Latest Chore Chart

We’ve tried to make the most of our time this summer and we have played lots. But, life isn’t all about playing. We have to work too. It seems like every year I implement a new chore system to keep the kids motivated to help out. I put together our latest version at the first of the summer. I got the basic idea from another blog, and adapted it to fit our needs. I made cards with just about every job I have the kids do and the wage they can earn for doing that job. (There is an “extra job” category for the odds and ends that come up.) I busted out my cool laminator to make it fancy/durable and recruited Nate’s help to make the card holder. It is easily the prettiest chore chart we have ever had. More importantly, it has been very effective. Every night after the kids are in bed, I put their assignments for the next day into their job pockets. When they finish the job, they can move the card into the “done” pocket. We pay up each night at bedtime. The kids know that they have to do their jobs before they can play, so lots of mornings I have woken up to the sound of someone taking out the garbage or emptying the dishwasher. It is lovely. The real secret is for me to have their jobs waiting when they get up in the morning. They’ll do seven jobs without complaining as long as they are in their pockets first thing in the morning. If I wait until later and ask who wants to sweep the floor, I hear “not me” in a four part chorus.