Any ideas for Chore Charts?

Question

My step kids are used to having everything done for them and it drives me crazy. I just moved in with them a year ago and I am exhausted trying to upkeep the house. There are 4 of them (5, 8, 9 12). My partner works crazy hours and I work part time and I am attending school this year so needless to say things are going to be different! What do you make your kids do for chores? I don't want to give them tons since they arent used to it. I want to start out with a few responsiblities and go from there. I just wanted to see what system or chore chart works the best for people. Also, how much do you pay? I can't afford much since I have to give out cash to 4 of them! Any help would be appreciated!

Answer 1

well, first tell them that they should do some chorse. dont bug the 5 year old. tell the 8,9, and 12 year old that they should do some chores like: setting the table for dinner, doing A COUPLE dishes, and simple stuff like that. ask your partner to back you up so that the kids will listen.

Answer 2

The chores I give to my kids (ages 6 and 8) are things like:



putting the dishes away from the dishwasher,

Windexing the glass table and windows,

Helping set the dinner table,

vacuuming the downstairs, upstairs, or basement,

sweeping the hard floors,

mopping the hard floors,

cleaning the counters, tables, and cabinets,

disinfecting the doorknobs and lightswitches,

getting the newspapers in the morning,

getting the mail in the afternoon,

bringing in the garbage cans, etc.



I assigned a small monetary amount to the chores, such as 50 cents for the harder ones (vacuuming and mopping) and 10 cents for the easier ones (bringing in the mail).



Then they record the chore they did, and the amount they earned, on the chart. Because I don't want to have to pay them after every single chore, I pay them after they have earned $10.



I rarely force them to do these chores. It is their choice. But, I also rarely buy them things unless it's their birthday or Christmas. If they want to buy something on their own, they know that they can earn the money by doing chores. They can do lots of chores and earn lots of money, or do no chores and earn no money. It's up to them. They do not get an allowance. Sometimes they are really motivated, do a ton of chores, and earn $10 in a few days (and make me very happy!), and other times, weeks will go by without them doing a single thing. But they have learned that the harder they work, the more they are rewarded- not only do I give them their money, but I tell them how proud I am of them, and I'm able to spend more time playing with them instead of picking up after them.



There are a few things I expect them to do without compensation: put their things away, make their beds, and keep their rooms relatively neat.



If you don't want to compensate them with money, maybe they can earn TV or computer time with their chores instead. Or you can go out for ice cream (or some other thing that everyone agrees upon) if they all do their chores. Of course, it will help if your partner is on board and you present this system together. You can also ask the kids what chores they would like to do. If they help you set up the chore system, they will be more likely to do it.

Answer 3

The older ones should get the heavier duties, like vacuuming and cleaning... that kind of thing, the younger ones should just dust and straighten up the place... talk to them. Agree, if not all works out, everyone must compromise until everyone is happy... if one of them isn't happy then you'll run into problems later on. Yes, give them money, but not too much so that they have more money than you do! Say, once a week or so, treat them! Take them out for ice cream, or eat out. They'll think, hey, it's not that bad. If they don't do their chores punish them by not taking them out and a "pay deduction" They will realize that it's for their own good and when they move out on their own, they'll need to do this everyday.

Answer 4

I have successfully implemented chores in our house. It is going to be tougher for you because they are older and aren't used to them. Also in our house you do not get paid for doing chores. You live in the house and working together is what makes a family. However, I do have a chart on the fridge that has the following things listed on it:

1. Bed is made

2. Laundry is put away

3. Took care of my own dishes

4. Fed the fish

5. I didn't whine today (my personal favorite!!)



They earn stickers each day for whichever of the items are completed. At the end of the month if they have earned enough stickers (it's 75 in our house) then we get to do something special, like go to the movies, Chuck E. Cheese, Mini-Golf, etc. They enjoy looking forward to the surprise at the end of each month. (and before anyone asks, yes, the 5 year old is capable of putting laundry away, just label the drawers with tags that say what goes in each one... it won't be perfect, but, it will be done). Might I stress again that we do NOT pay our children $ for chores... they need to learn that you do not get paid for being part of a family. These are simple life lessons. Good Luck!!



ps. by taking care of their own dishes, each child is responsible for setting their seat for dinner and rinsing their own dishes they use and putting them in the dishwasher. And putting laundry away applies to both clean laundry and dirty laundry. There are 3 seperate hampers in the laundry room; 1 for darks, 1 for lights and 1 for whites. Just makes it easier for doing laundry altogether!

