If I could turn back time…I would.
When my oldest was 3 or 4, I was working many, many hours per week. Raising kids. Managing books. Doing the bare minimum in the housework/laundry/cooking realm. I never enforced any type of chore routine. My husband was never supportive of a chore routine either. I would think about doing a toy tidy up before bed, but really it was all I could do manage the kid’s until their bedtime. Once the kids were in bed, I was hard at work. Coach Dad was and still is the bedtime person.
Now, more than ever, it’s crucial for us to teach our children the importance of a strong work ethic and the value of a dollar. However, sometimes real life gets in the way, and we don’t reinforce these values as much as we’d like. What Mom hasn’t washed the dishes herself so that they would be done sooner (and cleaner) rather than enlisting the efforts of little helpers? And with the lure of video games, online sites and interactive toys from the next room, it can be nearly impossible to engage the interest of our children.
I recently learned about a service that helps carrying out our best intentions easier. My Job Chart is a FREE online Chore Chart that teaches kids to work in a fun and productive way. Using an easy and fun online system, My Job Chart inspires kids to do their chores on time. An interactive point system tracks your child’s progress, creating excitement and enthusiasm among kids. And the fully customizable chore chart allows you and your child to decide upon mutually determined rewards, fostering communication and developing responsibility. You even get an email or text message when your kids finish their chores or they earn a reward!
I set up My Job Chart for all 3 kids. I was able to customize it so that the chores were evenly divided between all 3 kids. My son is almost 7 so he does chores suited to his age…setting the table, taking out the recycling, etc. My older two unload and load the dishwasher and Swiffer the floor.
To go along My Job Chart I instituted a reward system. For each set of chores completed, I hand out a “buck” with the child’s photo on it in place of “George.” My youngest loves spending his bucks at Walmart. My middle loves spending hers at the mall. The oldest is a saver and stashes all her bucks for something she sees online.
I was given a Target gift card for my participation in this campaign.
