Chores????? - Lewisville,TX

ONe thing my kids do, and it may or may not work for you: they sort the clean clothes into three baskets - adults, kids, and linens (towels, dishcloths, sheets, etc.) This may seem like a silly extra step, but when folding clothes it makes a LOT fewer piles while you're doing it and if you are in need of another chore to do, this would work.

Also, what about pulling weeds?

And, one more idea, what about doing good deeds for neighbors for no extra pay, but just to serve others? It would be a nice way for him to learn about giving to others just for the sake of giving. Just an idea.

My 6 year old is able to do just about anything around the house so I'm sure your 8 year old could as well. You've already gotten some great specifics but I guess I just wanted to chime in don't underestimate him. Also, sometimes I have my daughter look around and suggest things that need to be done herself. I love seeing things from her perspective and it teaches her to be proactive.

I don't know if you already have these things on his chore list, but here are a few I can think of:

- setting/clear the table
- rinsing dishes for the dishwasher (or washing by hand)
- loading the dishwasher
- take out the trash
- feed pets
- bathe pets
- sort laundry
- wash his clothes/dry them
- fold and put away his clean clothes
- water the lawn
- clean windows (w/ vinegar-water mix)
- clean out trash from the car

One things my kids are learning about is selling their toys that are in great/new condition to raise money for things. They've also learned about donating used toys and clothes to charity or giving them to others, but it's nice to have them learn about managing money responsibly by selling.

What about a lemonade stand or something? I know the cities don't like for people to sell stuff without a license, but maybe you could have a private "sale" in your home or neighborhood and ask a few neighbors to come out and support his cause. My son did this (not in Dallas, though) and raised $11.00 on his own. He was SO proud of himself and we were proud of him. He even "hired" his cousin to help him and paid her to work the stand, too. :) They really enjoyed it.

Put him in charge of organizing the grocery list. Give him the Sunday paper and have him clip coupons and also check out the coupons on-line, then give him half of the money you save by using the coupons he collected.

How about age and skill level appropriate. Dusting, loading dishwasher, cleaning counters in bathroom, empty small garbage cans from various rooms, brushing the dog, sweeping sidewalks, feeding pets, sorting laundry, folding towels...simple chores yet time saving for moms.

When my step son was that age, we started with a few things.
Set the table for dinner
Clear the table
Keep your room clean
Take out the trash and recycling
and then you add things as needed, help me do laundry, help load the dishwasher, help wash the dog, helping in the yard etc and when big enough vacuuming.
dusting is another one too.

My 3 sons have chores that they do on a daily basis that is their responsability to do and don't get paid for it. But they also wanted "jobs" but are to young. SO I gave them jobs, that they do daily and get $10 in allowence. My 14yr starts and swaps laundry daily, usually 1-3 loads, I fold and help put away when needed. My 13yr puts all clean dishes away daily as many times as required. My 9yr waters the yard and flower beds daily, and that takes a while. THey can also earn extra for mowing, sweeping etc.
Hope that helps,
L.

WOW I've already gotten some good ideas from your previous responses for my own kids (8 & 10). They're always looking for extra work. I love Amber's idea of baseboards - I hate doing that myself!

One of the things that I do to have the kids make extra money is "organize" things... Our cabinet full of plastic containers and lids, our DVD/Video cabinet, The closet with wrapping paper and crafts, sharpen 20 pencils when I see them getting all nubby, finding every piece of trash and items that don't belong in my van, linen closet, etc.

Obviously, some projects will require more guidance from you than others, and you'll need to lower your expectations on some things (one side of my van still has a soapy film on it 2 weeks after they washed it), but it's all a learning experience for them.

Good luck!
www.familyeguide.com Free Online Guide to Family Activities in Flower Mound, Lewisville, Highland Village and the surrounding communities.

My 5 yo daughter also folds the sheets for beds, all towels, sweeps, vaccumms, throws trash from bathrooms, etc. she loves doing all that stuff.

HTH

E.

1. dishes
2. sweeping
3. picking up
4. his daily personal chores - we do our own laundry here
5. garbage
6. light yard work
7. vacuuming
That's one a day.

How wonderful to have a child ask for work and pay his own way. Lucky you. I would recommend to make a chart that he can follow and he can mark daily the chores from the list and then at the end of the week, he can see what he has accomplished and you too know its time to pay up.

Keep it simple at 8. As he gets older he will have more ideas himself on what to do in order to make more money. The idea here is to teach him responsibility-you work you get paid.

And don't forget to pay. Don't say I'll pay you later or when I get some money. Be prepared at the end of every week and he will learn to trust you as a young man.

You know a great one that my kids actually enjoy is taking a magic eraser and cleaning all of the doors and base boards in the house. They also clean the cabinet fronts too. Also, they like a swiffer duster and to clean the blinds. Take advantage of the willingness while you can! ~A.~

set the table, take out trash, empty trash out of bathrooms, help clean up after dinner, help unload dishwasher, fold wash cloths and small towels, keep his room clean, put clothes away after washing, water plants, take care of animal-feed, walk, bath