Many hands make light work!

I have been searching the net and racking my brain to try and figure out a system for having the kids do chores around the house.  There are many great systems and ideas, but it is important that you find something that will work for your family.  In my case, I sometimes find that the trouble with a system is actually me, not the kids.  When jumping into anything new, you truly have to commit.  I am often a great starter, but am not always committed entirely to the process and thus over time, it fails.  So, when considering a chore system, I wanted it to be manageable for both the kids and my husband and I, so that it would with stand the test of time.  I am trying very hard to be "a little, a lot person" instead of "a lot, a little person".  You know do little things and make small changes, but make a big, long term commitment instead of trying to do things in such a big way that you end up losing momentum and feeling like a failure.

Here is what we came up with:
We set up bank accounts for each of the children and arranged to have a direct deposit come from our account to each of theirs on a weekly basis ~ alas, the allowance!  I have gone back and forth on this one.  So many experts on the subject with varying opinions - to pay or not to pay - that is the question!  We decided that we like the idea of the kids learning to manage their own money and to begin the process of giving 10%, spending %, saving 10% and using the other 70% as they wish (within our family guidelines, of course).  This way, they will learn the value of a dollar and have the opportunity to learn about both good and bad  choices.  I find it difficult to monitor when I should give them money for a treat, etc and when to say no.  I will most often say no, as I am always trying to avoid over indulging and spoiling our children.  As a result, I never no when I am being fair and when I am being a good parent.  Thus, we decided to give them a little more freedom to make their own choices and learn from their own mistakes.  They will receive 50 cents per year or an amount equivalent to half their age.  So, our 10 year old gets $5 per week and our 8 year old gets $4.  Not a huge amount, but enough to begin to make some of their own choices.  I like the concept of the bank account because we do not have to worry about having the cash on hand for allowance day and the money is not burning a whole in their pocket.  They can make a withdrawl using their bank card so that they can have a little money on hand, and use the card to make direct payments when we are out shopping.

I used a combination of ideas from several sources and this is what I came up with.

 Using a dollar store cookie sheet, I covered the surface with some scrapbooking paper, typed out a list of daily chores as well as a weekly schedule for each child and printed it out on cardstock.  I bought wooden letters to represent the kid's initials and covered them with coordinating patterned paper.  I then used large glass beads to create magnets for both the dishwasher and the table.  The EMPTY/CLEAN and SET/CLEAR magnets switch each week.  So, in addition to the kids regular daily chores (make bed, brush teeth, clean sink, empty backpack, do homework/reading, empty "crap basket" from the stairs), they are also responsible for putting away their clean laundry, dishwasher duty and either setting or clearing the table.
Our Garbage and Recycling are picked up on Wednesdays, and the kids are also responsible for taking both out throughout the week when needed as well as moving the bins out on Tuesday evening, so they are ready for Wednesday pick-up.  On Saturday mornings, the kids do their regular daily chores, but instead of making their bed, they strip the sheets/pillow cases for washing and I help them make their bed with clean bedding.  They are also required to "pick a chore".  I got the idea from  whateverdeedeewants.com, but modified the chores to meet our family's needs.  We started with just one extra chore per week, but the kids have been told that there are times when they will be asked to pick to or 3.  They still have an opportunity to "put a chore back" or "relax" and be chore free, if they pick a lucky stick.

BEFORE:  I bought this crazy ugly wooden box at a yard sale for  a quarter and turned it into a little box that holds our chore sticks.

AFTER:  Ugly clown box becomes cute little chore box.

I found appropriate clip art on the web, increased the transparency of the graphic and then added the text in front for these chore magnets.

 I hung the chore system up below our family schedule.  So far, so good!

Many hands make light work!