How do you handle kids and chores?
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table4five)
I was at Hobby Lobby the other day picking up supplies for Kaitlyn and the boys to use to make their Dad some homemade birthday cards. While I was there I happened to look up and see laminated chore charts, so I grabbed two of them. The boys will be out of school in a few weeks, and I’m trying to figure out what the heck to have them DO all day.
So, I’m thinking, why not give them assigned chores every day and reward them at the end of the week for doing them? The chore charts I picked up have spaces for everything from making their beds to “being happy”-ha! As grumpy as they can get, that one might be a challenge! I don’t see any reason why two smart, strong, able-bodied boys can’t pitch in and help around here. It takes a whole family to keep a house running smoothly, in my opinion.
What do you think? Do you assign your kids specific chores? Do you use chore charts? By the way, that link goes to a site that has free printable chore charts, and it says they will soon offer a way to design your own and share them on the site. It prints out six weeks on a page with a section on the side to define exactly what the chore is.
There’s also a link to the PayJr. chore and allowance system, remember when I reviewed that? You can tie the paying of allowance directly in to the completion of chores. We don’t pay our kids specifically for doing chores, we give them an allowance to teach them how to manage money, and we believe helping with chores is something everyone has to do to help as a member of the family. But I do like PayJr. and it’s worth checking out.
Tell me in your comment, what do you do about chores for your kids? What’s your system? I’m curious to know! And please also scroll down to the post below this one to grab an award badge if you are a regular reader. You know who you are 
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Hello and welcome to Table for Five! I'm Elizabeth, and this blog started in September 2005 as a way for me to participate in the Mommy Blogging community. I'm married with three terrific kids-boys ages 11 and 9 and a 2 year old daughter. Things I love include my family, coffee, Diet Coke, TV, reading, and Target.
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I used a chore chart with my son last summer and he really liked it. During the school year, though, things get hectic and we didn’t keep up with it. I’ll probably use it again this summer, now that you’ve reminded me.
Our kids are 6 and almost 4 so we haven’t started allowances yet. I do like the idea of it being tied to chores though, because then they’re earning their money, just like mom and dad do.
My kids all have chores , not many but they do have some . I have never used a chart but I might try that once the baby gets big enough to start them.
Yeah.. Allowance is a good way to start when they are small. However the moment they are bigger they demand more XD At that time it’s more on instilling the responsibility to them since young and expect nothing in return later on =/
Chores chart is one of the great way but the hard part is to follow the chart… sooner or later nobody will follow its unless force by parent themselves.. allowances is like a bonus to cultivate child be more responsible…
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I bought chore charts once from a school fundraiser. I thought they would be great, but then we never actually used them. I think anything can work - if you actually use it.
My kids get away with not having that many responsibilities - taking out the trash and doing dishes mainly. I can’t believe how much they can complain about that little bit. I have the same feeling you do in that helping out around the house is just part of being in a family. One of my kids kind of gets that and will do mostly whatever he’s asked to, and the other one may never get it until she has kids of her own and needs some help.
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How do I handle kids and chores? Well I find that valium helps…….seriously I have tried the chore charts too, but found that it just adds one more layer of things that must get done during the day. Generally I fly by the skin of my teeth - but they only get their allowance in exchange for chores.
Carrie
Both boys have chores they are responsible for each week.
Thing 1: take out trash, take out recycles, poop patrol, cleaning his room and helping clean his and Thing 2’s bathroom
Thing 2: clean up room, help clean his and Thing 1’s bathroom, pick up sticks in backyard.
Additional chores can be added and current are subject to change. They don’t do their chores they do not get an allowance. We normally do not have an issue unless it involves missing out on something fun. I remind them that work comes before play and the sooner they get done the sooner we can play.
Chore chart is on the fridge for reference.
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well responsibility must be instill in the kids hard from young rather than growing money minded selfish kids.
remember to give a cane or give a cake when they did something wrong or right. punishing without rewarding n vice versa both doesnt work.
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I find chore charts particularly useful in helping me organize my time and my resources. You should give it a go!
I think giving them assigned chores with reward would be a great idea!
My father used to ask me cleaning up his car or mop the floor. After finishing the tasks, he would give me a small amount of money as an appreciation token.
I have those same chore charts for my kids — but blank with only “be happy” on them.
Yes, even Sam at 3 has “chores” — granted they are “table manners” (which includes asking to be excused and clearing dishes) “put laundry in hamper” and “cleaning toys.” The “Be Happy” we use as a “No Time out/No Whining” and I am very liberal with that. He is only 3 after all!
