Reply to SAHM: please share your chore chart/schedule for keeping on top of household tasks

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Reply to "SAHM: please share your chore chart/schedule for keeping on top of household tasks"

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[quote=Anonymous]I posted a long, detailed response in your other thread, OP, and I'm sad to see it go off the rails.

Obviously, the routine will be different for everyone.  But here's how I came up with mine:

First, think about what the kids need: 
My kids are on a very predictable nap/bedtime schedule.  They eat meals and snacks at specific times.  They need lots of physical activity each day.  They also need something that is a mental challenge each day and they need a little down time each day.  These needs create your framework.  So, e.g., I looked at my kids' basic needs and see:

Wake at 7
Breakfast asap
Kids do best with am physical exertion
Baby nap 9:30-10:30
Snack around 10
Lunch around 1
All 3 Nap/rest time 1:30/2-3:30
Small snack after naps
Dinner at 6
Baths/Bedtime routine 6:30-8

So then I come up with my list of things that happen daily (laundry, wiping counters after meals, sweeping up messes, wiping bathroom sinks, picking up toys, food prep/cooking) and weekly (sweep/mop/vacuum all floors, change sheets, clean bathrooms, shopping for food, errands). I have a monthly housecleaner for the real deep cleaning stuff.

Then I look at my lists and figure out what can be multitasked with childcare best.
Daily:
laundry--easily done while kids are awake.  I may even have them help!
wiping counters after meals/sweeping up messes/wiping bathroom sinks--I do these things as the messes are made
picking up toys--this one is mostly the kids' job, so I just need to choose set times in our routine to make sure it happens.
food prep--this can be done while the kids are ensconced at the table/high chair when I am already in the kitchen.  I just have to make the next meal while they eat the last one.
Dishes--again, these can mostly be done while the kids eat
cooking--The kids can help to some extent, but this is MUCH easier without "help," so it goes on the naptime list.

Weekly:
sweep/mop/vacuum all floors--this is a pain to do with kids around so it is a naptime chore
change sheets--naptime
clean bathrooms--naptime
shopping for food, errands--these can be done with kids in tow.  They become part of the activity for the day.[/quote]

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