Do you feel your kids contribute significantly to the daily maintenance of your home?
Most families would say, “Not really.” Some may even feel that it’s not their kids responsibility to contribute in that way.
Whatever you believe, there is a way to have your kids greatly contribute to your home, all while allowing them plenty of freedom and fun!
We do this by incorporating a simple daily chore system in our home.
Chores are daily maintenance tasks we do to keep our homes clean and tidy. They include tasks like wiping counter-tops, loading the dishwasher, sweeping the kitchen floor or taking out the garbage.
Often families try to create a chore chart or routine for their family, but after some time, parents often find the chore routine falls by the wayside and is so inconsistently followed that the chore chart becomes obsolete.
What’s the key to creating a working chore routine for families?
The answer is keeping it super simple and basic.
If you Pinterest chore charts, you will find a plethora of options from color coded systems, assigned chores on certain days, to cleaning in “zones.”
The truth is, every family will do chores based on their own preferences and what they require to keep their home running. If you live on a farm or in the city, have animals or have multiple kids or not, the chore system each family creates will look different from each other…and that’s good news!
The moment we stop trying to mimic other families chore charts and begin creating a simple one that works for our family; is the moment we’ve developed a chore routine that will be far more consistent and successful than any chore routines we’ve tried in the past.
Remember, home organization is personal. It must work for you and your family, and since we all live differently, we must learn to create personalized systems in our homes that are different from others.
It’s what works best!
So, for this week, Challenge your Family to Create a Simple Morning and Evening Chore Routine!
When we create a successful daily chore system in our home, we must follow a few essential rules:
1) Chores should not last longer than 5-10 mins. 2) Keep it to one chore in the morning and one chore in the evening per child (make a rotation chart to switch chores up, especially if you have multiple kids). 3) Pair chores to kids ages (make sure the chore is something the child can do). 4) Observe and assist the first week, but let them do it by themselves the second week with pointers as they practice. 5) Make it a natural part of your day. After breakfast and dinner are great times to do their daily chore. 6) Have a “big chores” family day on Saturday (or any day that works best for your family) where major chores like cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming all the floors, dusting and so on are completed. These chores can usually be completed in an hour when everyone participates.
You’ll find the most success and consistency in your family’s chore routine if you keep it as simple as possible and make it fun! Pump up some music. Make it a challenge. Give appropriate rewards and plenty of positive affirmations.
*Check out the simple chore rotation system my kids use as an example of what your family can create. (Pictured Below)
As a side note: My kids ages range from 4 to 11 years old. My older kids no longer need help or assistance with the variety of chores they are given. They have learned how to do them and only occasionally need pointers or assistance. On the other hand, our 4 year old must have a parent with her to help her and show her what to do. Given time and maturity, she too will no longer need help.
We also keep our morning and evening chore the same, so if they have “load dishwasher” as a chore, they are required to load the dishwasher in the morning and evening. Saturday, they are asked to complete their daily chore, like “load dishwasher” and then complete their ‘major chore’ like “cleaning the bathrooms.”
Make a simple chart and hang it up where it is visible and easy for kids to rotate. Our family rotates the chart once a week on Sundays and move the chart one slot over clock-wise.
There may be whining and plenty of challenges when starting up a new family chore system, but don’t give up! Keep consistent and encourage your family members to understand that to live in your family and home, we must all work together to take good care of each other and our home.
When kids feel valued and appreciated for their efforts, the whining will improve and their confidence boosted!
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