Chore List |Pad Patter 6.20

[bestcee]

So, I've seen the Pinterest and other shared links that talk about what your kids can/should be able to do. And I always think, man! I can't imagine getting my kid to do all those things perfectly! So, what chores have you actually given your kids (and ages)?

I'm trying to use the summer to get more organized while we have a relaxed schedule. And updating chores is next on the list!

 

[bbymks5]

My middle (almost 10) has to vacuum the kitchen, take out the trash, feed/water the cats and keep their room clean.
My youngest (almost 5) gets to dust, feed/water the cats, keep their room clean.

They both have to help each other unload the dishwasher; middle takes care of the breakables and the littlest takes care of the plastics and silverware.

 

[IntenseMagic]

My 12 year old is in charge of feeding the cats and dog, taking out the trash and bringing the cans back after the trash runs, collecting laundry and often doing laundry (he does it without being asked most of the time), putting his clothes away, and cleaning his room. We don't really have a set schedule, but he knows it has to be done before we can do the fun stuff.

 

[Kiana]

13 and 12 year olds here. They vaccum, clean up the dog poop outside, help with lawn chores like raking up branches and such when hubby weed eats, 12 yr old son started learning to mow the lawn this summer, they can do dishes, even though I don't make them often. They sort their dirty laundry so that I can wash. They can put them away in drawers, but I usually don't make them.

They can fix their sandwiches and quick breakfasts, like toaster things, and microwave meals etc. The 13 yr old girl is gonna learn how to maybe make scrambled eggs this year if she doesn't chicken out. ROFL

 

[bellbird]

very freaky weird or timely, whichever you wanna pick, but i was thinking the same thing yesterday and wondering if chore charts ever work for people beyond a few days anymore - it's like a novelty here when i've done it with the kids and doesnt progress beyond week 2 at best... it was mostly things like setting the table for dinner and putting away laundry and stuff and if asking then yelling at them to do it repeatedly didn't drive me crazy, i think i would have persevered longer each time... at some point i decided it was quicker and easier for me to do it myself (or i let DH do the yelling if i'm over asking and am watching/juggling half a dozen pots on the stove when i want the table set )

 

[keepscrappin]

My 12 year old is in charge of feeding the cats and dog, taking out the trash and bringing the cans back after the trash runs, collecting laundry and often doing laundry (he does it without being asked most of the time), putting his clothes away, and cleaning his room. We don't really have a set schedule, but he knows it has to be done before we can do the fun stuff.

Wow Jan, you've got him trained well! How'd you do it? I can't get my girls (17 and 11) to do much of anything without laying down the law and threatening to take away phones, cars, screen time, etc. My son who is now gone on a mission was a lot better. I'd have to ask him a couple of times, but he would usually hurry and do it so he could hang out with his friends.

@bestcee - I have the kids do pretty much the same things as the others have mentioned their kids do. I also tried a everyone takes one night a week to cook during the winter. It worked for a month or so, but then Hubby started traveling more again and everyone got too busy with all their extra activities. I had to help DD 11 cook, but it was good for her to get in the kitchen more and start to learn how to make more than just microwave stuff.

 

[keepscrappin]

very freaky weird or timely, whichever you wanna pick, but i was thinking the same thing yesterday and wondering if chore charts ever work for people beyond a few days anymore - it's like a novelty here when i've done it with the kids and doesnt progress beyond week 2 at best... it was mostly things like setting the table for dinner and putting away laundry and stuff and if asking then yelling at them to do it repeatedly didn't drive me crazy, i think i would have persevered longer each time... at some point i decided it was quicker and easier for me to do it myself (or i let DH do the yelling if i'm over asking and am watching/juggling half a dozen pots on the stove when i want the table set )

We've done charts. It worked really well when my kids were young, because they got paid $5 a week if they did their charts and more $ if they did extra jobs. But, once my older kids became teenagers, they didn't want just $5/week. They wanted more $ and would mow lawns for neighbors and babysit to get money, so the charts died. My youngest is 11 and she wants the chore charts back, but I'm too lazy to make them. I used to have them on an excel spreadsheet that I'd print out on Sundays. That was a couple of computers ago, so I don't know if I could find the file. I did tell her that she could make her own chart, since she loves to draw and make lists. She hasn't made one yet, so we'll see if the chore charts come back.

