How to Assign Household Chores

By eHow Parenting Editor

Rate: (16 Ratings)

Running a household efficiently is one of the most difficult tasks there is. Here are some ways to make it a little bit easier.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

  • Dishwashing Detergent
  • Dry-sponges
  • Bathroom Cleaner
  • Brooms
  • Car Wash Supplies
  • Hampers
  • Laundry Detergents
  • Vacuum Cleaners
  • Garbage Bags
  • Paper And Pencils

Step1
Teach younger children how to complete daily tasks: to make their beds and to take out only two or three toys at a time, putting them away before taking out more.
Step2
Ask older children and adults to take care of daily tasks as well: to wash and dry dishes as they use them; to keep bathrooms clean and dry; and to put clean clothing away in closets or drawers and dirty clothes in the hamper.
Step3
Demonstrate to your children how to do a particular chore, and allow time and practice for them to do it right.
Step4
Make a chart of major chores, such as laundry, sweeping, grocery shopping, cooking, and taking out the garbage, and rotate them every month.
Step5
Think of chores that the family can complete together. For instance, on a hot summer day, have everyone go outside and wash the car - and have a water fight while you're at it.

Tips & Warnings

  • For younger children, have them help create a daily schedule with their chores worked in. Routine is important for them.
  • Fill a jar with slips of paper with a game or chore listed on each one. Whenever your children say they're bored, have them draw a slip from the jar and complete the task that's written - this is a sneaky way to get them to complete a chore while entertaining them.
  • Paying children to do basic chores might give them the idea that they should be rewarded for doing tasks that are part of their routine.

Comments

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sebasvd said

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on 9/28/2007 I've developed a free (ad-supported) website that allows families to organize their chores as well as other household tasks. Just go to www.householdpages.com and register.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/8/2006 Save the aluminum lids to frozen concentrate juices. Wash and dry the lids, then have your kid(s) paint the lids with acrylic paint (can be painted on both sides for a dual magnet). Let them dry, then paint the name if the chore or task on them.
Example- brush teeth, brush hair, mop, vacuum, pick up toys. Glue magnets to the back of the lid and leave them on the refrigerator. My kids, age 4 and 6, had a blast making these as well as using them. :)

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 8/2/2006 Kids tend to complete tasks better if it is more enjoyable to them, so make a game out of chores. Assign your kids an equal amount of chores that they have to complete and keep an organized chart for everyone to see. Once a kid completes a chore, they have to report it to mom or dad or and the person in charge has to sign the box that is for their chore. Points can be awarded for how well the chore was completed. Higher points would be for no complaining, didn't give-up/got it done when necessary, and worked hard on the task, etc. At the end of the month, money would be rewarded for the amount of points received. Each chore is worth 10 points, so maybe every 5 points earned is worth one dollar. The kids can also have a little jar stored with the chart that the money earned is put in, teaching them how to save up for important things.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 7/15/2006 My kids started doing chores at a very young age. What we use is a ticket system. Each ticket is worth .25 cents. For each chore they do, such as cleaning their room, taking a bath, putting their clothes away and helping Mommy, they get 1 ticket. Then on payday we exchange their tickets for real money and they can save or spend it. This way we don't have to pay an allowance for them to do nothing. We will also take away a ticket if they refuse to clean their room or take a bath or fight with each other. It has helped us out a lot!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 Join the League of Anti-Wives (the L.A.W.), invest in a good hammock and stress less. Following my advice will not actually render your house clean, but it does solve the problem, and you might get a laugh out of it. I mean, really, do you want "She kept her house spotless" on your gravestone when you die?

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eHow Article:  How to Assign Household Chores

eHow Parenting Editor

eHow Parenting Editor

Category: Parenting

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