I so agree with w2w about making sure that the children understand how to do the task. For example, I thought I'd quick teach my ds how to throw in a load of laundry - oh my goodness! There are like 10 steps to doing laundry! I ended up labeling each step on the controls of the washer and dryer, and he's done laundry well ever since!
BUT, when did I teach this? In the
SUMMER! I have decided that summer is the time for real training for chores and habit training for us. This past summer, I taught the children daily how to do what I call "room checks" and "body checks". Basically, make the bed, pick up, etc. Brush teeth, wash hands, clean clothes on, comb hair, etc. One thing that made this really work with my boys is I told them I was a "drill sargeant" and I'd be their "inspector" checking over their work. They could not go downstairs for the day until "room checks" and "body checks" passed inspection. I even donned a whistle and Daddy's Navy hat one time! They really got into it! I checked this religiously in the summer, and I did not let the children go downstairs until they passed inspection. This training has carried us through the entire school year pretty much. I stuck with the rule that they cannot go downstairs until rooms/hygiene is taken care of. I don't really check it all that often - just randomly. I can see we've got work with our 5 yo in his room picking up, but we'll hit it again in the summer - otherwise, they do it well pretty much every day!
Also, my sons have to work together to unload the dishwasher and let out the dog before grabbing breakfast which they dash upstairs to eat together in their rooms and play. This all must be done before beginning to play, and obviously, the quicker they get it all done, the more playing time they have. I am feeding the baby and doing other stuff at this time, by 9:00 they have to be down to start school. (Not on Sat./Sun. though)
This has been so successful that they have planned together to get up at 6:00 before to do their room/body checks, dishwasher, dog, and grab breakfast to have several hours of playtime together. My only rule here is that they may not wake baby or me (since I've often been up most of the night with little honey since he has such trouble with reflux and wore a helmet too - till last week - hooray to say goodbye to the helmet!).
Other chores we do after the school day. Other than loading the dishwasher after lunch, and dustbusting under the table, and the high chair! What did I DO before the dustbuster purchase? We do a walk through the house main floor before bedtime, and my hubbie and I stress the importance of all of us being good stewards of what God has given us by keeping it picked up. We also stress the importance of being able "to see work", and ask what looks like it needs "work" in the main floor before bedtime. They love doing this all together, and we put on some upbeat fun music too. It takes like 10 minutes, and otherwise I'm too tired do do it all myself at night, and I wake up to a big mess.
SOOOOO, sorry that got very long, but it's been the best thing for us! I've already got things planned to teach really well this summer as far as chores/habits. We've used this book in bits and pieces and enjoyed it:
Life Skills for Kids
by: Christine M. Field
Here's a link for it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Life-Skills-Kids- ... 0877884722
HTH
In Christ,
Julie
]
And here is the shocker. No allowance. None. If they want to earn extra money they have to do extra chores, or loose a tooth. Hahaha! Seriously. It is just because you live here. Now for instance two of my kids have done some extra things for me out of the goodness of their hearts and it was not asked for so they did get a prize. Prizes are cheap. They can be as simple as a trip to the dollar store and get one or two things. And they think that is really cool.
When this happens, or if they do not do a chore properly (they've been taught how to do them) then they lose .25 from their allowance. They have set amounts that they earn, IF they do their chores. When they lose a quarter, it's more than they would actually be earning for that chore....this worked for a while. They still have to do or re-do the chore once it's discovered that it was done improperly or not done. I have told them that they must do these chores, whether they get the money for it or not, because as a member of the family it is required. I just really don't know how to make sure they are doing them. I can't be with them every moment can I? I guess I could follow them around for a while, maybe that would work.