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Kids and Chores!

Kids and Chores, tips and ideas from a mom of nine! #chores #youtube #parenting

This week’s YouTube video is about kids doing chores.  Uh huh.  That’s right.  I am talking about deep, dark subjects over there.

I have tried many different chore systems and all of them have their pros and cons.  But there is one thread that runs through any successful effort to get kids to do chores and that’s you constantly checking after them.

They need accountability, they need to have a clear idea of what is expected of them and they need an occasional refresher lesson.  They simply aren’t naturally going to succeed.

I use rewards for the younger kids, but by the time they are 12 they don’t get any “prizes” or payments.  The satisfaction of a job well done is reward enough.  That’s part of maturing….not expecting extra benefits for doing what needs to be done to keep the family running smoothly.  The reward systems when they are young are for teaching….not to be a lifelong practice.

To be clear….I still pay the older kids for some things, just not typical household responsibilities.  I never pay for kitchen work, cleaning, laundry, etc.  But I would pay them to do bigger jobs like work in my etsy shop, paint, yard work beyond basic mowing, cleaning out my car, and other jobs that I might pay someone else to do.

 

 

If you’re wondering what chore systems we use, there are two that I like.  The first, for younger kids, is I Did It Myself! And for the whole family I love the book Managers of Their Homes by Teri Maxwell.  It’s been around for a long time and I have tweaked it to fit my life, but there’s some great info there.

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3 Comments

  1. What chores do you recommend for younger kids? My son is 4 and he can clean his room, pick up toys in the living room, clear his plate off the table and help empty the dishwasher. Is there anything else he should or could be doing?

  2. Loved your tips and practical suggestions!! Agree, it is most exhausting sometimes for US to follow through when teaching, but it pays off!

  3. Agree with you, no payment or perks for jobs. I have bookmarked an article about how household responsibility actually helps our kids develop positive character traits for life IF they’re started early enough, and are particularly effective when kids not only see the purpose but derive some satisfaction from doing them. I’ll dig it up for you.

    Here it is. Lots of good links to research proving the points. “How Kids Benefit From Chores” http://lauragraceweldon.com/2012/07/25/how-kids-benefit-from-chores/

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