Let's talk Chores!

[crystalbella77]

Ok..so I saw Darcy's freebie (http://darcybaldwin.blogspot.com/) today and I am so gonna make a chore chart. My kids don't really do much. :unsure: The boys are 5 and 3 and Stella is not even two. So I need helping knowing what they should do. And do you guys do an allowance or some other kind of reward? If so can you tell me what you do? lol! I need help knowing where to start. :)

[Darcy Baldwin]

http://www.digishoptalk.com/gallery/data/1421/Aidens_chore_chart.jpg

This was our first chore chart for Aiden at 2-3 years, just simple tasks for him to accomplish in his day that we were already doing. He could feel like he accomplished something, it got him used to helping out with the family, and trained him for the bigger things to come. I preferred this kind of chart for my boys when they're younger because they are easier to understand. As they get older, chores grow with them.

Chores our boys have always performed from about 3 on...feed cats, empty silverware tray, set table, wipe down bathroom, dust, wash back window (this actually is more fun and keeps them occupied awhile LOL), etc. As they get older, things are added like sweeping dining area, vacuuming (oldest does it every so often), collecting trash cans, etc. I have a chore jar that they choose from a couple of times a week that give other chores that are a bit harder or more time consuming than something they'd do everyday.

Chores are not rewarded at our house in terms of monetary gain because they are the things that you do to help out the family. However, privleges are removed if you do not complete your chores during the week. So you might lose a portion of your allowance, your wii time, your play time for a day or two, etc. They do have chores from the chore jar that they can do for extra bits of cash.

Here's a good site to read up on how to train the kids for the chores, and age appropriate ideas:
http://www.familycorner.com/parenting/growingpains/3.shtml

[kristine]

I SO need to do one of these. My kids do nothing (3 and 7). They are supposed to clean their rooms, but I think they have realised if they wine about it long enough I get fed up and do it for them. Not a good thing. It's on my to do list!

[cindys732003]

I SO need to do one of these. My kids do nothing (3 and 7). They are supposed to clean their rooms, but I think they have realised if they wine about it long enough I get fed up and do it for them. Not a good thing. It's on my to do list!

OMG, that sounds identical to my house LOL

[emmasmommy]

My oldest is 4 and while she doesn't look at them as chores, she cleans everyone's plates from the table at night, brings in the garbage cans after the garbage man picks them up (she takes them out too but either DH or I have to help her take them out), clean up every night before baths, and help me dry dishes. We've never given her a reward for it because like Darcy, these are just things that you do to help your family around the house. She does know that if she doesn't do her "job," she won't get her special time after dinner. She's still at the age where just the fact that she's got an actual job to do makes her feel special.

[DawnMarch]

My kids are 9 and 7 and they do the dishes after dinner every night (with some help from us), and they are in charge of keeping their rooms clean and cleaning up their stuff in the family room.

[Misty Cato]

My 4 yo does the following

helps me set the table
helps me clear the table
picks up toys each night
makes bed
takes piles of folded laundry upstairs and lays them on the appropriate bed

The first 4 he does as his 'family responsibilities'. The last one he earns $.25 for each day he does it.

My almost-2 year old helps me transfer laundry from the washer to the dryer and puts away the duplo legos each night.

[Nathalie]

My kids (4 and the other 7 tomorrow) help setting up the dinner table, take the plates to the kitchen afterwards, help emptying the dishwasher, feed the dog and cats, help dusting and cleaning up their rooms. The older one starts helping with vacuuming, taking the rubbish outside and take the rubbish bins to the back of the property after they have been emptied. No rewards here for those tasks either and also like Darcy, they could loose some of their allowance, etc

[rach3975]

My almost 6 year old cleans up the playroom, takes out recycling, keeps his room clean, gets himself dressed and ready in the am, and other chores as assigned. No reward for doing his chores, but he can lose toys or other things for not helping out the family by doing his chores.

My 3 year old is harder--when he's in the mood he'll help us with the dishwasher and clean up toys. When he's not in the mood, we haven't found any way to motivate him to help out yet. Still a work in progress, I guess.