OOOOT Chores for children
Angela Wilkins
one is 6 and one turns 4 in Oct. I'm looking for things my 6yoDS can do to
earn money to try and start teaching him to save up for things instead of
being like his parents. Right now the only things I can think of are
cleaning his room, vacuuming, and taking out the trash. Is there anything
else that anyone can think of that either of them can do? Thanks for all
your input in advance.
--
Angela
in the UK
"So much time and so little to see...Strike that, reverse it"- Gene Wilder
in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Lawbag
Sorting and matching socks from laundry <good way for little ones to learn
to match sizes and colors>
Feeding, watering, walking any pets <except maybe Cujo>
Setting the table for meals
Putting away silverware from the dishwasher
Helping with yardwork, such as pulling weeds
Sweeping off porch, sidewalk, etc.
Good for you! I think children are never to young to learn to be helpful and
learn to enjoy being of service to others.
Connie and the little Ragamuffin
Angela Wilkins wrote in message <7qagpn$9nd$2...@news4.svr.pol.co.uk>...
Bobbie V.
Allow him to watch the expiration dates and sort them by categories.
If he finds an item that is on sale and a coupon for an item not
normally bought it is a great lesson. I allowed DS to Keep the
savings. My son did this and organized my shopping list for years(i
paid him additional bonus for these as he grew older). He was a picky
eater and later would plan one meal (including the shopping and
preparation of it). DS was 6 or 7 when he started and did this until
he was out of high school. He still check my list on college breaks
and sticks the coupons to it.
Bobbie V.
posted and emailed
Angela / Kentucky
probably have to make sure you have some very light packages the younger
child can carry :-) The twins get upset if they can't carry some.
I have a 'piggy' bank for each grand-child and after I pay them they ask for
their bank and deposit their money. This is being saved for Christmas
presents they give.
The other posts seem to have covered most of the things I can think of.
--
--
Angela V.
Elizabethtown, KY USA
Angela Wilkins <geneal...@wilkins26.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7qagpn$9nd$2...@news4.svr.pol.co.uk...
Terri Carl
first one was feeding the cat! The cat was older, and not thrilled with
being chased around by a 4-yr-old, but when my son started feeding him,
it created a bond. :-D More, it encouraged my son to learn to care for
animals and think about whether they have what they need. He got other
chores as he got older, of course, but I think this one was the most
inspired.
The good part about giving the older child more responsibility is that
the younger child will also be inspired -- my daughter declared when she
was four that SHE was going to be the cat person now! Chores as
privileges -- I wish they were all that way...
Terri
Angela Wilkins wrote:
>
> Hello everyone, I need a little advice if you please. I have two children
> one is 6 and one turns 4 in Oct. I'm looking for things my 6yoDS can do to
> earn money to try and start teaching him to save up for things instead of
> being like his parents. Right now the only things I can think of are
> cleaning his room, vacuuming, and taking out the trash. Is there anything
> else that anyone can think of that either of them can do? Thanks for all
> your input in advance.
>
> --
> Angela
> in the UK
>
> "So much time and so little to see...Strike that, reverse it"- Gene Wilder
> in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
--
Terri Carl
ter...@neosoft.com
Jmgreenfld
I have all three of my children (ages 5, 9, 11) help keep our cars clean -
picking up trash, vacuuming, washing (with help!), etc. We spend a lot of time
in Mom's Taxi, and the van tends to get disgustingly dirty at times!
They have other chores, too, which were pretty much covered by other posts.
The only other one I can think of is having your son make his bed - I basically
ask the kids to straighten their blankets in the morning. By no means are the
beds perfectly made, but at least the covers and pillows are in the right
places!
-JoyceG in WA
Angela in the UK asked:
<snip>
Jeff + Amanda Holmes
you'll end up with polish everywhere) and let him dust the end tables, coffee
table etc. It's pretty easy and they do a good job.
Amanda
Angela Wilkins wrote:
> Hello everyone, I need a little advice if you please. I have two children
> one is 6 and one turns 4 in Oct. I'm looking for things my 6yoDS can do to
> earn money to try and start teaching him to save up for things instead of
> being like his parents. Right now the only things I can think of are
> cleaning his room, vacuuming, and taking out the trash. Is there anything
> else that anyone can think of that either of them can do? Thanks for all
> your input in advance.
>
Ljen25
from school and tell them that we are going grocery shopping. They both pipe
up at the same time "Can we help take in the groceries?" They love it. I
don't know how long that will last, but I enjoy the help (without hearing "Oh,
do we have to?" while it lasts.
My son is 4 (turning 5 in October) and my daughter is 3 (she'll be 4 in Dec
actually Dec 31)
Jen
United in stitches we grow!
Kim McAnnally
clean his room. She points out that an adult won't work without pay, might as
well teach him to work early and what the benifits are. Good point. But I kind
of hate to pay for something that *I* do constantly for nothing!! (kind of
irritated right now - I spent 3 hours cleaning crayon off the walls Friday and
it's right back on them today - thanks to 2.5 yr old DS - He's too young to
scrub it off) Thought about offering to pay DD for it, but she is of the
mindset "I can't do it" about virtually everything!
<sigh>
Kim
n our house nobody
>gets paid for doing what needs to be done - but you miss out on money if you
>don't help! (I came up with this because I didn't want my kids to grow up
>with the attitude that they would only do something around the house if they
>got paid for it).
Come see the Firefly Fairies Fabric Scan!
<http://members.aol.com/fabrics2u/fabric.html>
Lesa & Mark Steele
so much about parenting...taking what I like and discarding the rest. :-))
Lesa
____________________________
LS Designs
http://members.home.net/msteele3
Intro to Hardanger kits coming soon!
Angela / Kentucky
allowed to say "I can't do it" anymore :-) They may say...I'm having
trouble...or I need help...anything along that line...but absolutely NOT
Can't. ( Along with shutup or hate)
It's finally starting to sink in...took a long while though! Ashley was
particularly bad about it (now 7) and it has changed her 'perspective' and
attitude. She now tries harder before coming to me for help. Also, when
she asks for help the first thing I do is ask her opinion. At least half
the time she already has the answer but not enough faith in herself to
believe she actually knows the answer :-) That also is improving.
Being a grandmother is great! I have the time to work on the things with
her that I didn't have time to deal with as a single mother.
--
--
Angela V.
Elizabethtown, KY USA
Kim McAnnally <fabr...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990829194738...@ngol05.aol.com...
JOSEPH HELLER
Great idea, Good Luck, my "children" are 18and 16, They want mim.wage
per hour for anything they do here!
Thanks,Virginia
jennifer
My 8yr old gets $5.00 a week pocket money, but if she DOESN'T help out
around the house during the week (doing whatever chore I ask her to do),
then she only gets $4.00.
I explained to her that our family is a FAMILY and that we all have to do
things around the house to keep life running smoothly. In our house nobody
gets paid for doing what needs to be done - but you miss out on money if you
don't help! (I came up with this because I didn't want my kids to grow up
with the attitude that they would only do something around the house if they
got paid for it).
Sometimes if it's a really big chore or something really unusual then she
will get extra pocket money at the end of the week.
With regards
Jennifer
Angela Wilkins <geneal...@wilkins26.freeserve.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7qagpn$9nd$2...@news4.svr.pol.co.uk...
Stef
are jobs that they have to do every day. These are mostly things for
themselves like putting their ironing away and making their own beds.
Once these are ticked off (I have a list that I made using a Works
Spreadsheet) they can go on to the next level which are paid jobs. They
get Ł1 for cleaning the living room, kitchen and my bedroom and 50p each
for the bathroom, hall, toilet and outside. On Saturday I settle up but
they must bring me their completed and ticked (by me) lists because
otherwise I lose track. I pay them by cheque which they put in their
bank books. This means that they have to wait for the money to clear so
they tend to save it more. When I know that there is something they
have set their hearts on I kind of make up jobs for them.
There are also jobs that only my 14yo is allowed to do like ironing.
She does this for free but feels she is privileged. It makes me feel
like a real cunning manipulator when I hear my 10yo whining because
she's not allowed to use the iron.
I used to keep chores and allowances separate because in my heart of
hearts I know that they should be doing these things anyway but for us
this way works best.
stef -Hounslow, England
WIP - Sunflower on Blue needlepoint from Albany Hill
InStitches
Just thought I'd share a great tip I learned. Rubbing alcohol dissolves
crayons. My DD left a broken crayon in the hallway and of course I stepped
on it, grinding it into my carpet (crayon was dark blue, carpet is rose).
Anyway, after trying Resolve, Era, Orvus, etc. Nothing could hide it.
Faded it maybe, but not removed it. Anyway, I was telling DM about it and
DS piped up that rubbing alcohol works. Being leery of putting it on a spot
for fear of fading the carpet, it tried it in a piece in the closet. No
fading. Armed with an old sock soaked in alcohol, I rubbed the spot gently
and miraculously it came up in no time. It also works on walls (my other DS
needed to try this as her kids are budding Picasos). No scrubbing involved!
--
InStitches
"Count twice, stitch once."
WIP: Sweet Dreams (L&L)
Hardanger (Ornaments, Bookmarks & Table Runner)
X/USA/H3+/X4/0/1R/XRH/OHSQF/:-D~/S/G/W+/D/M+/B/b/R+/S+/K-/E+/?/C+/S.
Segal/Koontz & Cussler/Dove Promises
Kim McAnnally <fabr...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:19990829194738...@ngol05.aol.com...
> I'm struggling with that decision now. SIL pays her 3 year old $1 a day to
> clean his room. She points out that an adult won't work without pay, might
as
> well teach him to work early and what the benifits are. Good point. But I
kind
> of hate to pay for something that *I* do constantly for nothing!! (kind of
> irritated right now - I spent 3 hours cleaning crayon off the walls Friday
and
> it's right back on them today - thanks to 2.5 yr old DS - He's too young
to
> scrub it off) Thought about offering to pay DD for it, but she is of the
> mindset "I can't do it" about virtually everything!
> <sigh>
> Kim
>
> n our house nobody
> >gets paid for doing what needs to be done - but you miss out on money if
you
> >don't help! (I came up with this because I didn't want my kids to grow
up
> >with the attitude that they would only do something around the house if
they
> >got paid for it).
>
>
Jennifer Aikman-Smith/Nicholas Smith
While I am eagerly awaiting the day that the two girls can help glue
and fold leaflets to earn some extra money....Erin has already been
doing a few chores since she was three.
We have a "one toy gets put away before another comes out" rule and on
Sunday nights, everybody's room has to be tidy before the week starts.
She takes great delight in catching us when our room is messy! :)
She helps fold laundry and pulls the comforter up to make her bed, sets
the table and clears her own place. The only other job she loves to
help with is "poopie patrol" (she is facinated with Beth's diapers and
loves to yell pheeeeeeewwww! when it's a stinky!)
In our house chores are done because we are all part of the family and
have to help out, but extra tasks will earn money down the road. Right
now she has her own collection envelopes for church and bank account
where her pennies and other coins get deposited. She gets to decide how
much goes where. The only money that has no restrictions are the loonie
or twoonie (our one dollar and two dollar coins here in Canada) coins
that her grandparents or godparents slip her to "buy treats" with.
The thing to remember is to choose the advice that best suits your
parenting style and then discard the rest as "helpful but not
applicable". Advice is what you receive from others. Values are what
you choose to adopt for your own family... that become your family's
rules and traditions.
Good luck,
Jennifer Aikman-Smith, Dragon Dreams inc
Kim McAnnally
that with a pen) but hadn't tried it on crayon. I'll try it right away!
Kim
>>Just thought I'd share a great tip I learned. Rubbing alcohol dissolves
>crayons. My DD left a broken crayon in the hallway and of course I stepped
>on it, grinding it into my carpet (crayon was dark blue, carpet is rose).
>Anyway, after trying Resolve, Era, O
Fred & Jennifer Gilligan
(pulling up the sheets and comforter is enough for the younger one) and keep
their rooms clean. The oldest also has to clear the dinner table by taking
everything off it and putting it either in the fridge or on the counter. That
earns them their weekly allowance. They also can earn extra money (a quarter
at a time) by helping me -- emptying the dryer, taking things up and down the
stairs, taking stuff out of cabinets/fridge/etc. when I am cleaning those
places out, dusting (I spray the Endust, they wipe), etc. I find it is easiest
for them if they do one part of a chore at a time -- such as when we clean out
their dressers -- I tell my DS (4 yr old) to find all of the Star Wars toys and
put them in one pile. When that's done, I tell him to find all of the cars and
put them in another pile, etc.
HTH,
Jennifer
Smallbear
>
>On Mon, 30 Aug 1999 10:44:58 -0400, "InStitches"
><instit...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>Just thought I'd share a great tip I learned. Rubbing
>>alcohol dissolves crayons. My DD left a broken
>>crayon in the hallway and of course I stepped
>>on it, grinding it into my carpet (crayon was dark
>>blue, carpet is rose).
>
>Hadn't heard that - will have to try it. I use a citrus-based product
>called Goo Gone on crayons and anything sticky and have had great luck
>with it. Unfortunately it isn't up to getting rid of the black oil
>pastel one of the kids ground into the beige carpet upstairs!
I don't believe we ever "did in" the carpeting with crayons as
children, but we did "ahem" take the hall wall as a palette once, and
I also added my own "artistic touches" to the handmade toychest with
hand-drawn decorations that my grandfather made for me.
Mom just whipped out the toothpaste. She swears by toothpaste as a
crayon remover on paint, wallpaper, and even colored-over pencil
drawings! I'm glad it worked too...as a five year old, I am sure I
thought my "additions" to Grandaddy's work were superb, as a grownup,
I am now thankful to have this heirloom from my grandfather's workshop
(the only carpentry piece we have left that he made) intact without
childhood scribbles!
Next time the kids draw on the walls, try a bit of Colgate! Or was it
Crest? I don't think it really matters, actually.......:)
Carolyn the (confines artistic leanings to computer now) Small Bear
Too Sisters Designs
http://www.toosisters.com
Aramanth Dawe
>Hello everyone, I need a little advice if you please. I have two children
>one is 6 and one turns 4 in Oct. I'm looking for things my 6yoDS can do to
>earn money to try and start teaching him to save up for things instead of
>being like his parents. Right now the only things I can think of are
>cleaning his room, vacuuming, and taking out the trash. Is there anything
>else that anyone can think of that either of them can do? Thanks for all
>your input in advance.
>--
>Angela
>in the UK
>"So much time and so little to see...Strike that, reverse it"- Gene Wilder
>in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
I don't yet pay my kids an allowance, and I don't (I may change my
mind later) intend to make the allowance contingent on chores
(although I may take the line of a friend of mine, who sets a minimum
number of chores to be done each week, any extras done earn extra
allowance).
Anyway, my 3yo and 4yo already do quite a lot around the home. They
set the table for meals (sometimes need a little help there, but
they're getting it), they help carry in the groceries. They love to
help me make the beds (and are getting quite good at it, too). When
I'm washing up the dishes, they dry all the non-breakables (pots,
plasticware, cooking utensils other than knives, etc) and the older
one is starting to be able to handle china as well. They help me tidy
the toys at the end of the day, help me move the furniture so I can
vacuum. When I've finished sorting and folding the laundry, they
carry it to the bedrooms/linen cupboard and help put it away.
In short, encourage the children to do anything that is not physically
dangerous for them. It might not be *well* done the first few dozen
times they try, but they are learning. The more they can see
themselves as contributing to the life of the household the better!
Aramanth
--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
X/AUS/H++/X4X3/1C,pond of F/X,Bw,H,N/H,S/:-X+:-D~/L/G-/W+/D/M/B/b++/
R-/S-/K/E/Nightcrawler/too many to list/RPG/apples and cheese
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa Richards
asking $30 for a cup and a half of their "miracle cleanser". You can get a
gallon of the stuff for just a couple of bucks at Home Depot or the like. And it
cleans _everything_, pretty safely. I might do a hidden test area on things that
matter, like my carpet or clothing. Good on crayons, grease, stickum from price
tags, etc.
Lisa
InStitches wrote:
> Kim:
>
> Just thought I'd share a great tip I learned. Rubbing alcohol dissolves
> crayons. My DD left a broken crayon in the hallway and of course I stepped
> on it, grinding it into my carpet (crayon was dark blue, carpet is rose).
Karen Thompson
living room, puts away the silver from the DW, folds and puts away his
clean clothes, cleans the windows of our French doors in the kitchen,
cleans the sink and mirror in both bathrooms, feeds the cats and dusts
the end tables and the piano. These are his chores every week, and he
doesn't get paid for them.
He gets an allowance (very small) that is independent of chores. This
way, there is no thought of "well, I don't really need the money that
badly this week; I won't do them). The chores are part of being a
family (and he often complains that Dad doesn't have as many chores!).
From his allowance, a certain amount is supposed to go in his bank, a
small amount goes into the basket at church, and the rest he can spend
as he gets it. Most of the time, he ends up saving that part, too,
and saves up for a special toy.
From time to time, if he is looking to earn extra money for something
special, we think up some extra things for him to do, like picking up
rocks in our backyard, where we're working on landscaping, or helping
us wash the cars, etc.
Karen
On Sun, 29 Aug 1999 06:39:00 +0100, "Angela Wilkins"
Gspring142
>>one is 6 and one turns 4 in Oct. I'm looking for things my 6yoDS can do to
>>earn money to try and start teaching him to save up for things instead of
>>being like his parents.
I have 2 girls ages 6 & 8. They put away clean laundry, clean out the
dishwasher (what they can), dust, weed the garden with me, vaccuum, sweep, feed
animals, make their beds. These are daily chores, not linked to their
allowance. I give that no matter what. If you don't do a good job at work,
you usually still get paid, so I think the kids should get the allowance and be
told that chores are part of life. Any rebuke and I point out that Mommy has
the most chores and Daddy works hard at work to pay the bills. They save their
allowance or spend it, it's up to them, but when they want things, they know
that when their money is gone, save more, don't turn to Mom.
Greta
Tara and James Grosbach
<geneal...@wilkins26.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
>Hello everyone, I need a little advice if you please. I have two children
>one is 6 and one turns 4 in Oct. I'm looking for things my 6yoDS can do to
>earn money to try and start teaching him to save up for things instead of
>being like his parents. Right now the only things I can think of are
>cleaning his room, vacuuming, and taking out the trash. Is there anything
>else that anyone can think of that either of them can do? Thanks for all
>your input in advance.
I use this idea with my 8 year old all the time. The only difference
is, what he gets paid for are extra chores. Things like making his
bed and cleaning his room are his responsiblility, not something he
earns extra rewards for. (I was afraid of giving him the idea that he
should be rewarded for _everything_ he does, or if there wasn't a
reward or payment coming, then he didn't need to do it. )
Possible chores: emptying the dishwasher, setting the table, etc.
One other thing we do at my house, the job must be done well in order
to earn a reward. (or at least reasonably, how well depends on the
individual child's age and abilities.) Eg: When emptying the
dishwasher the silverware needs to be sorted into the drawer, not just
thrown in etc.
HTH,
TJ