It's an age-old question. How do you get the kids to help out around the house? Do you assign jobs and then turn the screws until they get them done? Do you pay for chores or not? For the past number of months we had been doing a family clean-up. Each morning we would all get dressed and have clean-up time. During that time the kids did not have assigned chores, but instead I would tell them things to do and then badger them until they got finished. It worked okay.
We had tried assigned chores in the past, but it never seemed to work out well. No one wanted to do their own chores, so I was constantly switching them around. Or one of my chores would be dependent on them finishing one of theirs (like with dishwasher duty), and they never did it fast enough to suit me. The non-assigned version was working better, but I didn't care for the badgering and was falling into a trap of doing things myself to just make it easier. Enter the chore chart.
The idea is nothing new, but I was inspired by Nony over at A Slob Comes Clean, back when I was devouring her site for inspiration. I stumbled upon her chore chart and pay-per-chore system and thought it would work for us with a little modification. So here is what we've been doing.
I made a lovely, hand-drawn chart listing down the side a number of chores that the kids are capable of. Like Nony, I give what is basically .10 per chore, but you don't receive payment unless you have ten chores completed. So each time they complete a chore I put their initial in the box. Then when they have 10 initials I highlight them with a marker and pay out a dollar. I do all of this immediately. When the chore is done I initial. When they have ten I pay. This is so I don't forget to initial, and they don't get discouraged waiting for a specific "pay day" to receive money. Money given on a regular basis equals happy workers. The other thing I don't do is nag. Sometimes I ask who wants to earn an initial. Most of the time I let them choose to do the chore or not. Occasionally I don't give them a choice and just tell them to do it; they still get their payment. Sometimes I don't remind them at all. Whether they earn an initial is totally up to them.
It's really working well. They are mostly excited to earn their money. I don't nag. If they have an "off" day, they usually get it back together by the next day, and I don't say much. So far they have each earned about $3-$4 dollars. Since it was working well, I broke down and made a printed copy on the computer. I eliminated the "day" designations from my original chart and just have a row to write in their initials. When the chart is full, I will take it down and hang up another.
Pam,
ReplyDeleteI always love chore posts. I enjoyed yours!
The other day I caught Gemma-Rose with her head in the washing machine and her legs dangling in mid-air as she transferred the wet clothes from machine to basket. She really wanted to do this job which is designed for a bigger person. I have been pondering why children are so anxious to do the big grown up jobs. Why do they find them so interesting? It's a pity the interest disappears as they grow older!
A pity indeed! We have a front loader and all the kids can load and unload. Olivia can also do an entire load on her own -- heaven. Now if I could just teach everyone to fold properly.
DeleteNice! I really like how you handwrite things in a quick no-stress way to see if it works BEFORE you invest the time making stuff real-deal on the computer. I need to do that more. It would save me oodles of time.
ReplyDeleteWe're using ChorePacks and I L-O-V-E them, but I'm not nearly as relaxed as you are about chore contributions ;). It's sort of a "contribute or die" mentality around here. Hee.
My tune may change when they are older. ;-)
DeleteVery timely post for me, Pam. I have a couple children who are causing me to develop eye twitches as I try to get them to do their assigned chores every day. I've been thinking about the whole unschooling-applies-to-chores-too thing (which has never been the case in our house!) and if that would really work in a large family. Your chore chart looks like a good compromise.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is pretty much what it is -- the compromise between the unschooling philosophy and my own. The chance to be cooperative (for the most part) instead of coercive.
DeleteWell, out of desperation I gave it a shot yesterday... and it worked pretty well! We'll see how it does going forward, but there were even beds made! LOL My list is longer than yours with bigger chores because I'm trying to manage 4 kids on it (the two big kids don't need that kind of incentive to do their chores), but I just handwrote it, too, and stuck it on the fridge.
DeleteYay! Has someone earned their first dollar yet? I found that fueled things on for a bit. Then when someone gets close I start playing it up. "Hey, you only need to do three more things to get another dollar." Then they start stepping it up. It waxes and wanes a bit, but overall moves in the right direction. Let me know how it goes.
DeleteThis is great! No, nagging never works, does it. I offer my kids chores that they can do if they want their allowance, and a time frame that it has to be done in. If it doesn't get done by then, I do it myself and they don't get paid.
ReplyDeleteYep, yep, and yep.
DeletePam, this is so nicely organized! We have been using a similar thing to tie chores to allowance - with penalties. At first I didn't want a money aspect involved, but reading Dave Ramsey changed my mind a little. What really helped was my husband totally getting involved.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, thanks for sharing and giving us a place to share!
I know there are differing schools of thought on the money thing. I finally decided that it would be a good way to teach the kids the value of work. You work; you get paid. You don't work; you have no money to spend. When they ask to buy something these days, my response is to "save your money." I also told them today that from now on they have to buy their own snacks after gymnastics. I think it is going to drive home the point very well.
DeleteI know all about doing it myself to make things easier. My oldest is certainly old enough to help with chores, but we haven't implemented a formal system yet. He does like charts, and rewards (ha! who doesn't?), and so maybe this is something to think about for the near future.
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing..
ReplyDelete