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I’m thankful that we have girls. In some ways it makes my job easier to have all these little mummys around. If I’m busy when Delaney cries, I can often send one of the older girls to distract the baby until I’m free.
I know this isn’t something only girls do, but they do seem to have the innate desire to nurture and care for their younger siblings. Even Calista, when around another baby, will seek to fawn over the baby as if she never sees one at her own house!
I’m sure that as they get older, the girls will be able to share some of the responsibilities for looking after the household. When I was growing up (during the times when we lived at home), I shared the housework with my two older sisters.
We used to rotate through the week, taking turns having “our day”. On “our day”, we were each responsible for setting the table, cooking and washing up. It also meant that we could usually choose what we wanted to cook, so favourite meals were probably eaten every three days!
I’m trying to already establish a pattern of chores with the girls, but I’m not very good at sticking to lists. So the girls empty the dishwasher on a rather haphazard schedule and help around the house as things need to be done.
As they get older, I would like to make them more responsible. How do you ensure that chores are regularly completed?
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1 · karen · 7 March 2010, 19:33
i found how to look at blogs although daniel got me here so i may not get back!
Its not only girls that do chores. After Daniels brother handed me his dirty plate to wash up i have decided that boys also do chores!
i think a little bit here and there is good enough for now.
2 · Renee · 7 March 2010, 20:30
Gorgeous photos, Lauren! I love Aisha’s hair with the mouse ears (As Jem calls them).
3 · Jennifer Thorn · 8 March 2010, 08:32
In the past I have use chore charts, but I have realized that I am not very good at keeping up with them. We start out strong, but two weeks later it has fizzled out.
I have finally found a little system that works for me and the kids. I thought about all the little things that the kids can help out with including thing like brushing teeth, getting dressed, making bed, cleaning up their rooms. I also added things like vaccum the steps, sweep a certain aread of the house (when they are little you can pick an area that doesn’t matter much, but at least they get to practice), wipe down sink in bathroom, line up shoes, water flowers, pick a certain amount of weeds … Then I went online and found pictures of all these tasks. I printed and cut them out and glued them on some colored paper.
Then I got each of the kids a name tag holder (mine are the ones that they can wear around their neck). Each day I look around to see what needs to be done and I pick out 5 cards and put them in their name tag holder. After we do school they each get their “chore packs” and they get to work. They are not allowed to take them off until they have completed all their chores. There is no playing, or going outside until their work is done.
Even my 20 month old has one. I bought her a feather duster and she loves to walk around and “dust” any and everything. She also loves to wear, what she calls her “chore necklace”. While she doesn’t accomplish much at least she is learning to help out a little.
So far this has been the best method for our family. If you find any good ideas that work for you please post, I am always looking for ways to make our family run more smoothly :)
4 · Kat · 8 March 2010, 10:04
I am like you and start off with the best of intentions and after not so long they aren’t doing them anymore. What is working for us at the moment is areas. When I get up in the morning the tv goes off and the girls are sent to their areas to clean up and then get dressed. For Bethany her area is her room and the lounge and for Faith it is her room (that she shares with Shanay) and the hallway (they had a play kitchen there but it is now gone so might have to rethink that area). Shanay helps whichever sister she feels like at the time. In their rooms they are expected to make beds, put any washing away and put EVERYTHING back in it’s place. We don’t move on with anything until this is done. It helps me out heaps as by the end of this time the girls are all dressed and all washing has been dragged out of rooms and I can whiz around with the vacumme. It also gives me time to get myself ready for the day and make my own bed and get the baby dressed etc without being bothered by the other girls who are busy :P
During the day the girls do the odd job here and there if I need help, things like getting the washing off the line, cleaning up after playing, making lunch, babysitting for me if I have to get something done.
In the past I have found it easiest to add a new job every now and then rather than setting out with a chore chart.
Like you I am looking forward to the day when they are all contributing towards the running of the house. I often wonder if they are capable of alot more than I give them credit for. The hardest thing I find with chores is not giving the biggest chunk of the work to Beth just becasue she is the most capable and willing.I don’t want her to grow up being resentful of my expectations. At the moment we are working hard on teaching Faith to have a servants heart and do her share of the load willingly and at the time she is asked. One day I hope we will get there lol.
Do you have a child that seems to be alot more about themselves than the others? Faith has always been our least compliant.
5 · Manou · 8 March 2010, 18:56
Well,were the mushrooms edible?
6 · LoriM · 9 March 2010, 03:16
As the stepmother of a 20-something who APPARENTLY never had to do chores at home when he was younger (i.e., before I met his dad!), believe me, this is something you want to start early on. I’ve read (some homeschooler’s blog maybe?) about chore systems with cards for each chore – probably similar to Jennifer’s. Bet the internet has lots of ideas.
From the child’s point of view, I think it’s important to praise whatever efforts they make. I think sometimes it’s gotta be hard for parents to “let” kids help when at first they might actually make the whole thing MORE difficult. But they will learn quickly, no? and I think most kids are proud to be good helpers.
7 · Lisa · 9 March 2010, 12:50
Hi Lauren,
Sweet little cuties! Having four girls and one little fella sure puts a different spin in our mix of a family. I never realized how much we were missing out on. Now we’ve got a real little boy making guns out of carrots and grape stems as he watches old re-runs of the Lone Ranger. Not even 2 yet! My two little girls (8 years old) handle sorting laundry and bringing it upstairs. I don’t fold…it never stays folded anyway by the time it reaches drawers. They just sort into piles and bring it upstairs to perspective rooms and then the owner folds and puts away. The older two are my helpers in the kitchen. I would highly recommend a book called Keepers of the Home from www.keepersofthefaith.com. Wonderful book to do with a couple of other moms of young ladies.
Blessings,
Lisa
P.S. If your blog was with blogger, I would be able to be a “follower”! :( Thanks for always visiting mine!