Monday, August 24, 2009

Chore Chart

Alright, so I confess: I've been having trouble with Audrey's chores. Audrey? She doesn't even realize she has chores, which would be the trouble that I spoke of just a moment ago. Audrey is happily going through her life thinking that her dirty clothes magically go from her body back to her dresser nicely cleaned, brushing her teeth is merely a novelty and scriptures are a foreign word. I'm a terrible mother, I know... In my defense, she does know who Jesus is.

ANYWAY. These concerns have been in the back of my mind for some time now and I was lackadaisically hoping a brilliant idea would present itself. It so happened that I was visiting with Dara yesterday evening and was amused to find two chore lists posted on her refrigerator. One was for her 4-year-old son and looked rather like a chore list for someone of that age. The other was for her 2-year-old daughter and was the one that I was so amused at. On the brightly lettered page were three requirements of her little angel:
1. Brush Teeth
2. Put Away Toys
3. Brush Teeth

I suppose I sounded rather incredulous and a teensy-bit slighting when I asked, "Your daughter has BRUSHING HER TEETH on her chore list?? It hardly seems worth a list!"

Dara very sweetly and appropriately patiently responded, "Well, it's more for me so that I remember to have her do it."

OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Duh...

So, I spent some time looking up chore charts online this afternoon only to find that the majority of websites merely have really cute excel-type charts. "I can do that!" I thought to myself. Two hours later I had produced a fairly cute chore chart.

As Audrey is not able to read yet, I used pictures to illustrate what activity need to be completed and I provided boxes to mark off when those items are done. Efficiency demanded that I make the list re-usable, so I used self-stick laminating sheets that also serve well as a dry-erase board. With a dry-erase marker nearby, we can draw little stars, smilies or check marks in the boxes when Audrey completes her little jobs.

The list of illustrations are translated as follows: Brush Teeth, Take a bath, Put away toys, Put Dirty Laundry in Basket, Read Scriptures (with Mom & Dad), Do workbook pages/coloring and Say Prayers.

So wish me luck in sticking to the program. I'm sure Audrey will be more than happy to get to check off all the things that she does (or is wanting to do). So, the question, dear readers, is what shall Audrey's reward be for completing these items every day? Please deposit your two cents in message form! :)

I am sure all my readers are sufficiently savvy with Excel-type programs, but if anyone would like the file I created today, just send me your email address and I will be more than happy to email it to you.

5 comments:

Trillium said...

Hmmmmmmm. Been there! Done That! :D

The "reward"?

How about the statement: "Well done, thou good and faithful child, enter thou into my rest." Translation: a compliment and a hug from Mom. After all, Virtue Is Its Own Reward.

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with Mom. Eva gets a kick out of doing little tasks, and the only joy she gets from it is the fact that she did all by herself.
Josh is a different story. But, his "reward" for doing what he is supposed to is to be able to do something he really wants to do. For example, "If you want to watch a movie, you have to clean up all your toys." It doesn't work AT ALL with Eva, since she is so young. But, I wouldn't add treats or anything like that. The focus is then on treats, and not on something truly valuable.
And, I have to say, I did really well with the chore chart for about 3 days. LOL! The only chore we are bad at though is the "brush teeth" one, and that was the whole reason I made those darn things!

Rebecca's Oasis said...

chore charts are generally effective if the parent who instituted the chore chart pays attention to the activity and acknowledges the completion of each task.

Our kids know that they will not be permitted any media entertainment unless their work has been done.

All major activities; events and outings are suspended until chores are done. The chores in the house include homework... :)

In the end, you can't forget to acknowledge the accomplishments of each child. Most often all they want is your attention (good or bad behavior)... :) Have fun. Don't get discouraged if there are days she chooses not to complete any given task.

leafhopper said...

I agree, learning to do chores is learning to be a part of a family and contributing to it. The reward is feeling they are important in having a part in that. As she gets older you can give privileges such as an extra book to read at night or a picnic at the park or just can't play with a friend until all homework and chores are done.

But, I think at her young age it is more important to just let her help you with chores and make it fun not something she has to do.

erin said...

Stickers work very well mine (especially Summer). Plus, lots of "yay!" and clapping and excited "good job" and hugs and kisses make them feel extra special. Especially coming from me, the disciplinarian (yeller).

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