Summer Chore Charts

Here are the chore charts we used over the summer....





Not sure yet which one of these creative chore charts we're going to use next, but it should be fun! I think I'll do one for Jacob too - there were a couple really cute toddler ones in that list.

Chore Chart Bonanza!

I posted the other day about chores and allowance, and how we have decided not to link the two together. Anyway, I also promised to share with you some chore charts I found whilst scouring the internet.

So, time to deliver! I'm sure there are even more ideas out there, but surely this will be enough, just check it out....

In no particular order, I am posting pictures to various chore chart options, as well as links to the original blogs so you can see the instructions for putting it together yourself.

Simple chore cards by Wardeh








Kristi Lea has a very detailed post about her chore chart system which incorporates a dice game to decide which children do which chores. She also explains their reward system - some great ideas here!





As you can see, we are leaving simple behind us now. Kierste has two fabulous chore chart ideas. The one on the left is a dry erase chore chart and the one on the right is an adorable burlap chore chart.


Julie created this chore chart (aka anti-boredom device) for her five children using a cookie sheet and some magnets.











Katherine had a really cute idea, especially for moms with young kids.






MyLittleGems posted a great tutorial on how to make this crafty chore chart using a placemat, popsicle sticks, felt stars and paper clips.










Jennifer also had two great ideas - the one on the left is here and the tutorial for the one on the right is in two parts, here and here.


Pretty creative so far, right? Oh, we're just getting started baby!

For all y'all cowgirls out there, this one's for you and your Howdy Helpers!











Now these are some classy looking chore boards!







Another magnetic chore board - I'm not entirely sure how it's supposed to be organized, but it looks like a fun idea.






Monica made this beautiful chore chart, but it looks like they take up a lot of space, so if you have a lot of kids this probably is not the best option.










Melissa made this key chain chore system - simple and fun!












No tutorial for this one, you can buy it from Lil Luna on etsy, but it looks pretty easy to make. I'm assuming magnets again. Oh wait, I did a little more digging and found the tutorial after all - here it is!













Tiff's chore chart is colour coded by kid.










Amy created this cute framed magnetic rotating chore chart and has another post detailing their rewards points system and "home store".









Cami claims to have created the ultimate chore chart.












Amber's is similar to Cami's, but both of them would also take up a lot of space as you make one per child. Amber had another idea pictured on the right.




Michelle made a very creative, yet simple, chore chart with a clipboard, some scrapbooks supplies and clothespins.










Jolanthe has a chore chart for those that like lists!












Martha Stewart's magnetic job chart - not as impressed as I thought I'd be Martha.







If you're a little more ambitious, this is a really stylish and fun idea - if you're a diy handy-woman, this one's for you!









Liz made this cute wooden heart flip chore chart.








Erin made these dry erase chore charts - simple yet cute!












For you sewers out there, this chore ticket pocket system might be for you!









Mandy created a really cute chore chart for little kids with a Noah's ark theme.







Another magnetic chore chart idea.












Shabby Spot Boutique put a family spin on the chore chart - teamwork!








Jeanie created this chore chart - it uses a lot of velcro!








Jennifer uses a tag and folder system.








Paul and Ines created this random system - doesn't get much simpler than this!








There's also cool online chore charts like this one that you can do.

If you're looking for some age appropriate chores for your kids - here's a list I found that should help you out.

Another simple idea to involve the whole family is a Focused 15 (x4) minutes of cleaning "go time"!

Whew! That's it!!

I was going to include a picture of our girl's summer chore charts (just printed from a Word document), but something got really messed up with my file, so I may have to do that another day.

So, which one do you like the best?!

Together or not together - that is the question!

Chores and allowance.

Together or not together - that is the question!

Every family has to decide for themselves what they feel is best, but since this is my blog, I get to share my opinion, which is, of course, the right one! ;)

Our children receive an allowance as a priviledge of being part of our family and because we want to teach them how to manage their money. You can teach your kids all you want about how to handle money, but it sure makes a lot more sense to give them a hands on opportunity to learn - reality is a great teacher! And if you give them the opportunity to learn to handle their money when they're young and dealing with small amounts, when you're still around to give them guidance, they will be much better prepared to handle the larger amounts that will come when they're older.

For us, allowance is a tool to teach them stewardship. We want to teach them to be good stewards of the money that God has blessed them with. We want to teach them attributes like how to be thrifty, trustworthy, shrewd, faithful, effective and generous.

It's also comes in very handy when you're at the store and they're asking for stuff (toys, candy, etc), I can simply tell them - "Sure, if you pay for it with your own money!". The amount you decide to give your kids will be determined by a number of factors, including how much you can afford to give, how old they are, what they are expected to be able to purchase with the money and how willing you are for them to learn things the hard way! We currently give Emma and Sophia $2/week and Olivia $1/week.


We have these My Giving Banks that are divided into three sections - bank, store and church. Each week they put 1/4 of their money in the church section, 1/4 of their money in the bank section and the rest they can put in the store section.

There are also these cute Money Saving Pigs that actually have four sections - they include an "invest" section as well. That is a really nice option! There are some great tips about how to teach your children about saving, spending, donating and investing on TheMint.org.

However you do it, teaching your children to distribute their money like this is absolutely essential - unless you don't want them to donate, save or invest their money - then feel free to just let them spend it! And, just like anything we teach our children, how our children see us managing our money will influence them a lot more than anything we may say. Make sure to walk the talk!

Now on to the chores....

They do chores because they are part of our family and we all pitch in to help contribute to the running of the household. Teaching them to do chores obviously helps prepare them to run their own households - something both genders need to know how to do. More than likely, they will live on their own for awhile before marrying, and even if they don't - their future spouses will appreciate them having this practical knowledge and putting it into action. It also teaches them responsibility, cooperation, determination, consistency and how to work hard. It also prevents them from developing an attitude of entitlement - where everyone else exists to serve them.

We have decided not to link the two together and here are some of our reasons why....

First of all, we don't feel like it contributes to either of those goals, especially not the second one. I don't want them to feel like contributing to our household is optional, or dependent on how much money they will get for the task. I don't want them expecting to get paid for every little thing I ask them to do. And, looking way down the road here - when they get older and start to earn their own money, I don't want them to not bother with the households tasks because they don't need their allowance money anymore.

Secondly, though they need to learn that work = money, they will have countless opportunities to learn that soon enough. They need to learn that some work you do for no pay, simply because it's the responsible thing to do. Nobody pays me for unloading the dishwasher, so why should I pay them to do it for me? And certainly no one's going to pay them to make their bed or clean their rooms when they move out. But their future spouses will certainly appreciate it if they do, just like we appreciate it now.

Third, we can still give them the opportunity to earn extra money by having them do extra chores - going above and beyond the normal expectations. Cleaning windows, cleaning out cabinets, repainting the shed, etc, are all good examples of wage earning opportunities.

Fourth, keeping track of what chores they have and have not completed, and tallying up what they are owed just sounds like a make-work project to me, and I don't know about you, but I certainly don't need any of those!

Allowance can be used as a teaching tool where chores are concerned. For example, if a child is consistently not performing their chores, I can decide to use their allowance to pay their sibling to do the work for them. If it's cleaning their room - odds are good they don't want their sibling cleaning it, nevermind having to pay them to do it! This is getting them used to reality as well. I can decide to wash my car, or I can decide to go to a car wash and pay them to do it for me. Same idea here - natural consequences. The job needs to get done, if you don't do it, you need to pay someone to do it for you.

Alternatively, you can use other incentives to get chores down - whatever works for you!

So, that's my 2 cents. What's yours?