Our Chore System

Chores at our House

I've seen & heard so many people asking about chores and wanting to find a "system" for their families.  I thought I would share our chore system.  It is easy to set up & easy to use.  Here is how I did it:

I started by first brainstorming some of the regular chores that need to be done at our house, either on a daily basis or weekly basis.  I also added in a few extras, that don't get done that frequently but still need to be done.

Next, I purchased some labels that can be printed out - using MSWord to create the templates.  I made up chore cards that listed the steps for each chore so there was no confusion about what was expected :)

 I gave the chores funny names - and the kids still think it is pretty fun to read them.  Here are some examples:

Once all of the chore labels were printed, I put them on plain white index cards.  I guess I could have laminated them but I didn't want to go to the trouble or expense.  And they have held up pretty well anyway.

I put a little red dot on the chores that can also be used as consequences for unacceptable behaviours. 

I keep all of the chores in a recipe card box (found cheap at the local dollar store) and put a card (or 2 or 3) in each child's slot every evening for the next day. 

The chart is posted on the wall in our kitchen.  They check it every morning and pull out their chore cards when it is their chore time.  Once the chore is done, they put it in the Completed slot and I can easily keep track of what has been done and what still needs to be done.

When we first started doing this, I took the time to work with them on each of the more complicated chores (like laundry and bathroom cleaning).  I wanted them to be clear about each of the steps and how they were to be done.  I also wanted to show them how to do it so they knew what was expected.  

I think the kids do a great job - the bathrooms may not be done perfectly or as I would do them myself, but what a huge difference it makes in keeping things running smoothly and keeping the house tidy.  They learn a lot in the process and it has become part of our day.

Hope it can help some families out there!