chores--how much does it matter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kids help when asked, but it's never been engrained to the point where it's 'automatic'. Any suggestions on how to make it more engrained? What I really wish is they'd see, small things, and help out. Some paper on the floor, pick it up. A few dishes, wash them. Trash can full, empty it. Kitchen table a mess, help clean it up.

Any ideas (other than constantly feeling like I'm either always picking up or pointing things out?). Thanks.

The bolded items never happen at my house. If YOU drop paper on the floor, YOU pick it up. If YOU use a dish, YOU clean it (or put it in the dishwasher). If YOU make a mess, YOU clean it up. There's a sense of personal responsibility here. Heaven forbid my kid ever left a mess on the floor without having some good reason (like a fire or anything involving 911) and for every minute after I noticed the mess, that would be one day of no phone/tv/whatever her currency is. Create the expectation that everyone takes responsibility for themselves.

For messes everyone contributes to, like a full kitchen garbage pail or crumbs on the table after dinner, routine needs to be created. Assign one kid the task of cleaning the kitchen table each night after dinner (and if they wipe the crumbs onto the floor they'll be made to clean the floor) and the other kid the task of emptying the kitchen garbage and putting in a new bag. Then the next week, they switch.

My kid has routines for what she does when. Certain events trigger certain tasks. When I tell DD I'm starting dinner, she knows it's time for her to come empty the kitchen trash and then go take her shower. When she only has two clean pairs of socks/pants, she knows it's time for her to say she needs to do a load of laundry and see if we have enough quarters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I want to sent my kids to Quaker camp! I love that!

Check it out! Family doesn't need to be Quaker. Many traditions are represented there. It's very much a hippie farm, through, no-frills, crunchy, and outdoorsy.
http://bymcamps.org/

[/quote
This looks cool -- I can't find the pricing though, do you recall the cost? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids help when asked, but it's never been engrained to the point where it's 'automatic'. Any suggestions on how to make it more engrained? What I really wish is they'd see, small things, and help out. Some paper on the floor, pick it up. A few dishes, wash them. Trash can full, empty it. Kitchen table a mess, help clean it up.

Any ideas (other than constantly feeling like I'm either always picking up or pointing things out?). Thanks.

The bolded items never happen at my house. If YOU drop paper on the floor, YOU pick it up. If YOU use a dish, YOU clean it (or put it in the dishwasher). If YOU make a mess, YOU clean it up. There's a sense of personal responsibility here. Heaven forbid my kid ever left a mess on the floor without having some good reason (like a fire or anything involving 911) and for every minute after I noticed the mess, that would be one day of no phone/tv/whatever her currency is. Create the expectation that everyone takes responsibility for themselves.

For messes everyone contributes to, like a full kitchen garbage pail or crumbs on the table after dinner, routine needs to be created. Assign one kid the task of cleaning the kitchen table each night after dinner (and if they wipe the crumbs onto the floor they'll be made to clean the floor) and the other kid the task of emptying the kitchen garbage and putting in a new bag. Then the next week, they switch.

My kid has routines for what she does when. Certain events trigger certain tasks. When I tell DD I'm starting dinner, she knows it's time for her to come empty the kitchen trash and then go take her shower. When she only has two clean pairs of socks/pants, she knows it's time for her to say she needs to do a load of laundry and see if we have enough quarters.

Good ideas regarding the instilling of triggers and routines And the consequences of leaving a mess, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh, I want to sent my kids to Quaker camp! I love that!

Check it out! Family doesn't need to be Quaker. Many traditions are represented there. It's very much a hippie farm, through, no-frills, crunchy, and outdoorsy.
http://bymcamps.org/

[/quote
This looks cool -- I can't find the pricing though, do you recall the cost? Thanks.

On the registration page. Some scholarships available too.