Chore Charts and Schedules

Avonlea's New Chore Chart...she can't read so they're displayed as pictures. She pulls one

off when it's completed and puts it in the bag on her doorknob.

We have different rewards for completing chores (I was going to make it allowance, but I think we're going to wait a bit longer for this). This time around, the reward is a trip to Chuck E. Cheese (you can drop some cash on this trip, so we only make it a reward, that way it's a big deal when she gets to go). I'm in the process of thinking of other little rewards when she finishes this chart: getting nails painted with mom (just the two of us), icecream treat at McDonald's with Daddy, she loves sticker books (the kind where you place stickers on the correct page and then color it...which not too many people carry anymore), etc. Still thinking. I don't want her to think that she's always going to be rewarded for her work, but the more I thought about it, isn't that what allowance is? A reward for your work. She just hasn't quite grasped the value of what money does yet, so we're using these incentives until she does. Then she can start saving for things she'd like to buy.

I know what you're thinking..."Why would a one-year-old need a chore chart? Is this woman crazy? She works her kids too hard!" Okay, hold on. No, Lincoln has a routine, but not chores just yet. He likes to help put dishes away, clean up his room as we're all helping, but he's not responsible for anything in particular yet. Avonlea didn't start consistently until she was 2 1/2, almost 3. This chart was made for two reasons...

1. He wants to do everything his big sister does, so instead of him ripping off her chore cards on his chart, I made him one so he could do his own.

2. He will eventually be doing chores with Avonlea, so this is for the future mainly. I was making her one, so I did them both at the same time. Heck, I might have made the baby one if we knew what the gender was! When I'm making a big project for the kids, I like to have them all done at once. Why not?!

We've had a chore chart for Avonlea in the past, but it got pretty mangled and torn, so I think I finally tossed it. When we did toss it, she was in the habbit of doing them, but we've been slacking because there's no visual representation of them (it's just easier with a chart or something they can see, especially at an early age). I've also wanted our mornings to be a little more structured, making sure to implement our morning devotions (which are going well so far) and having chores, devotions and breakfast completed before playtime or any tv and I'm SO glad we've gotten back on track! =)

Last week was when we started our more defined morning routine and here's how our day usually goes (or the goal that is)...

1. Rise and Shine!

2. Eat breakfast together at the dining room table (Lincoln sits with us in his high chair-the boy has to stay buckled down or it's disaster!)

3. Read a story from our Bibles (we all have one, even Lincoln has a baby one that's cardboard and baby friendly)...still at the table

4. Pray together (at the table)

5. Clean up breakfast

6. Turn on music...usually something upbeat (we like to dance as we clean!)

7. Start morning chores (see chore charts above...they only do certain ones in the morning)

8. When morning chores are finished, the kids are allowed to watch one to two 20-minute tv shows while I get ready, finish up chores and get Avonlea's schoolwork ready.

9. TV goes off after shows and we sit down together and do our schoolwork. Lincoln likes to join in the fun on most days. If he's with us at the table, he does puzzles, coloring, reads books, etc. while Avonlea does her work.

10. By this time, they're ready for a snack/drink so we break for that after cleaning up schoolwork.

11. Sometimes we have an outing

12. Back home for lunch and naps

*During naptime is when I get in my own personal devotions/prayer, I might update the blog, I finish up any other chores that haven't been done (like mopping...can't do that with kids running around..he he!), or I work on scrapbooking, sewing or a project I've been working on. The tv is never on during the day. I only watch with Rob at night, if I don't have something else I'm working on. I think tv wastes too much time to be honest! Too much junk on tv these days anyway.

13. Snacktime after naps

14. Outside play/gardening/crafts/baking/fun activities that tie into what we're learning that week

15. Clean up time (living room, kids' rooms, back porch...basically, whatever they've gotten out that day)

16. Movie time or independant play while I make dinner. We usually start a movie, but Avonlea most times winds up helping me cook or just plays and Lincoln goes off to play in his room.

17. Dinner time/clean up

18. Family time

19. Baths/brush teeth/jammies

20. Read books, say prayers, sing, bedtime

21. Rob's and my time together

22. Me-shower and ready for bed

23. Lights out

I got the idea of detailed scheduling from one of my favorite books Managers of Their Homes by Steve and Teri Maxwell. After reading it, my eyes were so much more open to the time we waste in the day and how much better my kids could function when on a more detailed schedule. Stuff gets done!!!! I highly reccomend this book, even if you're not homeschooling. It's for all parents to read and soak in. Makes you feel more accomplished after the day. The also have other books such as Managers of Their Schools and Managers of Their Chores (we have all three and I'm still reading the second one). I highly reccomend all three.

The above photo is of the schedule we made for our family. I have it posted so that any babysitter or someone else coming to jump into our schedule can join in without questions as to what's being done. I have to update it slightly since we've begun a few changes to our morning routine, but this is the gest of it. I remember being so grateful to a friend that introduced me to this book, so I hope that this entry can help someone else. I remember what it was like post-schedule and I'm so glad I was able to make some better changes for our family. =)