Ok i am just wondering if anyone in here has any luck with using chore charts? I have just completed our 1st year of HSing and have tryed at least 3 different charts, and they cant stick to any of them, just wondering if im asking to much of them. I think the animals listen more than my kids do. I have also tryed treats such as money, candy and none of it works. What am i doing wrong? Or is it easier to do them myself. Do you expect your kids to help out around the house? and do you use charts? Or am i the mean nasty mother who is no fun and shouts all day because of the state of the house. I just cant seem to fit it all in, which causes stress HELP!
Since it's not been working, I'd go back to the beginning and start small, then get bigger as things start working. Number one thing though, DON'T YELL (sorry for yelling! :lol: ). Pick one chore that you would like them to do, then practice it, doing it with them if need be. If you feel yourself getting ruffled, then say, "OK, that's enough for now. Next time I'll let you try it on your own." Be as supportive as possible! BTW, what ages are your children? No matter what their age, they need to learn that chores are a part of life, and being a part of the family! You could get tough, if they keep refusing, and tell them, "You don't do chores, you don't eat!" Because cooking supper is a chore, and if they aren't doing chores, then you won't either! They won't like that, or the fact that they have no clean clothes to wear, etc.! At least I HOPE they wouldn't like that! You could write out what you expect them to do to finish the chore: Clean downstairs bathroom: Wash out the sink, clean mirror, empty the trash, swish toilet with toilet brush, wipe off counters, sweep floor, mop floor. If they have a list like that they know what you expect, know when they're done, and you'll be happier! After awhile they won't need the list anymore, but you need to make sure they don't "fall off the band wagon" and trying to get away with not doing anything or without doing it right. Another thing you could try is having set bedtimes, and getting up times and eating times (maybe you already do that). Then have a list of things that need to be accomplished before they can eat breakfast and/or lunch and/or dinner. It'll be a LOT of work at first, but I can almost gaurantee they'll come around if you stick with a program and are consistent in what you expect of them! My kids do chores, and I have to keep with it more than I'd like. We're working on attitude on some of the harder things, but a lot of the routine things they just do almost without thinking about it now. You are not the only MEAN mom that makes their children do chores!!! :wink: Take heart! I have more I could say, but I'll let others talk now also! :lol:
Thank You Deena, I have 2 sons aged 11 and 5 and a daughter 7 the dd isnt to bad at helping, but the boys well.... i did try to have a fixed bed time Ect, but i will admit im not very organized and soon fall away from routine. This is one thing im looking into with myself. I think i might try the set routine, and see if that helps us all lol. And ill keep in mind the SHOUTING lol, as like i said our house seems very stressed (mostly me) and im good at making the rest of the home stressed, even though its not intentional. I must work through these problems. Thanks again for your advice
I'm the same way. It's NOT easy! That's why, if you try to overlook some things and concentrate on one or two that seem the most important to you, then add more as they start getting the hang of it, it makes it easier! Just remember, you're not alone in this! You're not even NEAR to being the only one that has these troubles, so keep your chin up, and hang in there! It will get better!
One thing I've found that has helped (at least temporarily until it got "old" :roll: ). We did a chart, and I included myself on it. I told my kids that it was a plan on keeping the house clean, and we were going to see how long we could do it before Daddy noticed...... So it was sort of a "game" we were playing on Daddy..... We would have to do our chores sometime during the day when Daddy wasn't home, so he wouldn't see us doing it, and they would often ask, "Has he noticed yet......?"
That's cute Jackie! I always join them for my chores also. The more I am around and helping, the more likely they are to get stuff done without fussing so much. We've raced to see who could get done first---but only on certain jobs. Some jobs need time and to be done very well, so those we just plug away through until they're done. But they appreciate the fact that I'm "practicing what I preach." I don't just make them do the work and nag them the whole time. I join in with my jobs, and when they say, "I'm tired!" I can say, "Me too! Let's see how much we can get done in 5 minutes, then we can take a break" or something like that.
Thank You, i think i must really stop the preaching and learn to have hands on with them, so we all work together. I must also get into a routine for everyones sake in the house. I seem to struggle with the simplest of things and it must change Thank you both for your help. Hugs Rebecca
Remember you have a lot on your plate right now with homeschooling, and the whole town against you basically! So realize how much you have on your plate, and try to steer clear of any MORE on your plate until you're more settled into the whole thing! I think you'll do great!
Yes and thats no joke either about the town, i think they all own stocks and shares in the local school
