How to Organize a Chore Schedule for Kids

To keep your home running smoothly and efficiently, every member of the family should be on the chore team. Picking up after themselves, keeping rooms picked up and beds made are NOT chores - they're just a part of life. Assign chores based on kids' age and competence.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chore chart, list, calendar, or something similar
• Reward system

1. Make a list of all chores to be divvied up.

2. Separate tasks into three age categories: beginner (preschoolers), intermediate (grade schoolers), and advanced (high schoolers and adults).

3. Assign or allow kids to take turns choosing age-appropriate chores. Beginner tasks include helping set the table and sorting socks; intermediate chores include dishwasher duty and pet care; advanced tasks include cleaning the bathroom, vacuuming, and helping with meal preparation and cleanup.

4. Give adults the leftovers if there are not enough able little bodies in your home.

5. Add more and bigger jobs as kids demonstrate aptitude and competence.

6. Rotate chores so that everyone shares the most dreaded tasks!

Tips & Warnings

• To determine how many chores you should give a child, halve her age as a good rule of thumb. A 10-year-old would get five chores; a 16-year-old would have eight.
• If a child whines about a chore or does it poorly, he gets an extra one the next week.
• Reward your children for jobs well done - you may want to consider an allowance system.

Resources

• How to Organize Just About Everything by Peter Walsh

[char540]

on 5/27/2009 Good tips