Defining Expectations for Kids Chores
Posted by: Christine Mullins in Kids Chores, Kids MotivationThe practice of defining expectations for your children and making lists of the tasks that need to be done for each room in your home frees up a mother’s time and energies so she can focus her time on important matters like training her children to be responsible, loving and successful adults.
There’s many tasks that need to get done in a home – and unless there is an effective system in place, parents find themselves doing what could otherwise be set up as ‘kids chores’. To divide up the kids chores, write down all of the rooms in your house and then add “dishes” and “laundry” to your list. Some people call this a chore chart.
Have every family member choose two “rooms” on the list. Let them know they will be doing a fast “ten minute clean up” in those two rooms each day. One room will be done in the morning and the other one in the evening.
kidshousekeeping.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/img-3917.jpg" border="0" alt="Kids Motivation" hspace="4" vspace="4" width="220" height="306" align="right" />
Let them know you will post exactly what needs to be done and when it needs to be done on a list in each of the rooms. Let them know how grateful you are for each of them doing their part to take care of their home. I always remind my children that “you only get to keep what you take care of”.
When a family member feels responsible for a certain room, a mother doesn’t have to be a ‘broken record’ any more, having to say things over and over. Getting the kid’s chores done now becomes a game and is part of the family fun.
It took many years of research and testing to create Children’s Miracle Music – but this is now the easiest way to ensure that all the kids chores are done on time – and without any nagging!
Kids Motivation" src="http://www.kidshousekeeping.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/img-3919.jpg" border="0" alt="Kids Motivation" hspace="6" vspace="4" width="220" height="293" align="right" />
For example: my eight-year-old son Tommy was responsible for keeping our ‘dressing room’ clean. He knew that every night he would be hanging up any clothes that were left on the floor. Because it was completely clear that this was HIS responsibility, HE was the one asking our younger girls to make sure and pick up their clothes after they changed.
The same thing happened with my six-year-old daughter Faith. She knew that it as her responsibility to take care of our ‘gathering room’ every night for ten minutes. Because of this, she would frequently ask family members to pick up things before they left the room.
I was no longer a dictator, taskmaster, or nagging mother. I had provided a system for our home organization where we could all do our part and everyone knew exactly what their ‘part’ was. If I helped my daughter pick up the things in her ‘gathering room’ she would thank ME instead of the other way round. This is a GREAT kids motivation tool.
Technorati Tags: kids chores, kids housekeeping, kids motivation
Entries (RSS)