I’ve been trying to figure out chores for the kids. (I just posted about this didn’t I?) I can’t seem to get a good rhythm going with Lydia, she sees brushing her teeth as a chore. So, that’s a problem.
The only thing I’ve successfully done is introduced Asa to putting away the silverware. He takes them one at a time from the dishwasher, then walks over to the drawer of utensils (which is above his head) and drops the silverware inside.
Not bad, eh?
Help me out–what chores do your kids do? Do you have a good system to help them stay on track? Feel free to leave a link in the comments!
I just created a chore chart for my 3.5yo last week – she loves helping out, so I decided to channel that desire to help and start working towards her being able to do some chores independently: Jenny’s Chore Chart.
Dusting is the best. They can come practice here.
We started a morning jobs list with our son when he was around 3. Feeding the dogs, putting his clothes in the dirty clothes hamper, and his dishes in the sink were all part of it. Our 18 month old puts his own diaper in the trash can and started putting his dishes in the sink after seeing his brother do it so often. Afternoon/ night time jobs include putting away toys.
Not sure how helpful this will be, since I think I was a little older than Lydia when my parents had us do this, but we were, for my entire life, pretty much only responsible for our things on a regular basis. So, it was mine and my brother’s regular job to clean up our toys out of the public rooms, keep our rooms clean, vacuum them and clean our bathrooms. Other than that, the only thing that was our regular responsibility was to take turns emptying the dishwasher and dishdrain. We were, of course, expected to help with any other tasks my mother needed help with. I think this helped with us not seeing these things as chores, more like taking care of our own things. Maybe a variation on this will help Lydia?
My daughter is 4 and we just started a chore chart. She has to set and clear the table for breakfast & dinner. Obviously we just have her set the silverware and non-breakables and sometimes she just plops it on the table, but we’re getting there! We also have her feed the fish, which creates more of a mess for me. But at least she’s getting the hang of the concept.
And my daughter also views brushing her teeth as a chore. So I put it on her chore chart. Hey, whatever works! 😉
When I was a kid my mom used an index card system for our chores. It was also tied into our allowance. She divided chores into monthly, weekly, and daily, using different colored index cards for each. The cash amount for each ranged from .10 to $1.50. I’m not sure how my mom worked out the pay scale, but I do remember that the cleaning the bathrooms were the biggest pay off.
She would layout the index cards in neat piles at our place at the kitchen counter. For the weekly chores we had until Saturday at noon to finish. Noon on Saturday was also pay day. So we’d have cash to spend at the mall… usually at the arcade or KB Toys.
We would also be able to trade our chores at our bi-weekly family meeting. But I generally would try and horde the bigger payouts. My mom would step in and re-arrange things if my sisters protested tho.
O forgot to mention that the index cards had the Job Title, description of what was expected, and dollar amount 🙂
I am the oldest of 7 and the mom of 6. My mom always had a list and sometimes we got to choose our jobs and other times, she assigned them. I started my kids at 2-3. They can help bring dirty clothes to their rooms, clean up toys, put the diaper in the trash, etc. Every day my kids have jobs, They range in age from 2-17. Straightening their room and putting away laundry is a job that never changes. Then they usually have 1-2 other jobs. They know how to do laundry, cook, clean bathrooms, scrub floors, etc. I think my boys wives will thank me one day!
When we adopted our 2 year old twins, a friend sent them a card and wrote in it something about being prepared to bring their laundry baskets downstairs as soon as they learned to walk. I think the discipline is good for them and it makes my life easier, most days. When jobs are done, and done well, we get to “play”. Today it’s off to the beach.
Ugh, my son is 5 and he doesn’t have any set chores–I just don’t know where to begin! He currently has 3 reward charts going (one for food, one for sips, one for poop (don’t even get me started)) so the idea of yet another chart is overwhelming.
My friend has a 5-year-old and she has 5 tasks she has to do before breakfast or lunch, I’m not sure which, that includes brushing teeth, swiffering the floor, I’m not sure what but I like the idea of just 5 things and anytime before lunch or whatever.
Hey Amanda! We just started a chore chart around here and I actually put to brush their teeth and hair on it. I know it’s not actually a chore but it keeps them from whining about it and I think it will help them get in a good habit of doing it. They know that they have to do it if they want that star on their chart and in turn get to go to the treasure box at the end of the week. I also have the regular things like pick up toys, make bed, etc… I figured I had to start somewhere in order to get some good habits going. Once they get a little older they will have to do dishes and stuff 🙂 Aloha!
