Do you find yourself giving your kids consequences that don’t really teach them anything, or that don’t really work? Do you say to often: “go to your room” or “your grounded for the rest of your life” (I’m exaggerating just a little bit here)? What do your kids do once the’re in their room? They play with their toys! Do you really think they mind? Mine sure don’t!
A few weeks ago, I even took my son’s favourite blanket away, but it ended up being a consequence for me, because I had to put him back to bed three times. At that point, I gave up! It was late and he had school the next day. So I gave him his blanket back, but I told him that in return, he would have to set up the table at supper time all week.
What a great idea! He set the table all week like a big boy without even complaining. The week after, it was my daughter that had broken the rules, so she fed the cat and the dog all week. This works out great. I am giving them a consequence for not respecting the house rules, and at the same time, I am showing them to be responsible and I’m getting some help.
My daughter is 7 and my son is 6, they do have regular chores to do every day, like make their beds, put their dirty clothes in the hamper and clean-up their room. But they now have extra chores when the rules are broken.
It is important to be realistic though. My kids go to school all day and have 30 minutes to 1 hour of homework each night, so the chores can’t be to long and they can’t have to many. They are kids after all and it’s important for them to have time to play, relax and have fun!
It’s also important to be clear, specific and consistent with your house rules and not have to many. Focus on the most important ones for your family.
Here are a few chores you can ask your children to do.
Dusting
Make their bed.
Put dirty clothes in the hamper.
Put their clean clothes away in their drawers.
Weed
Pick up their toys.
Set the table.
Feed the cat and dog.
Load the dishwasher.
Clear the table.
Wipe out fridge, microwave, dishwasher and oven.
Fold face cloths, socks, rags, hand towels and dish towels.
Wash fruits and vegetables.
Rake the leaves.
Rake the leaves.
Sweep floors.
Vacuum.
Hang the laundry.
Take out recycling and garbage.
Change their beds and even wash the sheets with supervision at first.
Make easy meals like sandwiches, grilled cheese (with supervision)…
Clean bathrooms.
Wash floors.
Choose the tasks depending on the age of your child and their capability.
I still send them to their rooms sometimes if the’re really bad and I need a break! I still take TV or Ipods away, but I try to focus on giving them chores instead, that way they are learning and I’m not taking all their fun away!
This is working pretty good for us. My kids even started to offer to help more often around the house and that’s a great thing!
Do your kids have chores to do around the house?
Thanks for visiting Do It All Working Mom.
(Visited 259 time, 1 visit today)
I love this approach. Going to give it a whirl 🙂
You should it work really good.
As a mom of 2 (6 and almost 4), I definitely appreciate this post. I need to really get my kids to chip in more. They are definitely not babies anymore and can do their fair share 🙂
I agree, just start them with little things.
Great ideas! I have a 3 year old so it’s still time outs that work but I think this a great approach that I can use in the next year or so. Like the list you provided too!
For sure your son is to little for this but it will be helpful very soon!
I know it’s great for you and for them. You get some stuff done and they learn about responsibilities and how to properly complete a task.
These are all great chore ideas. My older son does chores anyway, and my younger one is always happy to help.
That’s really good, you have lots of help!
This is a really great approach! As kids, we had to put a quarter in the jar when we broke certain rules. It made us really think hard before we did something because we didn’t want to give up our hard earned money!
That’s also a good idea for when my kids get older and have an allowance.
every parent should read this.. it is true, kids needs chores rather than just a “go to your room” that wont do anything
Thanks you so much for the great comment! I hope a lot of parents read this!
Thanks!
My son has chores but it’s a chore for me to make sure he does them. I remember how I hated doing chores, so I can’t really complain that he’s complaining, lol
I know, it’s the same way here sometimes but they are getting use to it. It gets easier as they get older.
This is a good idea. My kids do a good bit of chores already, and I don’t really want them to look at their regular chores as a punishment (although…who doesn’t look at chores as a punishment)…but the thought occurred to me while reading this, that I could make them do a special chore that would be an act of service for someone (or even me, ha!). Something appropriate to the rule that was broken. That way, it would teach them to make amends for making a bad choice. 🙂
Yes, we do that sometimes to. If they do something to hurt the other then they have to make the other ones bed or clean their room. It works great!