Chores and Children

This seems to be a very popular topic amongst friends and I wanted to share some of my tips. It is not always easy to get your children involved with doing daily chores, but it certainly helps if you start with them from an early age.

I still remember my mom telling me to pick up my toys when I was finished playing with them and I was very young at the time. She was instilling a sense of responsibility at a young age which unfortunately now a days many parents do not do. I never received allowance for my chores and therefore I do not offer allowance to my children.

Chores are part of our family rituals and they are taught at an early age. I have 5 children and of course, with that many it is like supervising a small army. So, what works best for us is a chore chart that is posted in area that all are able to view and read. The chores depend on the age of the child but are also taught to watch or help their older siblings, so it is like a training process.

We have chores assigned daily and on weekends there are more chores. There are chores that each child must do that is not on the list and that consists of making there beds, picking up clothes and toys off the floor and making their rooms look presentable. They are then assigned chores that consist of washing and putting away dishes (we do not have a dishwasher), collecting trash from bathrooms, bedrooms and kitchen and taking out, feeding the dogs (we have 3), sorting and washing laundry, sweeping floors, cleaning bathrooms, living room, dining area, kitchen and bathrooms. These are done daily and assigned to a different child.

The weekends involve work outside or more extensive cleaning, such as sheets, towels, mowing lawn, weeding, mopping floors, cleaning walls, cleaning doors, cobwebs, ceiling fans, etc.

We will reward children with special treats and at times money when mowing/trimming is done and cars are washed. Many times, they prefer the treats such as family outing for ice cream or trips to the dollar store or treat at Starbucks.

My children know that chores are part of their responsibility and also a necessity to enjoy the rewards of having a large family. However, there are times that weeks do not go as smoothly and that is when punishment takes place. We start to reduce television or video game usage as well as computer time. When drastic measures are needed we take away mobile phones and remove extra-curricular activities. And believe me you must stand behind your threats and take away whatever it is you threaten to take away. It will only take 1 or 2 times before they understand the consequences and they will abide by the rules.

Chores are something that should be developed into your family rules. A child is never too young to begin chores, and they can start with picking up their toys and placing in appropriate bins. We make it a game in our house and with the younger ones offer stickers for them to see their accomplishments. The older ones are rewarded as well, but with praise and not necessarily with items of monetary value. Chores instill responsibility and prepare them for adulthood and for when they one do go out on their own. But remember chores are not a choice but a requirement.

The Chronicles continue….

Tags: children, children and chores, chores, responsibilities