Hey Amanda what worked for us was to separate out “chores” from “routines.” Sounds stupid but honestly it took me 10 years to figure that out. “Routines” include things like, in the morning: get dressed, put away your PJs, make your bed, eat, clear your dishes, brush your teeth, pick up any toys, get on socks and shoes, put on your jacket, get your backpack and lunchbox. We have similar “routines” for coming home and going to bed that include basic grooming, hygiene and picking up after oneself. I have these on separate sheets with pictures (for Zach) and check boxes. I laminated the sheets and we can check them off with a dry-erase marker then wipe it clean.
For “Chores” we use a dry erase chore chart from The Board Dudes that I picked up at Target. You can track different chores for different kids on different days one week at a time. Chores include setting the table, emptying the dishwasher, helping with dinner, washing pots and pans after dinner, making lunches, folding laundry, cleaning up after the dog, vacuuming, mowing the lawn etc. Obviously some of those are for the older kids but Zach can do a lot of the kitchen work and can help fold laundry and deliver it to everyone’s room.
Anyway, I figured out the chore vs. routine thing after doing Flylady for a while. Their routines are like my daily routines and their chores are like my daily missions or weekly home blessing.
When I was a kid as one of five we each had a room and an outside area that we were responsible for each week (kitchen/bath1/bath2/living room/play room and five sections of yard). If you had the kitchen, you were washing the floor and clearing the table every night. Bathrooms included cleaning toilets and showers. Living room included vacuuming and dusting. Outdoors you had to mow the lawn, weed and water. Then the next week, everything would rotate. My mom stayed at home and had time to supervise all of this – I don’t have the time or patience but it was a good idea!
Being a slob, I really struggled with this issue, since housework tasks rarely occur to ME. So how am I supposed help my kids remember them? I made a chart that has helped quite a bit with my 6 and 8 year olds.
http://www.aslobcomesclean.com/2010/03/kids-daily-checklist-chore-chart.html
Mostly because of the “reward” part of it, they tend to remember on their own.
We have a lot recycling. So taking it all to the recycling bin in our garage is my 2 yo’s chore. Also, I have her pick up her toy room everyday {or pretty close to that}. She doesn’t do it all on her own, but she does a pretty good job!
I saw a chore chart on one blog recently, but I ended up making my own in excel.
It’s mostly light and easy stuff during the week, so it doesn’t interfere with homework, soccer, scouts, etc that we have going on.
The two older boys do their own set, and they swap throughout the week, same with the younger boys. Some chores are done everyday, and some only a couple times a week, or as needed.
The two younger boys also have their own set, that they swap out during the week.
Anything that doesn’t get done during the week, they will make up on the weekend (or as needed; translation: when I tell them to do it)
We’ve only started this for the last couple of weeks since school just started, and they are still getting used to it, but it hasn’t been that bad. I think once they get more into a routine it won’t be as bad. I’m still in the ‘cutting some slack’ stage since it has been a crazy 2 weeks here…and sports haven’t even started yet.
If you want to see the chart, let me know and I’ll email it to you.
I created a chore chart so my girls can get their “commission money” (not allowance a la Dave Ramsey). I don’t always check off their chores each week but they do get their commission for any work they do that week. According to Dave when they’re this young they need lots of positive reinforcement for any completion of chores they do. My kids are almost 5 and 3 which is close to the age of yours. There biggest chores are keeping the play room picked up, their room picked up and the living free of their toys. I also have an issue with them leaving their shoes all over the house so they must keep their shoes put away in our shoe basket. Another chore of theirs is putting their cups, dishes, uneaten food and trash away in the sink/trash after they use them so I’m not picking juice cups, snack plates or trash off the floor all day. If they are having a horrible week where they are just refusing to clean up a lot I start taking a dollar from their commission. They get 5 dollars a week. One goes to savings, one goes to church and they get to keep three. I’ve rarely had to take money from them, though. They usually always get their commission at the end of the week.
That’s basically it for right now for us! Good luck!!
Asa’s silverware job is really cute! lol
When my youngest (7 now) was little I’d give her the swiffer and take the 2 middle sections out of the handle. It was perfect for her. She’d swiffer for hours.
Wipe the doorknobs and light switches with Clorox wipes. Clean the windows. I would spray the window and let them clean them with towels or paper towels.
I found your post on my quest to find age appropriate chores and/or some sort of system for my 5 and 3 year old. Especially because baby #3 is due any day now and I’m all for promoting more independence in my kids. They can do chores, but we don’t have a system. I think we need the visual for chores and personal care needs like getting dressed and brushing teeth- our ongoing battle, too. By the way, I’ve found this Mom’s Guide to have some really helpful tooth info and tips. Your commenters had some good ideas! And I loved the photo of your silverware drawer. That’s exactly what ours looks like when my 3 yr old son helps me! But the main thing is he’s helping and learning to be a responsible, contributing member of our household!