 

[Scrapping with Liz]

I don't do charts. I do have a schedule on a chalkboard in our kitchen, but it's brief and to the point.

My 3 older girls (14, 12 and almost 10) rotate each week with doing dishes, wiping off the counter and sweeping the floor after meals, and laundry. They are pretty capable of doing those chores by themselves.

My 6 & 8 year old rotate each week between emptying trash cans and emptying the dishwasher.

On Monday's we clean bathrooms. The 8, 10, 12 and 14 year old each have a bathroom.
On Tuesday's they clean rooms and dust. They each do their own rooms. My 6 year old helps me dust the rest of the house.
On Wednesday's we vacuum. They each vacuum their own rooms.
On Thursday's we put away all the laundry that has been piling up in the laundry room. They are each responsible for putting away their own clothes. The 3 and 4 year old can almost do this.

 

[LeeAndra]

My 3yo is attached at the hip to me so he 'helps' with all the chores I do throughout the day. He especially loves helping to put the clothes in the washer and dryer and rinsing the clean dishes.

My 7yo sets the table, cleans her own room, helps me pick up the basement (where 90% of their toys are), takes her dirty clothes down to the basement, and takes her & her brother's clothes upstairs and puts them away once they're clean again.

 

[amien1]

My 6 yr old & 9 yr old do a lot of chores! That's part of being in a family- helping out! or at least that's what I've brainwashed them to believe!! They make their beds, put away laundry, tidy rooms, set/clear table, unload dishwasher & clean bathrooms. Not all at once, but throughout the week. A lot of the time I can get them to fight over who cleans windows too! I've pretty much had to let my OCD slide a bit & consider a job done even if it's not to my high standards. A streaky window is better than a finger print, dog snot/slobber window!

 

[bestcee]

taking out the trash and bringing the cans back after the trash runs

This was his chore, well the bringing it back part. But they just replaced our cans with the HUGE 96 Gallon truck cans. Um, I can barely move them! He tried to help me bring them up when they were new and it almost fell on him. I'm bummed, because that was an easy chore!

at some point i decided it was quicker and easier for me to do it myself

See, this is how my mom was. We knew if we just kept not doing it, she would stop making us. She's still that way! We got out of so many chores that way! On the flip side, it took me a lot longer to realize some of the little chores that have to be done when I moved out on my own.

I did tell her that she could make her own chart, since she loves to draw and make lists

I let the Lilypad designers make mine! Well, the doodles. I added the list. And I plan on doing it that way again.

emptying trash cans and emptying the dishwasher.

The dishwasher he does, I hadn't thought about the trash cans! The house ones would be perfect for him! How do you find the younger kids do with the bathroom? I've been wanting to push that off DH's list for awhile!

I've pretty much had to let my OCD slide a bit & consider a job done even if it's not to my high standards.

That's a great way to look at it! Done is done. Even if it's not perfect!

 

[IntenseMagic]

I've pretty much had to let my OCD slide a bit & consider a job done even if it's not to my high standards. A streaky window is better than a finger print, dog snot/slobber window!

This is where I used to really struggle when handing out chores to my kids, and even DH. There are certain things I like done a certain way and I tend to get twitchy if it's not done exactly "right". I used to be really bad about having them do things and then going behind them and "fixing" it. I really had to learn to let that go and realize the important thing was that they were doing it. I do still "fix" things from time to time, but when no one else is around .

 

[Karen]

I make a chore list every summer for my boys because they are home alone a lot of the time and if I didn't give them chores they'd play way too much video games. Lol! So they are 11 and 13 and I have them wiping table and counters, putting away dishes (I load because it has to be done my way ) they water plants, take out the trash, clean their room, make their beds, do laundry and sweep floors. The 13 year old has been doing the lawn for the last two years and we pay him extra for that. My 11 year old is still too short. Poor kid. Lol. I also put things like reading for 30 minutes and write in their summer journal too. Last year i made them practice cursive, but they really need some more direction from me on that one, so that fell away pretty fast. I really want them to learn how to write in cursive and they only touch on it at school these days. I also have to put "eat breakfast" on my 13 year olds chart or he never would. Lol.

