Chores

First of all, take a deep breath. I’m just impressed that doing chores this soon after an international adoption is on your priority list! You already deserve a pat on tha back.

Second, my kids are 6 and 4.5, and we have been using a chore chart for about 6 months now. After their breakfast dishes are cleared from the table, they automatically know it’s time to check the chart. I need to update my chart as there are only 3 chores per day required. Some of the chores that they are learning and will be on the chart eventually are: cleaning the floor on their hands and knees (we have linoleum and very little of it, so it’s not that bad), wiping down cabinet door fronts, cleaning baseboards, sweeping with a hand broom and dustpan, helping me fold laundry, and helping me load the washer and dryer.

I’ve recently learned that if you give a kid a squirt bottle of water and a rag, they’ll happily clean anything!

Hope that helps!

The thing that has seemed to go the best in our house is the 5 minute chore. You could make it 10 or 15 or whatever. I put chores that usually need done each day on little strips of paper in a plastic baggie or dish. When it’s time for 5 minute chores, each person-parents included-picks a chore out of the bag. We work for 5 minutes and then quit.

Usually, people end up working longer, because it’s not drudgery. You’d be amazed how many things can be done in 5 min. We have 6 in our family, so that’s 30 minutes of solid work. Think about what you can get done in 30 minutes of solid work.

The things in our bag are things like sweep a room, mop a room, scrub a toilet, straighten bookshelves, do a dish load, put in a load of laundry, clean under couch cushions, fold a basket of clothes, empty dish drainer, etc. In fact, it seems like most of our things can be done in a really short time period. 

Anyway, this doesn’t seem to bother them, because they don’t feel like we’re asking them to work their fingers to the bone for hours at a time. When we just ask them to spend some time doing chores, they feel that way. I always say it’s marketing-presenting it in the right way.

Hope that’s helpful.

Angela

I have 4, 6 and 8 yo boys that do these jobs….

empty the dishwasher

feed the dog

haul firewood twice/day

sweep

take out the garbage

take out the recyclables

take out the compost

carry the dirty laundry down to the main floor and sort it

fold and put away their laundry

fold and put away towels

clear their dishes after each meal

they love to wash windows/mirrors and dust

vac the living room and play/school room

peel and cut veggies for meals and other meal prep jobs (they love it!)

take off their bed sheets and help put them on again (bunks can be tough!  They do the back corners.  I do the ones I can reach.)

help wherever needed

We do not do a chart type thing.  They each know which jobs are their regular jobs, but if something needs doing we just tell a kid to do it.  Sometimes I need the oldest on something not the norm so the others have to step up and switch things around.  It all seems to work out.

Honestly, the thing my kids are the worst at is general clean-up of whatever they played/worked with.  It is frustrating!

I shared my chart above, but failed to put in the explanation. Each person takes care of their assigned rooms – picking up, dusting, vacuuming & mopping floors, etc. to the best of their ability for that week. Obviously, my 6 yo isn’t great at floors yet, but he does fine for his age. Either my husband or I will help as needed or it’ll keep until we have our rotation through that room. 

MISSCEEGEE: Where did you get your amazing chore chart?? I love it and would love to make one of my own!!

I have four kids (9,8,6,and 2) and we have created a circle chore chart.  The outer circle has their names (minus the 2 year old, she shadows me and helps me), and the inner circle has the chores they must accomplish daily/ weekly.  This way, they know that the dog feeder for the week also is the recycler, laundry helper and napkins and fork girl.  Etc…  Each week they recognize that they have the set chores and if there is one they particulary don’t like, it is only for a week before the chart is rotated.  I find this works for us because they have memorized what chore goes with the others (so I don’t have to remember!) and there is never any question about who is the …girl this week.  And mom is the only one who can rotate the chart, Sunday night after dinner.

We also do a Super Kid Chart every evening.  This is more of a reminder of the personal items they need to accomplish everyday.  So every night we sit down and ask, “Did you pack your bag for tomorrow?  Are your shoes where they belong?  Did you put your things away?  Did you make your bed today?”  Most of the time they have already checked off their list before I come in for book&bed time.  We have also added one per their request, “Did you do something to help someone today?”  That gives us a chance to talk about their day and reflect on someone else that may have needed a helping hand.