Back to school feels like a time of renewal.  It is a time to try new things and new schedules.  This year I decided to try a new technique for chores.  Of course there is a story behind this new chore technique!

A friend of mine has been unemployed for a few years now.  She began making herself lists of things she wanted to accomplish each day.  These lists were placed on a clipboard so that she could carry it with her, make adjustments as needed and easily cross items off.  She placed important papers that needed addressing on the back of the clipboard as a reminder of what she needed to deal with.  She kept telling me how fun it was to carry a clipboard.  So, in search of making stay at home life more fun, I tried it.  It really was more fun! So I go to thinking… why wouldn’t this be fun for the kids?  And daddy could try it too…  So, I ventured out to buy clipboards.  I designed a chore list for each of the girls.  I even went as far as adding a morning checklist and a bedtime checklist.  The deal is that when you wake up you get your clipboard.  When you complete all the tasks you hang it back up.   They are expected to do the same thing after school.  Once their chores are completed they have free time to go outside and play, watch TV, play their DSi or play a game.  at 7:30 they are to start on their bedtime list.  If they complete that by 8pm they have 30 minutes to watch tv or read in their room.

So far the kids are loving it!  They wake up each morning and grab their clipboard.  When they come home from school they know right where their clipboard is with their chores on it.  Bedtime is going super smooth as well.  There are many benefits to children doing chores.

• Feeling of accomplishment and pride:  When children accomplish a chore successfully they feel a sence of pride in what they have done.  This is wonderful for your child and will lead to improvements in self esteem and pride.
• Time management:  Many adults have trouble with this concept.  Management of time is important for your child’s success not only now, but also in the future. Chores help children learn how to effectively manage their time.
• Independence:  You child can accomplish cores with no parental guidance.  This gives them a sense of independence and should mean that you are nagging your child less.
• Self-Discipline:  Children learn self-discipline best when there are firm ground rules with attainable goals being set.

I was able to establish chore charts for all of the kids.  Each one has chores that are age appropriate and able to be completed within about 45 minutes total.  This means that there is still plenty of time for fun and games.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Sample Ideas for Chore Charts to Use at Home (brighthub.com)
• Free Chore Chart Downloads (brighthub.com)