If you have read my blog for any amount of time, you know that I am always changing up the way I manage my children’s responsibilities. Sometimes we have no responsibilities, sometimes we have more. Sometimes I reward them, sometimes I don’t. I find it so hard to be consistent with any system I come up with. And I am becoming ok with that. Kids like change, right?
Recently I decided for the summer I would try daily chores that were done right after breakfast. Our mornings are not rushed so why not start the day off with a straight house? Instead of coming up with some teachery creative way to display this, I just made each of them a list. I drew pictures for Graham’s (no laughing please).
My kids were so into this. They loved checking their items off. Of course Abbey with her bed head had to have a list too. No one got paid in anything more than a hug or a high five and it felt great. I don’t know how long it will last but it worked yesterday and we will try it again tomorrow.
Comments
I’m the same way. I can’t even count the checklists and chore charts that have never made it longer than a week in our house (if that!). Yes, kids like change, absolutely, ha!
Besides, if we change up the way the “help” it makes them think they are doing something different, right?!
Been thinking about you this week:)
Posted By: Tasha Via | June 27th, 2012 at 9:00 am
What a beautiful profile of little Abbey. Such a doll baby!
Posted By: Marsha Carsner | June 27th, 2012 at 9:19 am
Holly, I LOVE how you drew the pictures because it makes it so much more fun for children :-) I think it is fabulous that you let Abbey be a part because she is “watching & learning” :-))
You are right…children LOVE change and as a parent myself I think it is so important to put it out there in different ways because it makes it more fun & challenging.
I also LOVE that you don’t have to reward them with “money” all the time because doing a chore with a good heart alone and to see their accomplishment is a reward in itself. I would reward my daughter sometimes going to go get a ice cream cone or going to Barnes & Noble to read books.
There is one thing I wish I would have done when Zoe was little after seeing a great friend of mine do it was instead of receiving presents for your Birthday from your friends, you would request on the invite to bring an unwrapped gift for a child in the hospital. Then the Mother & daughter took them up and presented them to the children. The parents & grandparents were the only ones that bought birthday presents for her that year.
Have a Happy Day :-)
Posted By: Tina | June 27th, 2012 at 9:26 am
Hey Holly, Elevation Church was the church where I was saved about 4 years ago, one weekend when I was in Charlotte visiting a friend, so since then I’ve kept up with yall online! :) Thank you for sharing your heart with all of us out here and encouraging women to love God and love our families and love our church families. :) I just wanted to share this info with you I found the other day over at Raising Arrows. There Amy talks about schedules and routines, what kind of family you are and what works best for you and your kids, what are age-appropriate expectations for the children’s chores, etc. Here are a few links if you’re interested! http://www.raisingarrows.net/2010/03/to-do-list-schedule-or-routine/ and http://www.raisingarrows.net/2011/08/age-appropriate-chore-list/. Praying for yall! Much love!
Posted By: Elizabeth | June 30th, 2012 at 10:24 am
Appreciating the time and effort you put into your blog and in depth information you provide. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed information. Wonderful read! I’ve saved your site and I’m adding your RSS feeds to my Google account.
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