Laundry, dishes, dusting, laundry, dishes, dusting, laundry, dishes, dusting...the list goes on and on and on. The daily necessities of life. All the things we need to do but it is all so, well, repetitive.
I have to admit that part of me gets a little frustrated sometimes, when I stop and look at my laundry or my dishes. I think, "I know I just washed this yesterday." If I allowed it to, it could leave me feeling very frustrated. Instead, I try (not always successfully) to be thankful that I have a family who can make me smile when they run, play and get dirty! And I've gotta admit, that hubby gets the dirtiest!
Last year, as I began to home'pre'school my son, I decided it was time for him to start carrying his weight in the house! LOL He had been doing certain chores, but I decided it would be beneficial to document it and so we began a chore chart. I talked it over with hubby and we decided on certain 'chores' we felt he could handle and that he should do everyday. We also chose chores that didn't have to happen everyday, but he should get rewarded for doing.
Here is the chart we established:
Each time he completed a chore, he marked it on his chart. The 3 chores at the top: making his bed, cleaning up toys and brushing his teeth are the 3 we had him do each day. If he did all 3 for 7 days, he received a chore dollar. With the 4 "extras," he needed to do 10 total from the bottom of the sheet for another chore dollar. I don't do laundry or dishes everyday, so I didn't feel it was far to make them an everyday chore. Also, we only did preschool 3 days a week, so I didn't have that every day either. I thought about making his memory verse daily, but I felt that I needed a break too!
Here's a sample of our chore dollars:
He could use his chore dollars to purchase parent-approved items when we were out and about. He worked very hard, saving up several weeks for some much-wanted items. One chore dollar does not equal a real dollar. In fact, I'm not sure if we ever did set an amount that they were worth, but hubby and I always discussed purchases first. One time our son used one chore dollar for a pencil and one for an eraser. One time, 4 chore dollars bought a new DVD, one we were planning to purchase as a family. We liked the idea that he worked for the movie.
For our family, this has been a way to make chores more fun. Each family needs to decide what chores their children are able to do, but here is a great article to help get started: Children’s Chores ~ The Heart and Mind of A Servant
And here is a book to help you put it all together. I have personally not used it, but I know many who have and speak highly of it, so I wanted to pass it along: Managers of Their Chores by the Maxwell Family
As our son gets older and along with his siblings, I would like him to start learning how to save money, by having a "bank" for savings, one for "spending" and one for "tithing." For more about this topic, visit Crown Financial's website. They also have a 2-part article about children and finances: here and here.
We'd love to hear your ideas for your children and their chores or about how you teach them to save money!
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18 comments:
I love the chore dollars! Very creative!
I started a chore chart with my daughter and she has taken her chores to a whole new level. She is a mess (emotionally) if she doesn't have time to make her bed before we leave for the day. We always make sure this is done before we dress because she cannot leave without completing this task. Her room has become a museum almost. I am trying to find a way for her to begin playing with her toys again. We can go in her room and look at them, but we musn't touch because then her room will be all messed up. This wasn't our doing, it is her personality I guess. I can't complain really, I just want her to loosen up a bit now.
that chart looked great! did you make it yourself? i think that dollar is a good motivator too. so cute.
I love your chore dollars!! Wow!
Dawnelle
I did make the chart - I used MS Publisher. The dollars are great motivators! He keeps them clipped on the magnet that holds up the chart on the fridge!
This is not only SMART, but ADORABLE!!! I love this idea, thanks!
0:) Amber
What a great idea. We do the chart method too.
However, we didn't make out the cute chore dollars like you have...what a cute idea.
We just gave them the actual money.
I love this idea, Leigh Ann. Thanks.
great idea! Thanks for this - we are hoping to begin some jobs this fall as we begin school too.
Of course, Morning Song's daughter sounds a lot like the child I could end up with...but the sister that shares a room with her loves mess, so I think she'll balance it out!
Great post! Love the chore dollar - might have to steal that idea!
This is great...love the chart!!
Maybe I will try this with Jack this fall! Thanks for sharing!! :)
good post leigh ann. because, really... who wants to do chores? but i can see how the chore dollars make it more enjoyable - for everyone involved. thanks for sharing.
Chore chart and chore dollars...what a great idea!
What a great idea! Where did you make that chart or where did you find it. I love the "chore dollar" reward. I'm trying to put something together like that for my daughter, thanks for the ideas
I love the chore dollars we have a chore chart are kids are in their teens. If they do all their chores for the week without being told they receive their full allowance; if they need to be reminded they receive 1/2 of their allowance it has helped encourage them to be more responsible and they have been required to save 50% of all money they have received for allowance, jobs, gifts whatever and can spend the rest on parent approved items. As they get older and have more expenses we have eased up on the 50% we will find out this year if our efforts have paid off with our oldest heading off to college Monday!!!
I really like your idea of "chore dollars". We are really working with our oldest on his daily habits, chores, and his attitude toward all of the above. I think I will have to try the chore dollars (if I can... ) :) Thanks for sharing this great idea!
the chart is awesome, I have been wanting to start one with Samantha. Did you make the chart yourself?
I have a chore chart for my daughter, except I pay her in real $$$. Each task has a rate (ie: feeding the pets gets her a dime, etc.). We have a box I made divided into 3 sections: 1 slot is money for her to have to spend on whatever, like candy or a small toy at the drug store. The 2nd slot is for her bank fund (her school has a thing with the bank where kids can deposit money weekly, even if it's only a penny). The 3rd is a charity fund, which she will donate to whatever charity she chooses at Christmastime (I will give her some charity ideas that will have meaning to her, like the animal shelter or family center).
It teaches her great responsibility, both in the chores and in managing money!
Try upsees.com too-- it makes sure everyone knows whose turn it is.
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