Our New Chore System

Yesterday went so well. It took a good portion of my afternoon to help the kids learn and finish all their chores but I didn't spend my morning doing it all myself so it didn't take any longer than normal to get the house clean.

Here is what we are doing. I split all that work that needs to be done into 4 different lists. So this week Brett is #1, Bryce is #2, Kim is #3 and Brad is #4. Kylie wanted a number too so she is #5 but she'll always be #5. Everyone else will rotate so next week Bryce will be #1, Kim #2, etc. These chores have to be done before they can play with friends or have any screen or media time.

#1
Empty Dishwasher
Upstairs Bathroom
Downstairs Bathroom
Buggy Bathroom
Kitchen Floor Picked Up & Spot Mopped

#2
Load of Laundry – wash & fold
Carpeted Area – Living Room, Dining Room & Hallway

#3
Stairs
Entire Downstairs Carpeted Area
Meal Preparation

#4
Kylie’s babysitter & entertainer
Office
Yard
Garbage

I also typed up a list of what has to be done to clean the bathroom, the carpeted area, their bedroom, etc. so they know exactly what is required to pass the job off.

We also have "daily" jobs that must be done each day:

Before School
Blankets Put on Bed
Dirty Clothes taken care of
Prayers Said
Teeth Brushed/Hair Combed

Before Dinner
Bedroom Cleaned
Homework Done
Put Away Clean Clothes

Before Bed
Say Prayers
Brush Teeth
Read for 15 minutes
Read Scripture

In addition I made a seating chart for the table and for the Suburban. They'll rotate each week so we have no more fighting over who has to climb to the back seat or who gets to sit by Kylie. They'll all get a turn in each spot.

Everyone gets a one on one "date" with mom the week they are #1.

We also have a points system. Each child gets 50 points each week which can be redeemed for prizes or cash. If they pick up things that others leave out they get to add a point to their total and deduct a point from the person who left it out.

A day with no screen time or media = 25 bonus points.

Setting Table
#1 Plates, #2 Cups, #3 Silverware #4 Misc.
Everyone clears and loads their own dishes plus 3 other things.

That's it! It's all typed up on one page so everyone knows what is expected of them. We'll see how day 2 goes!

Mother It Monday - Work

Last night I sat down with each of the kids and had them set a goal. I told them I didn't care what it was brush their teeth, say their prayers, read, exercise, do a service for someone everyday.... They could pick whatever they wanted to work on. I had them make their own chart and told them if they kept track and reported back to me I'd pay them a dollar next week.

I've been thinking a lot about work. Keeping up with the house takes a lot of work. It lead me to think about what I am teaching my children. Sometimes it is just easier to do a task myself than to have to deal with the kids whining and complaining and having them doing a crappy job and hurrying just to get the job done. I know one of the welfare principles taught in our church is to teach children to work:

The foundation of self-reliance is hard work. Parents should teach their children that work is the prerequisite to achievement and success in every worthwhile endeavor.

Teach your young children to work, and teach them that honest labor develops dignity and self-respect. Help them to find pleasure in work and to feel the satisfaction that comes from a job well done.

~Joseph B. Wirthlin

So for my Mother It Monday task today I'm focusing on trying to teach my kids to work. They were each greeted as they came home from school with a list of jobs they had to do before playing the computer or playing with friends. Of course they resisted but I stood firm and they quickly got their jobs done. Hope I can keep this habit up because my kids need to learn to work!

Scour It Saturday - Report

Edit to Add: I'm Done! I cleaned my entire kitchen from top to bottom today. Fridge, freezer, cupboards, drawers, floor, sink, microwave, windows....The entire thing was scoured!

Cleaning behind the oven.

Look at all this dirt!

Cleaning the wall.

More walls.While we were scouring the kitchen Brian was vacuuming.

Putting the oven back in place.

Walls, windows and lights.

Cleaning behind the fridge.

So I'm not done yet but my help has abandoned me. With the kids help we cleaned the table and chairs, all the walls, light fixtures, fronts on the cabinets and scrubbed the floor. Brian and I cleaned the stove & oven. I'm now working on cleaning out all the cupboards, drawers, fridge, microwave, etc. I think I might run out of steam and time before I get it all done!