CHORES

Chores with a chart is something we started about six months ago. These girls all have responsibilities around the house (mostly just cleaning up behind themselves or helping out when asked), but Sterling started showing interest in earning an allowance so I made them this chart. I just couldn't find one that I liked and so this works for now. We just keep making copies of this one until I revise it and make another one. I made the symbols for the ones that cannot read just yet.

Each child gets .10 cents for each chore. The goal is to get 10 checks by the weekend to earn a $1.00. We make these pretty simple since they are so young...like "dishes" is when they clear their plate from the table or just wash their own. If they choose to help wash all the dishes then they can check "extras". "Sweeping" or "vacuuming" are pretty popular because there are always crumbs on the floor after a meal so everyone gets a chance at that, and that's one less thing that I have to do! "Laundry" is anyone helping fold and put away. None of them can reach the top load washer and dryer and pour in the liquid yet, but the folding and putting away is the biggest chore anyway! At one point I had thought about including "cleaning the room" as one of the chores, but I kept going back to the whole responsibility theme. At the end of the day I felt like cleaning up behind themselves was just part of the daily rhythm in our home because we are a family, and everyone has a part to play. So, that's why that part is not on the chart. 

The two oldest are the most into the chart and earning a $1.00, but once Sophie sees them getting paid on Saturday she wants in on it too. So throughout the week I will remind her of some things she can do to get some checks. She is so proud to earn her .10 or .20 cents by the end of the week. And they each have a piggy bank that they pull out to count how much they have saved. So far this is working pretty good. Of course they still need to be reminded (daily). And some days we are not as diligent as others, but the chart really seems to encourage them rather than me just telling them to help.

(little Sophie gettin' it done.)

Since they have been earning and saving, they are thinking of money differently than they used to (the oldest especially). I will share later what they decided to do with their money. I'm thankful for these little ladies in my life. It is hard work training up children. One of the hardest jobs I've ever had! We are definitely not perfect and our life still gets messy. Our goal here is not to have the cleanest house, but to teach responsibility and accountability. In return we, as their parents, are being taught the same things as they look to us to guide them. It's kind of funny how that happens when you have kids. Sometimes in our teaching them, it's actually teaching us.