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folklaur
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 1:58pm | IP Logged
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Okay, I have to confess something here.
My kids don't really have many chores. Being as there just isn't *that* many of them, and the fact that I am a germ-o-phob, I usually adopt a "rather do it myself and get it done right" attitude.
This has not been good for them, or me.
I have NO IDEA what kid of chores to expect from a 6yo dd (who would be more than happy to help if I let her! I do let her dust....) and a mildly autistic (and very lazy) 9yo ds.
Can they use Mrs Meyers w/o poisoning themselves? How about Method brand?
I feel utterly ridiculous admitting this.
But, they need some chores, I think. And I need some help, I think. And now dd18 is leaving (and she does help, but I think I actually should have done a better job with her in this area. )
Any advice? I have looked at chore lists, but what have you found from experience are good?
thank you...
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Rachel May
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 2:14pm | IP Logged
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9 yo and 7 yo
*clean a bathroom with Mrs. Meyers every day
*unload and load the dishwasher
*feed the cat
*clean the litter box
*throw trash
almost 6yo
*picks up the backyard
*takes things to the recycler
*picks up toys in garage
*set the table for dinner
I guess most of our family chores are more picking up and putting away related rather than chemical cleaning. I have found that chores, like table learning, go more smoothly earlier in the day, so we do them before breakfast. HTH!
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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mellyrose
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 2:31pm | IP Logged
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My 6 & 7yo successfully do these chores:
make own bed
set the table
clear the table
wash dishes
clean mirrors / windows with spray & newspaper
wipe bathroom counter (with Green Works spray and rag)
bring their laundry to laundry room, fold and put away their own laundry.
gather garbage from small cans around house (bath, office)
straighten up their bedrooms
pick up living room
vacuum kitchen floor (we have a small Dirt Devil)
water plants
Some chores are daily chores, others are done on a weekly basis (like watering). Each day, they are responsible for at least 4 things -- making bed, straightening bedroom, and then 2 others -- like today it's gathering garbage (garbage day is tomorrow) and watering outside potted plants.
I recently re-did my chore charts so everything has a specific day. I've been really good about laundry and garbage for a long while, but we're getting better about other things. The kids are used to the routine and know what to expect this way (even though they complain still -- they know that on Tuesday their laundry is done and they don't have to do it again for a week.)
I don't use a lot of strong chemicals in our home, and I show them how to use the cleaners we do use. I also tend to stay close when they are using them -- like for the mirrors, or in the bathroom.
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Melanie in AZ
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Maryan
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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My 3 yo:
sweeps floor
sets out napkins for dinner
pours water (in small pitcher) in cups for dinner
My 5 yo
puts away the silverware from the dishwasher
sets the table
folds towels from dryer and puts them away
cleans toy closet after the baby trashes it
6 yo
unloads dishwasher
wipes messy kitchen table
folds laundry
vacuums
cleans toilet with those disposable toilet wands
other stuff...
- I fold most of their clothes, they take them upstairs and into their drawers and bring the tiny basket back down
-all the boys wipe, walls, counters, etc. with Murphy's Oil soap... this can get messy with a 3yo. so I only have him do it when I'm feeling really patient
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Maryan
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Maryan
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 2:46pm | IP Logged
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I was posting at the same time as Melanie, so we have a lot of repeats. 
BTW - Laura I'm not a germ freak nor a clean freak. I'm lazy. So I don't use chore charts... I naturally want to pass the job onto someone else. 
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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LucyP
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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Well, I let mine use Method products, but I mainly clean with green washing up liquid, Method or Ecover. The 4yo loves to use Method Bare Naked spray or the window spray.
I do let my 4yo wash dishes, but not glassware or blades. He sorts laundry, folds simple things like wash cloths, loads/unloads washer and dryer, does a reasonable job vacuuming, sets/clears table, uses a damp cloth to clean furniture, skirting boards, window sills etc, polishes furniture, spot cleans carpets he has soiled, cleans windows and doors.
The 1yo fetches and carries, wanders around with a broom (I can't call it sweeping!) and wipes at stuff with a damp cloth.
At 6 we washed up dishes from breakfast and lunch; at nine we washed dishes from dinner and also were involved in cooking; we cleaned alonsgide mum and could do all the jobs necessary for running the home at 9/10ish.
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folklaur
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 3:14pm | IP Logged
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okay, really? Toilets? Vacuuming?
do they do a *good* job, or is it just done okay and then you will like deep clean yourself other times?
Oh, I am not a neat freak.And it isn't really control issues, I don't think. Could be. I just don't want to have to re-do it, plus get on their cases for not doing a decednt job of it. SO, it actually sounds more like I am lazy, and not wanting to take the time to train them, now that I am typing it out. Gosh what a horrible thing to realize in such a public way !
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: July 21 2008 at 10:20pm | IP Logged
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I got my older ones started on more chores (things more than garbages, pets, and rooms) when they were about 7 and 9. My next two I have been more lax with. My 5 year old doesn't have regular chores yet- basically, I just don't want to remind him to do them He spontaneously helps with things, but with my younger ones I have waited till they were a bit older so I could hand it over and expect a decent job!
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CandaceC
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| Posted: July 22 2008 at 7:20am | IP Logged
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I listed these on the morning routine thread, but I'll list again here. I am somewhat of a control freak too...but you would be surprised (pleasantly) at how the kids chores help keep the house looking neat and clean! I do a deeper clean maybe 1x per week, but really, after the kids do their chores every morning we could have company and I would feel good about the house! Also, they do get better and better...and I feel good that I am teaching them these good habits!
