Chores for Kids

I posted on Facebook the other day about this chore chart that I made up for my kids and there were quite few people that wanted to see more or had questions about it - so I'll share!  

First a confession.  My kids have never had a set chore list.  There, I said it.  Does that make me a bad mom?  Maybe..  They get asked to help and do specific things as they come up, but no set chore list.  Mainly because I'm terrible at follow through.  And, I would forget.  Don't think less of me..  mmkay?  

BUT, I'm at my limit with house work and other responsibilities and my kids are becoming too whiny when asked to help and as they get older there are more fun things and privileges for them, so I'm committing to sticking with some chores and responsibilities for my kids.  And, it's way past time.  

I made it mostly for when they get home from school, before they start asking about screen time.  I handed it to them at the beginning of the week and they were...  curious and not real excited.  BUT - they did it.  And checked off the items.  So here is what I did.  

I made 2.  One for each child.  Some things are the same and some are different.  Then I wrote out each day of the week except for Sunday.  And then I wrote out some items that they need to be responsible for on that given day.  For instance - Monday for Asher looks like - emptying backpack (every day actually), doing homework, practice violin, collect trash from 2 rooms upstairs and exercise or activity for at least 20 min.  Hannah for Monday is similar but no violin and homework is instead - spelling.  She also collects trash, needs to do something active and she got to help me make dinner last night.  

Each child once a week will help me cook/make dinner.  And each child once a week will clean up dinner.  I've also included straightening up their rooms twice a week, sweeping floors and cleaning sinks.  

The asterisk' means it has to be done before screens.  That way I'm not constantly asked about when they can get on.  Screens are limited every day and if they don't get off when they are supposed to - they lose time the next day.  

They will get paid at the end of the week IF they do their chores without complaining, whining or constant reminding.  And as they get into the habit of these few chores, I will slowly add other things onto the list.  Also - I may change it up each week a bit - like the activity or walks or when they help with dinner...etc.  

It is hanging in our hallway along the chalkboard where they can see it and check off their items.  It's a start and I'm sure it will be a bit trial and error as we live into this, but we need to start somewhere.  I'm sure you can do some fancy chart on the computer, but I like handwriting things out, so I did it that way.  

What do you do to keep your kids on task with chores?  Also, in a month's time - as me how it's going!  That way I'm accountable to sticking with it!