Answer 5

I have 3 children ages 13, 5, and 2 and they all have chores.. even the 2yr old.



My 13 yr old's chores are ... doing 1 load of dishes everyday, taking the trash and recycling out, and vacuuming once a week. He is also responsible for cleaning his own room and putting away his own laundry.



My 5yr old is responsible for cleaning her room, setting the dinner table every night, putting away her own laundry and cleaning their outside play area.



My 2yr old doesn't have a chore that is all her own but she helps put her own laundry away, helps to clean the outside play area, and helps to set the dinner table.



This may seem like a lot but it's really not and I feel that it helps my children understand that I will not always be there to pick up after them and they need to be responisble for their own messes.



My 2 older children also recieve allowances but it is based on behavior & acheivements and not the amount of chores completed.

Answer 6

First of all, don't pay them anything. They have a roof over their, clothes and food to eat. 5 yr - help older siblings pick clothes off the floor and put in laundry basket, make their bed, small stuff like that. 8 yr - take out the trash, make own bed, pick up clothes off floor, clear dishes from table. 9 yr - same as 8 yr old. plus teach 'em to dust the furniture. 12 yr - fold the clean bath towels, wash dishes after dinner/put in dishwasher. my kids are 11 and 16. I taught my son (the 16 yr) at 9 yrs to do laundry. My 11 yr - folds clean towels, put dirty dishes in dishwasher, keeps her room clean, dust the house on "clean house day'' and once in a while she'll clean a bathroom. My16 yr - cleans his room, puts clean dishes away, vacuums the house and clean his bathroom (sink, toilet, mirror) and weeds the front/back yards. I don't pay them, but when they ask for something I usually get it for them if it in reason and they have done what they've been asked.

Answer 7

I have 7 children (the oldest one goes out to work) and we have a morning routine which includes unloading dishwasher, reloading dishwasher and wiping kitchen counters, quick clean of the bathroom and toilet (5 boys!) general pick up and wiping teastains downstairs, and sweeping floors. The middle 5 children have one of those jobs each to do in the mornings once they are ready for school. They keep that job all week. I do laundry and dress and feed baby and oversee them getting ready for school.



At 8pm we have tidy up time where we basically have a quick pick up again downstairs, finish loading the dishwasher from dinner and put it on and take clean laundry to our rooms.



Everyday the children also have a different job to do in their bedrooms - change beds, vacuum, tidy computer games, tidy up toys and clothes etc...



Also once a week on a Sunday morning, we have our weekly routine and it includes vacuuming all over house, cleaning microwave, tidying garden, pollishing, quickly sort through cupboards for out of date food and empty cereal boxes, (generally i break it down into jobs that need doing each week in each room) and give each child a room or section to do. We change each week.



I have my own routine for when the children are at school - monday, play group, sort the laundry monster, tuesday - put fuel in and clean out car, fruit and veg shopping, sort recycling etc, wednesday - paperwork, bills, cutting coupons, financial stuff, thursday - planning, menus, next weeks activities, clean out the cupboards again and fridge, Friday - main food shopping, weekend - lots of fun, make sure all uniforms get washed.



I have also listed all the rooms or areas in the house (including vehicles) and broken them down into a monthly rota. (4 rooms/areas each week) When you are having that 'where do i start moment' i look at the chart and think "well its week 2 so i can either do something in the boys bedroom, the garden, the small bathroom or clean the car" and then i pick a job that i have been putting off in one of those rooms and just do it!



