look at this lazy bunch of misfits!
I've been working on making a schedule of chores for the kids....well, the big boys. For the girls, a more consistent clean up routine. (I'm the type that does it myself because it's easier and faster)
I involved the boys with the brainstorming. I was surprised at how "on board" they were. They are actually excited about having chores! And even more excited about the reward system (more about that later!)
We went to Mardel's and bought a couple of reusable chore charts and stickers.
Here are their daily chores:
- Make bed
- Clean room
- Put away toys
- Dust (once a week)
- Feed Obi
- Set table
- Clear table
- Rinse dishes (at lunch and breakfast)
- Water plants
- Help with laundry
- Homework or read
- Empty trash in bathrooms
- Clean bathrooms (3x's a week)
- Practice music or dance
- Good attitude
I started making my own cleaning supplies a couple months ago, so I feel comfortable handing my 4 year old a bottle of non-toxic cleaner (made with tea-tree oil or vinegar). He thinks it's fun to spray down the bathroom counter tops and toilet. I wonder how long this fun will last....
I think our reward system is pretty cool too. The boys are NOT good with money yet. They like to keep it in their pockets where it gets lost, give it to their friends or they become obsessed with spending it. So we decided to do a point system. Each sticker is worth one point. At the end of the week we add up the stickers and write the total down then clear the chart to start the next week.
One afternoon when the twins were napping, the boys and I browsed the Toys R Us website. They had a blast looking at all the toys. I printed out pictures of a couple of the things they thought were cool....all ranging in price....$5 to $1200!! At the bottom of the picture I put how many points each one "cost" and hung it on their bedroom door. Obviously they won't make enough money to buy the bigger items, but I went ahead printed it out because I want them to dream AND learn the value of a dollar.
Only time will tell....I'll let you know how it goes....wish me luck!!
2 comments:
Great Idea! I, too, dream of the days that they clean & I don't have to! I already have Xander help set the table, both big boys pick up their toys too. We make a game of it- they come to me & say "what's next", i'll tell them each 1 toy to get, they run & see who can fill up their toy bucket first.... they have a blast AND, best of all, i don't have to do it!!! hahaha- keep us posted on your progress!
thanks rachel, i will!
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