Chore Charts - MacDougall Style

I have gone back and forth on chore charts - I"ve tried so many things.  In the end, it seems that I always just end up doing things myself and try to avoid the fight.  This year, though, I knew with the arrival of the upcoming baby, I was going to need the kiddos help.  I figured it was better to start this now and have it well established by baby time.

I started with this:

 spent 

Source: blogs.babble.com via Laurel on Pinterest

This is a Modern Toddler Chore Chart and it was perfect for my 4 year old.  I have to write in lines so that she knows exactly where to put her stickers.  This is perfect for her - she is expected to make her bed, get dressed, clear her dishes from the table, brush her hair, and clean up her toys.

I looked and looked for something for my older kiddos and ended up having to make my own. I am not a graphic designer and there are such cuter ones that could be made, I'm sure.  I did it up all cute in color and sent it off to my printer (AKA - Tom's office) and he couldn't read the fonts.  So, I print it off on our black and white printer each Sunday.  This is what works for us.  

 I customized a different chore for each day.  These include putting clean clothes away, emptying the dishwasher, vacuuming the family room or the bedroom, etc.  On top of their daily chore, they are also responsible to make their bed, practice the piano, do their home work, and all toys must be picked up before the end of the day.

At the end of the week - every square must be filled up to pick out a treasure from my treasure box.  If they missed one day of making their bed, they don't get one.  It is tough, but I've stuck to my guns.  G. was making his bed about 10 minutes before bedtime last night so he wouldn't miss a day.

The treasure box is just filled with treats - right now there is a lot of Valentines Day candy in there.  My oldest loves squinkies and my son loves food.  It is pretty random and really nothing special or expensive.

On the weekends, we have more thorough chores.  And it works best if we just ask them to help us out by doing this or that.  Our kiddos are still young enough that I have a lot of control of their schedule.  We just say after breakfast it is time to do our chores and work together to get the bigger stuff done.

We've done this for 2 months now and I'm surprised how motivated they are to fill in a sticker.  I have had to remind G. to check his charts and there have been times when he has told me that he would rather not do his chores and doesn't care about any incentive.  It is then that I pull the "well, I don't feel like doing my responsibilities either today, so are you good to make dinner?" card.  I know the way to G's heart.

I'm not sure how long this new system will work, but for now - it's awesome.

Link parties I participate in: A bowl full of lemons, Be Different Act Normal,  Blue Cricket Design, Craft-O-Maniac, I Heart Naptime,  Lolly Jane Boutique, Ninth Street Notions, Serenity Now, Sew Chatty, Skip to my Lou, Someday Crafts, Tatertots and Jello, The Real Housewives of Riverton, Thrifty Decor Chick, Today's Creative Blog