There is lots more that the kids could help with (i know this sounds a lot for them but it literally should take them minutes) such as helping put the shopping away, and not piling endless dirty plates in an already over flowing sink or rubbish into an over flowing bin without changing it but im working on those rules.



Go to www.flylady.net. Totally free and 100% what you need.

Answer 8

I pay my 4 year old A dollar per chore. Its sounds like a lot, but she only does like 1 thing every now and then...For the older kids, I would have them keep their own chore chart and chart their pay. Just say, I'm going to give you a buck for every chore you do, but its your job to keep track of what you did and I want to see what time and day you did it. At the end of the day or week, you will be paid.

Answer 9

We do charts. The kids have the same chores every day.

-put breakfast dishes away

-brush teeth

-make bed

-clean up after self

-fold clothes and put them away



My kids are 4, 8, and 9. If they do all their chores all week (M-F) they get $5

Answer 10

I make my own chart using Publisher so that I can modify it for our family's needs. Even using something like Word would be easy enough to do. List the names down the side, with the days of the week across the top, and fill in the squares with their chores for the day. You can pretty it up with clip-art or by printing it on colored paper, if you want to.



Don't pay them for doing chores. Basic chores are part of helping around the house and being a full functioning family member. If they want to earn money, let them do additional chores for that.



If you feel they need incentives for doing their chores, make it something other than money. Maybe they can watch a video past bedtime on Friday night, if they got all their chores done? Or maybe they can help bake and eat cookies? How about a trip to the dollar store where they can pick out any item they want? You'll have to know your kids and know what will motivate them (and yes, you can tailor the reward to each child). Note: if you do something like this, you may want to give the kids, who did not complete all their chores for the week, a chance to 'earn' their right to participate, by doing extra chores (just make sure they're harder than their regular ones so that they'll want to do their regular ones next week).



We have gone through a variety of different styles of doing chores. One thing that has been working well this summer is giving each child a room to be in charge of for the week. I include a list of things that need to be done in each room each day. For example, whoever was assigned kitchen would have to unload the dishwasher in the morning, wipe down the table and counters, and sweep. What needs to be done in each room would depend on the age and ability of the child (When it's my 4 year old's turn to have kitchen, I might just have her be responsible for unloading the silverware drawer and wiping down the table). I've noticed that by giving the child a 'room' to be in charge of, they will sometimes take ownership of that room and encourage other family members in keeping it clean throughout the day, so that they have less work to do in the morning.



Best of luck!



~Kyanna

Mother of 4 children: 11, 8, 6, and 4



Edit: I just thought of one other thing that has worked well for us in the past. Each child gets a turn to be my helper for one week, instead of being assigned regular chores. When we're all doing chores, I work with my helper on doing whatever else is needed around the house. It gives me a chance to teach that child how to do things properly, such as how to load the dishwasher, mop the floor without flooding the kitchen, how to clean the toilet, etc. We're not doing that this summer, but it has worked very well in the past, and they all like it when it's their turn to be the helper.

Answer 11

Make them Fun and ColorFul u could probley get some supplies at the teacher stores u can see wear u have them in ur area. and deff get stuff at Micheals and deff AC Moores lol

Answer 12

make beds- all of them

do dishes- rotate between 9-12

vac. rotate between 9-12

dust- all

clean toliet-12

sweep floor-8

pick up toys-all

help with laundry-all

** the more u give them at home, they will learn a work habit and it will make them better ppl when they get older

i could think of more but u might think i am too harsh

Answer 13

divide up things they can do. they don't have to be paid its just their little part that makes it easier on everyone else especially you. good luck

Answer 14

1)Clean room

2)Take care of pets (if they have any)

3)DO HOMEWORK!!!!

4)water flowers

5)do dishes

6)Study for any tests

Answer 15

you could always give them a good smack.

Answer 16

___M_____T_____W_____F_____S_____S___________



__dishes______chrissy_____brad________jakob______



__laundry_______________________________________



__garbage______________________________________





__extra______________________________________

_