Josh has chores more suited to a 7 YO.
And the rewards are different too… If Sam gets most of his stickers, he gets a 99 cent matchbox car (or similar) at the end of the week.
Josh can save his points and “spend” them for different rewards (like staying up late, going out to lunch or dinner, buying a toy up to $20). The rewards vary in “cost” — it takes about 4 weeks for him to earn the $20 toy.
good luck!
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I’m not qualified to answer this, but rewards for hard work always seems good.
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I would not say that my kids have chores per say. At the end of the night they have to clean up the toys. That is my biggest pet peave is having to pick up toys. However recently I have added helping me fold clothes and helping me do dishes, putting dirty clothe in the hamper and helping getting them in/out of the washer/dryer. Now that the boys are wanting to help me with the house work I think a chore chart is a great way to get them started out. I’m behind the times though as my kids are 6, 5 and 2. Angelina is 10 and she has been helping me right along so it’s just the boys I need to enlist more help from!
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No charts. But my oldest is a whopping 4.5yo and getting the hang of letter. But he gets to put his toys away, despite him trying to whine about it for 30 minutes (hey, he dumped out the toy box, not me), put his dishes in the sink, put his dirty laundry in the laundry basket, etc. Oh, and lately I’ve been using the 4.5yo to grab stuff from the dryer for me because bending down sucks. As they get older, of course they’re doing stuff around the house - I refuse to raise boys like my dad and FIL that can’t/won’t do anything house related.
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We don’t offer rewards for chores, chores are part of being in a family. After a variety of approaches I found what works best for us is to use a white board & magnets I made with clip-art pictures of various chores, etc. And in the morning we talk about our day & use the magnets to show them the plans for that day. That gives us the flexibility we need (hard to say “chores, lunch, errands” when sometimes errands include meeting the grandparents for lunch and other times we have Kindermusik at 11am and . . . whatever, too, this lets us do chores in the morning on a day that we have an afternoon playdate & chores in the afternoon on a day that we have a morning playdate) and they can see for themselves “ok, we finished breakfast, now we need to go clean the bathrooms, then we get to play outside . . . ” chore charts that they marked off didn’t work well for them because it didn’t tell them WHEN to do the chores, and since most of their chores at this age include my participation (they clean the bathroom sink & tub while I clean the toilet & mirror, so there’s some supervision) it doesn’t work to let them do them when they want since that might not fit into my schedule.
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We have been using chore charts for a few years now. They have their regular chores (cleaning room, sweeping the porch, take out trash, etc.) for which they get a weekly allowance. $1 for every year old they are. If they want additional money they need to do additional chores. It works out pretty well–but we still need to supervise and make sure they get done.
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Both our boys have “chores” but at their ages, they are not that hard. SM helps dust and he helps put his clothes in the laundry room. During the week he has to keep his laundry in the hamper (not on the floor…) and he has to put up his bookbag and shoes. The Bman, who is two, has to help me put his clothes in the hamper, helps dust with his brother, and they he helps me pick up toys.
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I don’t know, I try not to give my kids too many chores, but they’re still young though.
I don’t about chores, but all of my children worked with me after school and on Saturdays.
Now my two eldest have jobs and work hard. I think learning that jobs/chores don’t do themselves, gives children a good work ethic.
All the best - J
I’m a “Fly by the seat of my pants” parent. Which means we don’t have a chore chart or regular chores. I’m the command center–I see a kid and a job that needs to be done and they pretty much do it. I keep meaning to become organized someday and get all the kids on the same page about who does what, when. But that requires ME to get organized first…
Thanks for hte chore site. We are at that age where chores need to become part of the routine for our little ones.
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Chore charts are great. But you really have to do some major followup and discipline training to get it to work.
My boy is still small and we have not asked him to any chores, specifically. But we do ask him to clean up his toys. He does want to bring out the rubbish so far
I have 3 sons who are now 16, 18 and 20. When they were younger I always found it easier and less of a hassle to just to do most things myself. This is my biggest regret as a parent. My kids are great: kind, respectful, smart and funny. But they are SLOBS! They will pitch in now if they have too, but never think to do anything on their own, even pick up after themselves. So I don’t know if a chart would work, but I would find something that did. I would also not tie chores to an allowance or monetary award, but try to make any reward more intrinsic. For example, if the kids did a good job of doing their chores during the week, do something fun with them on the weekend, letting them know that you have the time and energy to do that because everyone in the family helped out.
Teresa M.
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