Getting Kids to Do Chores

Hi A.,

I have always loved the chart/reward ideas but I am honestly not up to the task so I have another system. We have two special nights a week. Every Wed. we have pancake dinner night and Friday is movie night. On movie night we make a big bed in the living room, eat popcorn and fall asleep on the floor. Friends are invited too :) If the few chores have been done that week and behavior has been acceptable, then these two rewards are allowed. I chose two days because I think a week can be too long. I decided against toys/clothes, etc because my house is full of enough of those things and it could get expensive.

I think the hardest part for me following through. Sometimes I am tired and it's not worth fighting over. My daughter now has two everyday chores and two weekly ones. Nothing too big so it's pretty easy to stay on top of it with her.

Good luck!

S.

Ann Arbor

A.,
I do believe in the reward system but in a different way. I have a 8 1/2 yr old and a 7 year old, both girls. Plus a 7 year old nephew that is stayin with me. For the longest time my girls were asking for their own computer. I keep tellin them no no no. but then i realized i could use it to my advantage. They are learning more about computers in school plus as they get older it can help them with school projects. So i made a deal with them. I told them if they do their every day chores that i give them that i will give them 12 dollars. 6 in which will go towards the computer they want and 6 they can have for a good investment like ordering books from the book club at school. In actually reality they made the decisions to save the extra 6 dollars for weeks on end and my oldest wants to open a saving account. I look at it this way... i am teaching them about how to get things out of life. Like if they want that new car, oh yeah i have to work for it. Or i need that shirt over there for work..... hey i got the money in the bank. As for the toys and extra stuff they want we save all that for.. birthdays or holidays. (don't need extra junk in the house) My nephew has just jumped into the game and loves it tooo. I also have a 3 yr old neice living here too and she is loves helping out, like putting grocerys away (opps powder formula in the fridge lol) but her goals are a little different cause of her age. we do give her money but we save alot of it plus she is young so yes she does get something extra like that little toy from the dollar store she has being eyein for weeks. Hope this will give u an idea.

Pam Young - http://www.HouseFairy.org/ to help our children to love cleaning their rooms.

some other helpful sites:

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And the websites of the people who help us help you!

Leanne Ely - http://www.SavingDinner.com
Pam Young - http://www.HouseFairy.org/ to help our children to love cleaning their rooms.
Leslie(Leanne's Sister) - http://www.MissusSmartyPants.com
Pam and Peggy(Sidetracked Home Executives) - http://www.ShesInTouch.com
Joan Carris - http://www.JoanCarrisBooks.com Helping our Children read
Neal Speight - http://www.cfwellness.com/

Hope the House Fairy helps you
L.

Well, in my home my son has to help, its part of his responsibilitys. I would tell them no fun (whatever they like most...video games, tv, toys, whatever it is) until thier chores are done. And if they feel they dont need to help out around the house, then they must enjoy sitting around doing absolutley notta but stairring at the wall.

My 2 oldest sons both have chores they do daily. My older son gets drinks for everyone at dinner time and then rinses and put all the dirty dishes in the dishwasher. He also get the trash can and recycle bin to the cirb weekly. He has to put his own laundry in the drawers and closet once a week. I fold, hang and sort it all though My next son, who is going to be 5 in a week, picks up any toys that are in the kitchen and around the table before meals. My 3 year old and almost 2 year old don't really have any set chores yet, though they do help clean up the play room when asked. I don't reward them for these things. If they help with yard work or anything else they get rewarded. My husband and I feel that they are part of the family and need to help with the upkeep of the family. There were issues when the chores were first assigned but now they just do it. So, you should just start with one chore and once they are use to that, maybe about a week, give an additional chore. You can reward them if you want but they have to learn some time that we all have to help out for a family to function and you don't necessarily get a reward or treat for doing it. I tell my kids that the reward is I'll have more time to spend with them doing fun stuff if they help out. Good Luck!

What I have done is made out a chore chart. I list what chores they are to do each day. At the top of the chart I have the days of the week. On the side I have the different chores.
Ex: (Make Bed is everyday),Clean kitchen Monday, Wednesday, Friday oldest son, Tuesday & Thursday youngest son). I don't reward them with money but I do reward them with different outings if its in the budget. I hope I helped.

Get a poster board and make a chart with their names and the chores you want them to complete. and leave spaces to the end of the chart for stickers. Whenever they fill up a row with stickers let them have something they have been wanting like a sleepover with friends or to see a movie or a toy they want. Display the chart somewhere in the house where they will see it and make sure you explain to them how it works. This might be a good motivation to get themto do chores. You just have to make sure you ar consistant with it and put up a sticker everytime the do one of the chores. You can get stickers and poster board really cheap at walmart or meijers. Good luck with the little ones. hope this helps.

Alica,

What I don't understand is what do you mean your kids won't do chores? Once you have said something it shouldn't be a discussion or a choice. As a child I knew there were certain things that had to be done and I couldn't talk back about it because I knew who the parents were. Once you have spoken there shouldn't have to be a compromise or a bribe for a reward. If they chose to disobey you maybe they need time in their rooms for a couple of days for a punishment to show them who is boss. My daughter is 7 years old and she knows when I speak thats the end of it. I tell her I am required by law to feed and shelter and clothed her. The rest (such as tv, dvds, video games, etc.,) is a privilege. Don't yell or fuss with the. If they decide not to do chores take a brown paper bag, go in their room and start taking things. Tell them when they earn it you'll give it back. This teaches them you have to earn things in life, nothing is free. If you don't work, you don't eat. If they don't do there chores, they don't play.

Seems like tough love, but with this generation thats what it is going to take. Be the parent, not the child.

hi A.,
I wish I had some good advice for you but I am trying to get my children to do chores around the house.We tryed scheduling to do diffrent chores everyday and that did'nt work.They will do chores if they get money for doing them.So if you find good advice for kids doing chores will you let me know

I think it's important for children to help out at home. My son is 3, and I already have him doing things!!! He unloads the dishwasher (minus the knives and glasses!) and he picks up his own room. Sometimes he will also help me do other chores, like sort the laundry, etc. My husband and I both work full time, so Sat mornings are usually our cleaning day. Michael always helps out.
We reward him by praising his efforts! and I think the praise alone makes him want to always help. I just see his little face light up when he helps and when we tell him what a big help he is and that he did such a great job!