Comments on: Empower your kids

By: I’m an Organizing Junkie » Tips for Helping Children Get Rid of Stuff

I’m an Organizing Junkie » Tips for Helping Children Get Rid of Stuff — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:48:15 +0000

[...] Empower Your Kids [...]

By: Overcoming Busy » Setting up summer routines for kids

Overcoming Busy » Setting up summer routines for kids — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:16:36 +0000

[...] I’ve been reading some great blog posts about kids chores from The Creative Mama and Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie. I have also been looking at some great online tools for kids chores. My husband and I are [...]

By: Just Another Mom

Just Another Mom — Wed, 06 May 2009 00:46:53 +0000

“Do your kids have assigned daily and weekly chores that they are responsible for?”

Yes! Our children are 16,13,10,10,&10. They are responsible for all aspects of keeping this home clean. With one exception my room is off limits. They also now how to cook meals from scratch and from a box. They also keep up the yard. My oldest will be learning vehicle maintaince this summer and I will be expecting him to help maintain the vehicles. And to some degree they know how to do minor plumbing, dry wall, carpentry, and basic wiring. Now I suppose some will say that we have gone to the extreme. Perhaps but, we both agree we didn’t leave home with enough skills or expectations of what it takes and feel they needed to be allowed to learn it all. I just tease my son about being careful not to pick a woman who can’t cook because she will always take advantage of his cooking and might never learn. One of his favorite things to cook right now is augratin ham and potatoes with biscuits, yum. My advice is to start them young, don’t expect them to perfom things perfectly or to perform them as you would. :) All to soon they will be moving out and I get to reassume the major clean up role, huh…haha. Unless I teach the dog!

By: SherrySam

SherrySam — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:38:23 +0000

I've found that the virtual chore chart works for me. I use a site called Handipoints chore charts to make printables and it's really been fun so far!

By: Erika

Erika — Mon, 04 May 2009 12:36:31 +0000

Laura, we don’t have regular chores for the kids yet. In fact, most often, they don’t even clean their rooms, because I enjoy doing it for them, and surprising DD after school with a clean organized bedroom.

However, a lot of my not choring has to do with the fact that DD spends 8 hours away at school, comes home, does homework, plays for a very short time, and then it’s dinner and the bedtime routine. I hate the idea of adding chores to that so she doesn’t get a chance to play and relax. This is all going to change in the near future, as we’ve decided to homeschool, and part of the homeschool experience will be taking ownership in the household chores. DD will help with dishes (no dishwasher here), laundry, and vacuuming. Younger DS will help with trash and yard duties, as well as setting and clearing the dinner table.

I’m hoping to come up with a few more ideas yet.

By: Creative Triplet Mom

Creative Triplet Mom — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:29:24 +0000

I have one child who volunteers to do every chore. The other 2 whine and complain and I get “What do I get?” when I ask them to do something. I have been giving out lolly pops and now I just started to give them money but it’s getting really horrible as they expect something after they do anything. Clear the table, empty dish washer, help with laundry, pick up toys, etc. How can I get them to do something without asking for something in return? They are only 4 and asking for money and then they think they can purchase anything in the store. Looking forward to reading your comment on the subject.

By: Gayle

Gayle — Mon, 04 May 2009 02:26:10 +0000

This is such a good refresher! With four kids (5-13yrs and at home with me all day being homeschooled) and a giant old house, I had a hard time keeping it clean. Then it hit me, if I listed all the things that need to get done and divvied them up between the kids, I wouldn’t have to do it at all. (well, maybe a little). That’s helped me so much. Now they do most of it and I just take care of deep cleaning.

This is a great topic!

By: Jen@Sunshine4Teachers

Jen@Sunshine4Teachers — Sun, 03 May 2009 20:45:47 +0000

My girls, six and seven, have 10 mini-jobs they have to do between the two of them before Saturday morning cartoons happen. They are the jobs I dislike most (dusting three rooms and garbage taking out in two baths) along with some basics (take bedding off Friday morning and put in laundry room).

The list is on a cute, small clipboard with magnets on the back. It’s on the fridge with a red pen hanging off of it on yarn. They love checking something off…not to mention using the feather duster. :)

I try not to be picky because this is training right now. Notice, I said “try.”

By: Monkey's Momma

Monkey's Momma — Sat, 02 May 2009 20:49:38 +0000

What a great post. My six year old helps out, but probably needs a few daily chores to teach him more responsibility.

I must remember to be an example of getting organized and keeping things neat and tidy.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 02 May 2009 10:42:44 +0000

My children have a few chores. The two oldest alternate taking the clothes out of the dryer and loading it back up. If it is a load of towels/washclothes/dishclothes the youngest helps me fold them. I fold any other clothes, but they are responsible for placing them in the drawers and hanging them up. Again with the oldest two alternating helping their younger sister with hers. Their rooms are cleaned by helping one another. If they are not completely destroyed, I “award” them by picking up one day a week. They all three take turns in the kitchen duties (except cooking, I haven’t got that brave yet.)