Chorepack Update

Our family uses the Chorepack system by Teri and Steve Maxwell. It is a neat system to help kids learn to do chores and eventually, do them independently without reminders from mom (we can all dream can't we?). We started using these last summer and the kids loved it. We continued on through the school year and after a while, the kids had memorized their chores and didn't even need to wear the chorepacks at certain times.

I've made some updates and changed chores, since over the past year, they've increased their work load as well as what they can accomplish on their own. It's great to see them improve and learn new things (as well as getting a little help around the house!). I have noticed a big difference in how well our house stays nice since implementing this system. It takes time, especially if your kids are young because you do have to go through the teaching process and not worry if it's done correctly the first time (or the second, or the third...). This was a test of patience for me. (:

Okay, first of all, here are the original posts on how we use these and also how I made the cards.

Now for the updates. We still have the three chore times- two times per day and a weekly chore time. The morning chore time is every day after breakfast, the afternoon chore time is every day after nap time and our weekly chore time is on Fridays. In the past we did our weekly chores on Saturday, but we have recently started observing the Sabbath on Saturday so we do not do work on that day. We switched our weekly chore day to Friday or Preparation Day. The kids do Friday chores instead of their Daily Afternoon chores for that day. This is also the day I usually do my weekly chores (no, I don't wear a chorepack, but maybe I should! LOL!) but now that Luke, my three year old, is staring chores, I have to teach him and help him for a while so I will have to be extra diligent the rest of the week to get mine done first. (:

I have also changed many of the chores the kids do. Here's a list of what they will now do for each chore time.

ZACHARY, AGE 8
Daily Morning Chores
1- Get Dressed
2- Brush Teeth/Hair
3- Make Bed
4- Pick up room
5- Bible reading and Prayer

Daily Afternoon Chores
1- Pick up Family Room
2- each day they have a different chore for #2
Su-Sheets off bed
M- Shoes away in cubbies
T- Vacuum Family Room
W- Pick up Basement toys
Th- Chore at Grandma and Grandpa's (who we visit every week)-they just do a small chore to help them out, whatever they need done.
3- Pick up room
4- Help with dishes after dinner
5- Swiffer wood floor after dinner

Friday Chores
1- Clean kids bathroom (with Katelyn)
2- Windex front door and french doors
3- Clean room- dust and vacuum
4- Swiffer wood floor and empty filter
5- Wipe down dining room chairs (I will clean/polish tabletop)

KATELYN, AGE 6
Daily Morning Chores- same as Zachary

Daily Afternoon Chores
1- Unload Dishwasher (silverwear and plastic dishes only)
2- S- Put laundry away (I'll have it sorted by room and she'll take it to that room)
M- Bring down trash cans from rooms
T- Wipe down kitchen appliances
W- Straighten kids book corner
Th-Chore and Grandma and Grandpa's
3- Pick up room
4- Help with dishes after dinner
5- Pick up family room before bed

Friday Chores
1- Clean bathroom (with Zachary)
2- Windex patio door
3- Clean room- dust and vacuum
4- Vacuum Family Room
5- Wipe down kitchen table and chairs (with Luke)

LUKE, AGE 3
Daily Morning Chores- Same as other kids, with my help

Daily Afternoon Chores- since this is his first go at this, I designed his cards as more of "helper" for now so he sees how things are done. It's also neat to have the kids "mentor" him on what they know. Also, after he gets more independent, I'll give him his own chores and use pictures so he can "read" them himself. (:

1- Pick up Family Room with Zach
2- Help Zach and Katelyn with their chores
3- Pick up room
4- Help Mom clear table after dinner
5- Pick up Family Room with Katelyn before bed

Friday Chores
1- Help mom take down dirty laundry
2- Windex curio cabinet
3- Clean room and dust (Mom vacuums)
4- Pick up Family Room
5- Wash kitchen table and chairs with Katelyn

We plan on starting the new chores on the first day of school later this month! I'll let you know how it goes! (: