Many hands…

..make more messes.
As promised, part two of our chore box project is coming right up.

But first, an update:
lacquer
Thank you Mr. Webster.

On to the chore cards:

Huge disclaimer! I have chosen chores that are right for my family. What works for mine might not work for yours. We have been working together for a long time. All of the following chores are within the range of my seven year old as long as I remember that the results will look like they were done by a seven year old. My objective is to teach, not to have a perfect home.

I use recipe cards with the chore written out on them. When needed, I write further directions on the back.
Along one edge of the card I have colored a stripe;
purple for Newt’s chores:

• Make your bed
• Clean your bathroom (On back of card: Put things away, spray and wipe sink, spray and wipe counter, clean toilet, clean mirror)
• Take care of your dog (Feed, water, let out)
• Job of the day (M-Poop Patrol: check backyard for doggie-drops, T-*Laundry, W-Poop Patrol, Th-Weed vegetable patch, F-Poop Patrol)

blue stripe for me:

• Make your bed
• Clean your bathroom
• Do one load of laundry
• Homework (scheduling appointments and misc. jobs related to running the home)

and a double stripe (both colors) for chores we do together:

• Unload the dishwasher
• Mom’s choice (Misc – like clean the tub, remove garbage from the car, fridge clean-out, etc.)
• Job of the Day (M-Change sheets, empty garbages, T-Vacuum and Mop, W- Dust, T-File Papers, F- Wash windows)

Making the box together was key because it gave Newt ownership of the project.
We have “Chore Meeting” everyday after breakfast. We pull out and sort the cards then race through our work. When a job is complete, it goes back in the box. When all the cards are put away, we inspect each other’s work.
We don’t spend more than 1/2 an hour on our chores. If it takes longer than that, I evaluate why and make adjustments. If we miss a day now and then, I don’t worry too much about it.
Another huge disclaimer! I have messy closets. My fridge could use a clean-out right now. I do not have a perfectly clean home, nor will I ever. But it is comfortably clean. If you show up unannounced at my door, I’ll let you in. Just don’t look under the beds.

*Newt does do her own laundry. She started when we moved here, a couple of months ago. She no longer needs my supervision. We have a front loading machine which makes it easy for her. Her weekly wash is only about one load, so instead of sorting I have her wash it all together in cold and she tosses in a dye capture sheet. She transfers to the dryer, then folds and puts away. Things sometimes get crammed in her drawer or hung-up all wonky, but I don’t “fix” it. She is learning to do it her way. I am learning to let her. When she starts getting concerned about wrinkled clothes, I’ll teach her to do it more neatly.