Chore Tracker

Our kids are responsible for various chores around the house. After writing my earlier post about wanting a clean house I realized that we had gotten quite lax with chores over the summer and needed a new boost of "chore energy" .  The store bought chore charts had not worked well for us in the past.  We have in the past tried several different styles of charts available but found that none actually met our needs. We needed a more visual reminder of chores needing to be done.  So I created one myself using the side of our refrigerator, masking tape, Clipart in Microsoft Office and adhesive magnets.  When they finish a chore they simply move the magnet to the space below.

Yes I realize it is massive and takes up most of the fridge 

but if the house gets clean and stays clean as a result then it is worth it. :)

 The kids and I sat down and came up with a list of chores each would finish daily or weekly, I added into this basic daily hygiene such as brushing hair and teeth and showering. and reading time (to minimize time spent in front of the TV). Although it looks like a heck of a lot it, most of it really should only take very little time to accomplish and are based on the complexity of the task and the ages of our children.   

Here is an example of some of the chore magnets we made.

Here is what we have on the chore board:

• Brushing teeth AM and PM
• Brushing hair
• Making the bed
• Showering
• picking out clothes for the next day
• homework
• reading
• packing a snack and lunch for school
• putting backpacks away when not in use
• organizing the shoe area so they are not all over the place
• helping to empty the dishwasher
• putting dirty clothes in the hamper
• putting away any laundered clothing
• picking things up off the bedroom floors
• putting toys in the playroom away
• throwing in a load of laundry (for my 9 year old)
• sweeping the kitchen floor (my 6 year old)
• finding stray cups and dishes around the house (my 4 year old)
• practicing piano (my 9 year old) 
• helping mom prepare dinner
• clearing their plate off the dinner table

Instead of earning money for chores done they are working toward my scheduling play dates for them which gives them the motivation they need to get it done.  They have been racing one another to see who can accomplish their goals for the day first.  :)

All I ask is that the house be clean.....

As I look around my persistently cluttered and messy house, I sigh and wish for something more, something nicer, cleaner, less cluttered.  This constant clutter is so draining and eventually saps my motivation to even try to keep up with it.  With three small children I realize that the constant small toys and art projects in various stages are my reality for now. I am so tired of the need to remind them to clean up after themselves. Seriously how many times in one weekend can we do a massive clean up of  the same room? I am constantly stepping on or around blocks, toy cars, tiny doll accessories etc.  I have tried taking pictures of the toys and labeling the bins they belong in, bought cabinets for the playroom to store the board games but in the end the toys remain scattered across the floor seemingly invisible to my children once they stop playing with them.


I have come to the unavoidable conclusion that perhaps they have too many things to play with.  I am beginning to dread the Christmas holidays knowing that even more toys will come.   I have started to sort through their toys to find the ones rarely played with or that are broken or missing pieces.  The broken or incomplete ones will be tossed out.  The ones in good condition need to go.  I think we will  have a garage sale if I ever can find a free weekend with good weather to hold one.  Still other toys I think will be moved into storage in the basement  to be rotated upstairs periodically.  Perhaps if they have less toys to play with they will be better able to keep them clean.

I dream of a day when I will be able to walk through a room without needing to step over toys, and to be able to simply turn the vacuum on and clean the carpet without needing to ask the kids to pick their stuff up for the 100th time that day.  Is it really so much to ask????