Friday, February 1, 2013

I hope this works

We had a family council this morning during our scripture study. Kevin and I (Mostly I) have been having struggles keeping the kids on task. As soon as they come home they want to do other things besides chores and homework. I have been feeling like a task master and I don't like saying "NO" so often. We decided to make up charts. We already have chore charts and the kids have been doing well (after being told a few times).  I was always being bombarded with "Can I play now?", "What else do I have to do?" and so on. Multiply that by four (cause the younger two have very few chores) and it gets daunting.
So now when the kids come home they can get their paper. (I'll get a clip board to put them on) Mark off what they need to do and bring it back to me when it's complete, and I will give the final check off to play.
There have also been times that they have said their rooms were clean and beds made and after inspection they were not! We discussed this as well. The kids agreed that if they mark off the box without completing the task they will loose their game time.
I'm going to try and let things slide such as them not getting their tasks done (on my time) because in the end it's up to them when they are going to play.
Although we have talked that if Mom asks for things to be done and it's ignored they get an extra chore from a list I've made. Just little things such as, wiping out the microwave, fridge, toaster etc. There are some times when they have to complete a chore before others, like if one kid has to sweep before the other one can mop. It's not nice to make the one who has to mop wait when he or she has all the other items checked off the list. Well here's hoping this works!

3 comments:

Shannon said...

That Is awesome! I'm always looking for new ideas to help my kids stay on task so they can have free time. It's hard and overwhelming at times. Good for you for not giving up!

Kristi Rowley said...

I have the same issue with my kids! They know what their daily chores are. They just never do them with out me nagging. And friends start calling and asking to play before the front door is closed from my kids walking in from school...SERIOUSLY! And yea, good for you for sticking with it!!

Felicia said...

We are having the same issues. I am revamping the system today. We are getting ready to give some sort of an allowance, which we've never done, but feel our kids need some money management skills. If they miss one chore during a week, their allowance is cut in half. If they miss more than one, they get nothing. I'm hoping it will help. I feel like all I ever do is nag, and it's mentally and emotionally draining.