-find and tidy books in both book shelves
-wash bathroom floor
-wipe down kitchen cupboards
-wipe down kitchen chairs
-spot wash hallway and entryway
-clean own bedroom
-spot wash kitchen floor
-spot wash living room floor

They dont do the same jobs each week, and there's some that aren't done every week. I'll probably add more as I see other things they can do. But I'll still stick to just 8 jobs for each of them, and rotate the jobs.

So, what do you do to get your kids to work?? Ideas are always welcome!!