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Never Ending Chores (and a chore chart I’m loving)

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One of my main challenges in this motherhood job is keeping the house clean. It’s not that I don’t try–it’s just that it seems like my efforts are always undone about 3.5 minutes later. Welcome to life with little kids.

In our discussions about housework, Jared is always supportive and helps out where he can, but most often our conversations lead to teaching the kids to clean up after themselves and helping with household chores. I do believe these are skills my kids need to learn–that part of my job as a mom is to teach them the things that will help them become responsible adults, and that starting with clean habits now will help in the long run. As with most things in this parenting job, I’m pretty sure the key to successfully teaching chores is consistancy, consitancy, consistancy. That’s why having a routine really helps my kids.

But sheesh, it’s hard sometimes, isn’t it?

So one of the most popular design requests I receive is for a chore chart. And while I’ve wanted to create one, my own personal challenge of staying consistant with my little ones and chores has left me conflicted. Because I wanted to be sure to create something I could feel good about using myself.

I tried sticker charts for a while but got tired of the maintenance of printing new charts and buying more stickers each week.

Then we started using weekly dry-erase checklist chore charts that I found at the dollar store. The kids loved them and the charts worked okay, but it was way too easy to leave the lids off the markers or leave them in reach of a two-year old sister.

We also tried drawing slips of paper for chores everyday. It worked okay, but they kept losing the slips of paper and I got tired of having to write new ones every day.

Finally, I think we’ve settled on a chore system I like.

It’s really simple, but I think that’s why it works for us. No more stickers to buy, marker messes to clean up, or daily recreation of chore slips, just a quick move of a magnet.

Basically, each child starts the day out with a column of chores that need to be done, and when they are finished they move their chore magnet to the “done” column. At the beginning of each day we can start fresh by easily sliding the magnets back to the appropriate column.

The colorful graphics make the chart fun and are easy for non-readers to understand. My kids seem to respond particularly well to the chart because they can visually see what they need to do, and then can “check” it off their “list” and see the progress they’ve made. With this chart I haven’t heard the complaints about having “too much to do” like I did with other systems we tried.

If this simple magnetic chart is one you think would work for your kids (or heck, even you!!), be sure to visit this detailed tutorial on creating the chore magnets.


Comments

  5. Jenny says

    Keeping the house clean is always my biggest challenge too! This is a great idea and certainly something we’re going to try! I would love to live in a tidy house!

  7. Russ (The Stay At Homer) says

    This is exactly what I needed to see! We have been doing chore charts, and sticker charts, but they are a pain in the butt to make and only last for a month or two. This seems like such a wonderfully organized system!

    I am the stay at home parent, and I’m DYING to find a way to get the kids to consistently help out around the house. And I’m SO tired of barking at them randomly to get them to help out.

    Thanks for the great idea!

    And, on behalf of my kids, “WHAT?! CHORES?! GAH!!”

    -Russ

  9. Tracy says

    LOVE this article! I want to follow you on twitter but your twitter button is not working for me. What is your Twitter Name?

  10. Jessica says

    What a great idea! Everything we have tried has been torn apart or used for nefarious purposes. This will be easier to replace and change as needed.

  15. Meredith says

    I love this chore chart! I have an older child and two in elementary school, and while the oldest knows her jobs, it’s always the younger boys who either don’t care or don’t realize they need to help. I love this idea, though! Thanks!

  19. Estelle says

    This is exactly what we need! I love that it allows mom and dad to decide which chores need to be done on a day-by-day basis without having to re-print or re-write everything for everyone. This is perfect!

  23. Shelly says

    Now THIS is way cool! Not only for my almost-3-year-old daughter, but for myself as well! Can’t WAIT for the tutorial tomorrow! THANKS, Pam!

  24. Donna says

    Great idea, Pam! We already have magnets like this minus the chore part. 🙂 I definitely think this will become part of our family’s routine! Can’t wait for the details tomorrow.

  26. Shaela says

    um, YES!!! We have been using a dry-erase chore chart and have burnt ourselves out. I LOVE this idea and totally want to make one for Caleb and Lina. Can’t wait for the tutorial tomorrow!!

Trackbacks

  2. […] One thing I’ve learned, as a mom of four little kids–six years to six weeks–is that to keep my sanity at mealtimes, I need to keep things simple. Breakfast especially as weekday mornings can be a stressful time of day getting ready for school, saying goodbye to daddy as he leaves for work, and doing our morning chores. […]