Chores

I've been on again, off again with assigning the girls chores around the house.

I've done charts. I've nagged.

Then I came up with this idea....


writing simple chores on pieces of paper that I can rotate at my discretion.

For example, when I see the bathroom trash needs to be emptied, I can find the paper that says trash...then I can tell Syd or Kay that there is a new chore for them to do. They will go to the refrigerator and find out what it is.

I have to credit Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish (authors of "How to Talk to Kids Will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk") with the idea of the "written sign". It's helping them (Syd and Kay) create autonomy...take responsibility with a simple unspoken command.

So these are the signs I made: Trash, Laundry (help sort or deliver), water plants (they each have a pot on the deck), Den (pick up), Playroom (pick up), Bedroom (pick up), Set Table, Shoes (pick up randomly scattered shoes and put in closet)

Sydney is obsessed with making some money (she wants to buy a donut?!?!) so...I will give her a quarter for doing extra chores (she has to do a minimum of 3 without pay). Maybe the novelty will wear off...maybe this will work.

We also have a new rule....PUT IT AWAY NOW SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PICK IT UP LATER!! Just before bed we were reviewing the new rule and chore system. I asked Sydney if she understood and she said, "I'm on it Mom!"

I would love to hear your ideas and/or suggestions.