One of the things that I like about our chore chart is that it was easy to make, with some simple planning. All you need is a bulletin board, a permanent marker, paper and tacks. For my paper, I used some of those paint sample cards that you can get at a home improvement store.
Here is how our chart works:
- Row 1: The first row of chores, listed in green (beneath their names) is their evening or dinner time chore. The child in charge of sweeping, sweeps both the kitchen and dining room floors. The child in charge of dishes needs to unload and load up the dishwasher. The child in charge of tables, needs to set and clear the table, as well as wipe it down. I rotate these 3 chores between the kids on a weekly basis.
- Row 2: The next row is garbage and recycling. Those of course, only need to be taken out, as needed. I just list them there, to remind the boys to check on them once a day.
- Row 3: Personal chores – these are colored coded with the same color of each child’s name. These chores need to be done daily. The boys’ personal chores are the same since they are both 15 and 16. These are good reminders for them. Ashley’s personal chores are the ones that she still needs a reminder about. For example, Ashley’s does not say to put dirty clothes in the laundry basket, like Emily’s does, because Ashley already knows to do that now. Emily’s personal chores are just right for her age. I just updated them when she turned 5.(She has made her bed on her own the last two mornings, without having to be asked!)
- Row 4: This is the row that I use for music practice. (Sometimes that feels like a chore too.) It is the yellow-orange color. Ashley is the only child right now who needs to practice piano everyday. Jose is practicing clarinet every day at school and this is his 5th school year playing clarinet, so I don’t make him practice at home during the school year anymore.
- Row 5: The room each child is in charge of. This section is not colored coded. Each room has a different color and each child is assigned a different room each month. The rooms that are assigned are the common rooms of the house that the family shares. Bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, living room, front porch, laundry/mud room. This month, Carlos has the 2nd floor bathroom and Jose has the living room. On each room’s card, there are daily things to do and monthly things to do. That way, it is not an overwhelming task. The daily things are easy, like straightening up. The monthly things are some of the harder tasks, but they only have to be done once a month, like moping the floor.
- Rows 6-9: These are not colored coded. I just used a color that I had a lot of. Row 6 is for car care. Our oldest son just got his license over the summer, so that serves as a reminder to keep his car clean and to help dad out with the oil changes etc. Row 7 is yard work, row 8 is cooking and row 9 is laundry. I don’t expect them to do all the laundry or cooking of course. In fact, those are two of the household things that I like to do. I do however, want them to be able to do these things, so that is why there is a spot for them on the chore chart.
This is a great chore chart system, because you can add to it as your children get older and make the changes that you need to as your family grows. One other thing, is that my husband and I don’t pay our children for doing their chores. We believe that knowing how to do these things are life skills. When you are an adult, you don’t get paid for cleaning your house or doing your laundry. (Wouldn’t that be nice?!) We don’t want our kids to think that they always need to get something for doing work that will be expected of them as they grow older. However, when we see them trying to keep up with their chores, we are definitely more inclined to saying yes to letting them go to a movie or have a friend stay the night. ?
Also, our teenagers sometimes get really busy. For example, my oldest is a 3 sport athlete this year, plus he has early morning seminary and he teaches futsal at the YMCA. Add homework and other church activities to the mix and he is one busy teenager. During certain busy times of the year, I don’t expect them to get all of these chores done daily. Usually it is the row 5 that doesn’t get done as much. Some days, my oldest leaves before 6am and doesn’t get home until 10 or 11 because its a game night….pretty much none of his chores will get done that day.
Remember to make your chore chart flexible and do what is best for your family and their needs and schedules. Happy cleaning!