Morning Chore Accountability Idea- Made Simple

 

 

 

Mornings with my kids used to be so stressful and unproductive.  I couldn't get them to do the SAME things as I verbally told them.  My son wouldn't get dressed and my daughter was always running around not sure what to do even though I kept telling her.  So, I needed to come up with a system where I was not the one to tell them what to do. 

 

I have tried many chore systems to help my kids in the morning before breakfast: stickers, magnets, charts, etc.  Nothing has worked!  I needed something that would help them to be independent, accountable and that was something they could do themselves.  I didn't want to have to keep up with it.

 

So, I came up with this stick and ball idea. 

 

Here's how it works:

*Each child has a 2 jars (small and large), sticks with chores on them and a bunch of puff balls (I count them to make sure there are a sufficient amount).

*On the sticks I write chores that need to be done BEFORE breakfast.  Most are quick and easy, but some take a few minutes longer.

*Each night or in the morning before they get up I put out their sticks.

*When they get up, they do everything on their sticks.  When they get a stick job done, they put it in the little jar. 

*At breakfast, they count up the sticks and put that many balls in the big jar.  I also keep the extra balls in a baggie in the same big jar.

*When the jar is filled and baggie is empty they get a reward- dollar store purchase, candy, any special prize I think of.

*It takes them about 2-3 weeks to fill the jar.

*Then we put all the sticks back in the big jar and put the little jar on top.  ALL DONE!  I only have to put out the sticks and the kids take care of the rest!  Simple, easy and the jobs get done.

 

So, what are the job?

*Get dressed

*Breakfast (set it out)

*Fill water bottles

*Feed and water cat

*Laundry (bring it down)

*Dishwasher (unload)

*Bed sheets (take them off and bring down)

*Check in with mom

 

They do not do all these every day, but I have them do about 4-6.

 

This has made our mornings (mostly) smooth, the kids are working and being responsible for their own jobs.  It's amazing!  I've been doing this for about a month and it works so well. 

 

And my kids, well, they like it and they are very proud of themselves and so am I.

 

Happy kids!


I do have a different system for other household chores that we do after breakfast which is even more simple, but I'll share that in another post.