Every few months, almost every shift in season, we seem to need a new approach to the chore chart. I’ve created many variations over the years to help keep the kids following it without much fuss.
I’m too tired from my anxiety to create a rotating weekly schedule (to keep tasks fairly distributed amongst three children). Our schedule is also more varied this time of year. Craft sticks in a cup it is.
I’ve only got five right now, which might be just fine. The kitchen could use daily attention. The kids each pick one as their task for the day to get their cellphones back from their nightly break. The youngest gets Xbox time.
Each stick has a room on it. On the fridge is a list of all the tasks that must be completed for the chore to be done. The first couple days getting back into a chore routine can feel overwhelming, but after that there’s so much less to clean each time.
And everyone feels better in a clean(-ish) house, so the arguments about chores lessen, until they just get to it on their own.
We’ll have a new one come Fall, when no one wants to clean up anymore.
The Accidental Domestic Goddess 