The kiddos have their basic chores that they have to do every day such as pick up their rooms at the end of the day and put their clothes in the laundry basket. I wanted a little more help than that. With a family of six no matter how small or large your house is, sometimes it seems like you never have enough room or organization. The kiddos are now 10, 7, 6, and 2 they are all big enough to help out, at different levels it's true but any help works at this time. I needed something to organize the chores, make it slightly fun and I needed to actually utilize it! I ran to Pinterest, but really everything that I saw was honestly too much of a time investment (just to make the silly thing) or I didn't have the supplies on hand. Some I couldn't see our family really utilizing the Chore Chart the way it should be.
I wanted simple and workable!
I pulled up Microsoft Word on my computer and started playing with the clip art options, found the pictures I liked and printed them off the computer. The pictures printed black and white, so I colored them with colored pencils! Then I simply cut them to size and attached them to my adhesive magnetic sheets I had left over from the wedding save the dates! They were leftovers so the magnets aren't perfectly cut to size but ohwell!
I bought these at Wal-Mart I don't think I paid much more than $1.00 per pack.
Here are all the chores that the kiddos can pick from. I simply placed the magnets in a small bag and each day the kids (Monkey, Bubby, and Babydoll) pick two. I don't let them see what they are picking. If a particular chore really doesn't need to be done that day I simply remove the corresponding magnet from the bag before they pick.
- Laundry- Each child already puts their own clothing away the child who picks the laundry chore simply helps me distribute the clothes to the correct rooms, and are learning to help fold.
- Feed Dogs/Cats- Pretty self explanatory
- Pick Up Toys- At the end of the day it seems a lot of toys have deserted the kids rooms and have made new homes through the house. The kiddo simply places all the run away toys in a bag and then distributes them to their original room.
- Dust- They don't have to dust everything, just a few things here and there.
- Vacuum- We have very little carpet in this house so there are a few area rugs that need to be attended.
- Sweep- Because there is so little carpet, I only have the kiddo with this chore sweep one or two rooms.
- Bathroom- I make my own bathroom cleaner mixing vinegar and dawn, this allows the kiddos to help scrub the tub (with a dish brush thingy) and wipe the counters off. They also pick up any clothes someone may have left in the floor and put them in the laundry basket.
- Dishes- Depending on the child who picked this it could mean un-loading the dish washer, or simply picking up any stay cups and bowls that may have made it into different rooms.
- Help Mommy- This chore just allows me to have a kiddo help me with anything special I may be doing. If I am going to mow the yard they can help pick up the toys outside, or if I am cleaning out the fridge they can help me wipe it out ect... you get the point.
I also made a little marker for each kiddo that is on the fridge with their initials.
I simply placed the magnets in a small bag and each day the kids (Monkey, Bubby, and Babydoll) pick two.
I don't let them see what they are picking. If a particular chore
really doesn't need to be done that day I simply remove the
corresponding magnet from the bag before they pick.
If no one picks a chore that really needs to be done that day, such as feed dogs/cats I simply ask if anyone would like to help me with it. If I don't get a volunteer it's not that big of a deal I don't mind doing it myself! Except the run away toys, they drive me insane! So each child has a tote bag that I give them at the end of the day, then each child goes from one side of the house to the other filling their bag with their own toys. The kiddos then put the bag in their room and are allowed to leave the toys in it until the following day.
I bought the cheap little vinyl bags from Wal-Mart or a craft store and they are holding up just fine! Even baby Boogie helps out with the capture of the run away toys.
I know that this is a very simple and not so adorable chore chart, unlike some that are out there, but hey it works for my family! I was able to put it all together in one night, and we started implementing it the next day. Besides, I had that super kick butt magnet already on my fridge (Oh you must be confusing me for the maid we don't have) so this idea went right along with our odd sense of humor! We don't give the kids money for their chores I want them to understand that because they live here they should contribute, plus they should pick up behind themselves. I sure don't get paid for all that I do around the house and one day they will be walking in my shoes so hey it's an early education.
I don't think that parents who do give money for chores are doing anything wrong, it's just not the choice that Jerm and I made!
