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Kids Chores
How to Get the Kids to Help

Kid Chores 1

Kids Chores : Get Them to Pitch In

Kids Chores: This article by Sarah Aguirre was so well-written, I didn't think I could improve upon it. Therefore, I'm including it for your use and benefit.

Included also are links to lists of jobs that are age appropriate as well as links to free chore charts.

I believe this helpful information on kids chores will be benefical to parents, step-parents, grand parents and others who deal with the challenges of kids and organizing.

Enjoy!

Kid Chores 2

12 Chore Chart Tips For Success

By Sarah Aguirre, About.com

  • #1 - Be reasonable in your expectations: Research what chores your child may be capable of handling. Sometimes a chore is beyond a child’s ability level and sometimes a slight modification can help a child achieve success. Check out the appropriate list of jobs by age to include on your chore charts. If you want to teach your children to hang their clothes in their closets, make sure the clothing rod doesn’t need to be lowered to a more appropriate level. If you want the beds made neatly everyday, keep in mind that for young children, maneuvering a top sheet, duvet, quilt, and pillows can turn into a very big job. You may need to streamline or modify things in your home to make them more accessible to your children.
  • #2 - Be an example: If your children consistently see the grownups slacking off with their chores, chances are they will learn to do the same. Consider making a specific time of the day when most of the chores are performed. Everyone working together is much more motivating than someone slaving away while listening to others laughing and playing.
  • #3 - Involve the kids in the process of selecting a chart: The more children feel they are involved in making decisions, the more they will feel ownership of those responsibilities. Consider holding a family council before implementing a new chore chart system. Allow some decisions to be made by the kids.
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  • #4 - Consider your rewards: Are you going to make chores a requirement for an allowance? Are you going to allow chores to be done in exchange for other privileges? Is a sticker system the best fit for your family? Determine what reward system would best work with your family. Don’t forget to gently stress the obvious rewards of having a clean and organized home.
  • #5 - Make chore charts visual: Many children need a visual prop to help them completely understand new ideas. Making a chore chart or system visual can help them stay focused. Consider if people in your family have other learning tendencies. For example, if you have a child who really needs to hear to understand. Consider reading the chores aloud to them. People who are tactile and kinetic learners may need to be able to physical cross off items on a list, or move completed cards from their flowerpot, etc.
  • #6 - Have consequences without being harsh: If your children fail to complete their chores there have to be consequences. Sometimes the consequences are a natural occurrence. For example, if your son always wears his favorite shirt on Fridays but failed to collect all the laundry from his room, he’ll probably end up wearing a different shirt. Other times you may have to take away rewards, or other activities that are enjoyable. Don’t forget that many times we have extenuating circumstances that keeps us from performing a job well. Sometimes offering to help a child who has fallen behind can get them caught up without completely letting them off the hook.
    • Kid Chores 4
  • #7 - Get organized before you expect everyone else too: If your home is in such disarray that nothing has its own place, it is very impractical to expect a child to put everything where it belongs. If your home and your systems of organization are a mess, chores will be a losing battle. First set up your home in a way that makes it possible for the family to complete chores. Try these beginning organizational articles for help in getting started.
  • #8 - Make sure there are breaks:  All work and no play…well you know. Allow the kids to break up long chores. Surprise them by including fun activities in their chore charts. Slipping in a request for a swimming party among the regular chores can be very surprising and encourage children to actively check the charts.
  • #9 - Keep it interesting: Don’t feel locked into one system. If your kids get bored consider changing up the routine, the visuals, or possibly the rewards.
    • Kid Chores 5
  • #10 - Supervise: Keeping an eye out for what is and isn’t getting done can help you determine what you can do to make the chore chart system more successful. Setting up chore charts doesn’t mean that the adult’s responsibility for delegated chores is completely gone. Like any good supervisor, parent’s must instead help make sure that the system is going smoothly. Due Date before dinner than before bed.
  • #11 - Train your worker: Most jobs require a training period and for many kids this can be helpful in a chore system. Parents often have expectations of how a job will be performed that can be different than their children’s. Teaching a child the process of a chore and what you expect from the finished result can go a long way in insuring success. Consider writing a short cleaning guide for certain chores or steps involved. Check out the fifteen minute cleanups for ideas.
  • #12 - Include homework and mandatory activities: Don’t forget that kids have other obligations besides chores. Make sure there is plenty of time for homework and other mandatory activities. If you see that a child is struggling under the weight of all they have to do, consider removing some responsibilities or activities to relieve the burden.

    • Shelly's comments:

    Tackling kids chores can be daunting, but it is possible to get kids to do their chores. These suggestions are a great way to start.

    There are many other kids chores charts out there, but I specificially liked the one provided in the link on this page because it allows you to customize it (albeit is geared towards younger kids).

    Most experts agree that you should start early to teach kids chores. Older children who have not been asked to tackle kids chores often resent it. However, even if older kids resent being taught chores, it does help prepare them for adulthood and responsible citizens.

    So start early or start late, but teach those kids chores!

    Know of a good tip to get kids to do chores?

    Do you know of a good tip to get kids to do their chores? Do you know of good links to other chore charts?

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    What Other Visitors Have Said

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    Doing Chores  Not rated yet
    Encourage children by talking to them about doing chores. Make boring chores come first. Set boring chores before they go play with the iPads or the computers. …

    How I Do Things Not rated yet
    My husband and I have a total of 10 children between us. At any given time, we usually have more than 5 of them in a 2-bedroom trailor. Organizing is a …

    Chore Charts Not rated yet
    I think that if kids feel they have a say and choice with Chores they are more likely to do them. I have 8 kids and have struggled with getting them to …

    Race to the Finish Not rated yet
    Before the kids go to bed, have a 10-minute race to see who can pick up the most stuff.

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