Our girls are 5yrs and 6yrs. Here is what they do every morning after breakfast:
*brush hair
*brush teeth
*make bed
*pick up toys from floor in bedroom
*pick up clothes from floor in bedroom - put in appropriate place
*1 girl wipes toilet, 1 girl wipes sink in bathroom w/ clorox wipes
*1 girl gives cat food, 1 girl gives cat water
*each girl empties 1 trash can from bathroom
Other chores they do, but these they take turns on:
*sweep kitchen
*sweep dining room
*wipe down baseboards in bathroom (they are white and get so dirty!)
*empty silverware from dishwasher
Oh, I didn't use a chore chart for the longest time. Not until I got the cute little chore charts with stickers did the girls get more excited and motivated to do their chores. Now it is much more pleasant. For me, it's worth it. 
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Candace - wife to David since 2000...mommy to Hannah (Feb. 2002), Emily (April 2003) and Caleb (March 2005)
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Maryan
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| Posted: July 22 2008 at 7:56am | IP Logged
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None of it looks as good as when I do it. BUT if I were cleaning, while they were playing... I would have WAY more to clean by the time I was done cleaning by myself iykwim. So I do what Candace does... when the boys go with Dad to do the trash on Saturdays, I give everything a deep cleaning. But our house gets SO messy SO fast... that whatever the kids do helps... even if it's not perfect.
btw the toilet wand is such a gimmick. My son thinks it's cool??? SO even if I make him go back and get some more spots he doesn't mind.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
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PDyer
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| Posted: July 22 2008 at 8:13am | IP Logged
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My kids don't have very many pre-determined chores they need to do. I tend to ask them to do what needs doing when it needs doing, and they typically are happy to help.
I also have every-other-week floors and bathrooms paid help, so I'm not doing everything else by myself.
tend cat food/water (6y.o) and scoop/change litter (12y.o)
set table, clear after supper
clear personal dishes after lunch and put in dishwasher
bring down personal laundry basket and sort
put clean, folded laundry away
clean bedroom weekly (straighten, dust, pull sheets off (6 y.o), change sheets entirely (12y.o), vacuum)
empty clutter basket (I need to ride them a bit too much on this one)
garden care (weeding, picking)
Basement family room cleaning (ETA straightening, dusting, vacuuming)
My husband is talking about teaching my son to cut the grass. We have a riding mower and a fairly level yard.
I feel like I'm forgetting things, but I need to stop and get out the door to swim team (last week! Whoohoo!)
ETA because I knew I was forgetting things: both kids change their towels in their bathroom once/week. My son vacuums the upstairs hallway once/week. They empty the dishwasher when asked (since we're a small family and it isn't always ready at the same time or necessarily every day). My son makes lunch for us when it makes sense to have him do it and vacuums out the car when it needs it. I still feel like I"m forgetting things...
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Patty
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SimplyMom
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| Posted: July 22 2008 at 9:31am | IP Logged
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In our home children don't have chores just because I need the help. They need to know how to do a job efficently and well. This is a life skill. I never had chores growing up and I pay for that to this day.
What ever you do, if you children haven't been doing chores, don't start with five things a day. Give them one chore and teach them how to do it to your standard before you move on to the next. And also you have to "Inspect what you expect" and make sure they are doing the job well. But they can do a lot more than we think, and do a good job.
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Darcee
SimplyMom from Simply Catholic
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Kristie 4
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| Posted: July 22 2008 at 10:02am | IP Logged
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One other thing I have found very helpful is to give children the same chore for a long period of time. At our house they all have mealtime chores then one chore they do in the mornings after breakfast. For example, my daughter did laundry chores for years. Now she is very good at it and we have mixed up the chores for a bit to give some variety.... but come fall we will go back to each child having their focus chore. (Easy to see when someone is slacking then too )
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Kristie in Canada
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MarilynW
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| Posted: July 22 2008 at 11:20am | IP Logged
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We have daily, weekly and monthly chores - everyone from 4 years and up. Having a schedule makes it easier for everyone to know what they are doing and hopefully eliminates arguments. I have a couple of chore schedules in Word I would be happy to send you if you pm me your email. I am just updating to give my 4 year old some responsibilities.
My 3 older ones have been doing chores for a while now - but everyone still needs reminding occasionally of how to do things well - as standards do slip. And attitudes are not always good - but we have our verse from Colossians posted everywhere to remind them to do everything as serving God. And..we do play the Happy Working song from Enchanted on weekly chore day - maybe more for mom!!
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stefoodie
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| Posted: July 22 2008 at 11:52am | IP Logged
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We have daily, weekly and monthly chores as well. I do have to say the past 3 months that I've been mostly sick, only the most basic chores were done. Now that I'm starting to feel better I'm hoping to get back on track.
our chore charts and schedules, etc. from last year -- may have to do a bit of tweaking again this year.
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stef
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Servant2theKing
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| Posted: July 23 2008 at 11:39am | IP Logged
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Age appropriate chores, adjusted as they grow, mature and become proficient at the chores they have already been doing, will definitely pay off in the form of capable adults with healthy work ethics. Children who are deprived of the opportunity to do chores during their formative years will be more likely to struggle with work being expected of them in adult life. Your children will be truly grateful for your training when they enter adult life and see many of their peers struggling to apply themselves to meaningful work.
Our family chores have varied over the years, but they have always reaped rich benefits in our childrens' lives!
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: chores