 

[jenn mccabe]

Mine are teens and they help with things like take out the dogs, empty dishwasher, take out trash, help with clean up after dinner, vacuum pool, sometimes weeding, mowing lawn. We don't really have a set schedule - they just know they have to when we ask. Oh, and they have to take care of their own room and their bathroom (with me going in for a good deep clean in the bathroom often)... even as teens they don't do that great of a job at certain things.

 

[bestcee]

Last year i made them practice cursive,

I vividly remember the summer between 3rd and 4th grade. I loved to read, so my dad made me copy a page out of the book I was reading to work on my handwriting. Until it was done, no reading or fun. And if I did a messy job, the next day I had to do 2 pages, and so on. I hated it at the time, but it was effective. My handwriting is still much neater!

I love that you want your boys to learn cursive! I plan on it when munchkin gets older.

 

[gonewiththewind]

I tried the chore chart/summer activities chart and it was a big fat fail over here at our house.

Daniel is the only one here at the house now. He takes out the garbage, takes the cans to the street and back to the house, makes his bed, cleans his room (when asked LOL), he's learning to mow and has done it by himself twice now, he vacuumed for me day before yesterday, he sets the table, helps with cooking or dishes, puts away his own laundry . . . most of that he has to be asked to do, but he generally has a good attitude about it.

I even tried a chore chart for my own self, to make sure things got done, but I didn't even follow that. I just do what I need to do and put off dusting for forever. LOL

 

[Scrapping with Liz]

@bestcee - My kids, ages 8 and up clean the bathroom really good. Although I must say that I never taught Matthew (8) how to clean the bathroom...he came home knowing how to do it, and he does an amazing job! I guess it was something he had to do in the orphanage :/ My 6 year old "helps" me with my bathroom, it's going to take her a while longer before she'll be able to do it by herself.

 

[Teri]

We are kind of like Liz. We have certain chores that are done on a daily basis and then a different chore for each day. I have a 9 yr old, 7 yr old and a 2 1/2 year old. The youngest, 1yr, just makes messes right now.

Everyday chores:
Dishwasher unloaded
Stairs cleaned off
Hallway picked up
TV room picked up
Table set for dinner
Table Cleared

Monday - dirty clothes to laundry room, outdoor plants watered
Tuesday- rugs and stairs vaccuumed, help fold/sort/put away laundry
Wednesday - bathrooms cleaned, outdoor plants watered
Thursday - Rooms cleaned
Friday- all trash out (bathrooms, play room, office, rooms, etc)

They help with taking trash out, sweeping, and mopping during the week. The 2 year old "helps" with picking up, unloading dishwasher, setting table, clearing table and taking trash out. She actually really enjoys helping the older kids with chores.

During the summer they also have school work, journal writing, reading, and piano practice.

Our kids do not get paid for any of these chores. They have to have the list done to have free time/screen time or to be able to get in the pool in the afternoon.

If they want to earn money we have a "Work for Hire" board that has jobs on it. These include cleaning base boards, washing walls, washing cupboards down, etc... (you know, the things that need to be done, but are not everyday jobs).
I do have to turn my OCD down for some of their chores. But I do expect them to do an acceptable job, especially on the Work for Hire, since they are being paid. Sometimes I have to work with them to teach them what is acceptable....and yes, I could do it faster and better than them...but that does not benefit them (or me) in the long run. I had a roommate in college whose mother had never made her clean while growing up.....not a fun person to share a small living space with.

 

[enjoyyourpix]

i don't really have any chores for the kids. I just expect help if I ask them to do anything.

If they are in the kitchen when I am, I may ask them to empty the dishwasher. If I'm doing something and it's time for dinner, I'll ask for help. People coming over, I'll ask for vacuuming, etc. They put their clothes in laundry room. They know how to do laundry, but I usually do it. Clean clothes go on my daughter's bed and stacked on a shelf outside his room for my son. They both put their stuff away.

I was gone for a week and I had a list of things I needed done for the house (watering, dogs, etc.) and my son took care of everything.

I'm pretty laid back about it. I expect them to get all their school stuff done, keep their stuff relatively clean and not vomit their messes throughout the house, and just help out as needed.