E is for Everyone Helps!

I have had several people ask me about what kind of chores I give my kids to do. So I thought that would be a perfect topic for our E letter in that Everyone Helps in our house.

There are a couple ways we have approached chores in our house and there is by no means a right or wrong way. Just like homeschooling, you have to find what works for your family. In a large family like ours, it is crucial that everyone helps. My husband likes to remind the kids that I am not their slave. It's nice to hear that once in a while! LOL

My hubby and I were raised differently, so when it came to chores, I put both concepts to use. My hubby was raised that as soon as you were tall enough to do something, you were old enough to train to do it. So as soon as you could reach the table, you helped with clearing the table. As soon as you could stand at the ironing board, you were trained to use it. I was raised a little bit differently. I never had set chores till I was 12. Up till that point, we had to keep our rooms clean and do whatever chores mom and dad asked, but other than that, there was no specific chores to do. Then when i was 12, my mom became bed-bound by MS for quite awhile. So dad got out a posterboard and we sat down and divided the chores. He made it so that we didn't do the same chores every day for variety. But there was a routine in how and when we did it. 

As a result, we have come up with something that works for our family. A long time ago, I ran across a website that gave a run down on what they thought were age appropriate chores. I found that very helpful to get me started in making chore lists for my kids. I cannot find that website now, but here is one that is helpful at Lots Of Kids.

I started chore lists when my oldest was about three. I know! Mean mom, right? However, kids thrive on responsibility and being able to please their parents. Yes, there is alot of training when they are learning a new task. Once they have it though, I am free to leave them to their jobs.

So for example,on different days in the week,  my 9 and 11 year olds are responsible for:

Collecting all garbage in the house and taking it out.

Collecting the recycling and taking it out to the bin.

Mopping.

Empting and loading dishwasher.

Switching laundry.

Bathroom duty.

Sweeping cobwebs.

Washing walls.

My younger two girls are responsible for:

Switching laundry.

Feeding and watering animals.

Bathroom duty.

Sweep cobwebs.

Washing walls.

They also sometimes help with unloading the dishwasher.

Everyday they are all  also responsible for:

Making their bed.

Hygiene twice a day.

Tidying the schoolroom in the afternoon.

My son, who is 3 years old, has chores too! He has to keep his room clean, he helps me tidy around the house, he feeds the animals on the day the girls are not responsible, he has to put his diapers in the garbage, and he helps clear the table right now as well as other little things.

We don't pay the kids for doing chores. It is part of being in our family. I don't think there is anything wrong with it, but we don't do it.

There are consequences for chores that are not done. This happens so rarely in our house, that I don't usually have to think about it. But they lose priviledges to do things or cannot go to friend's houses if they do not finish their chores.

Anyway, I hope this helps out those who have questions! The main thing to remember is that we want to train our kids to be responsible adults. That doesn't happen over night. They have to learn how to be responsible children first. While it will be some work at the beginning as you are training, you will reap great benefits!