Kids and Chores

In my house, chores are applied for and awarded according to experience and age. We have a bulletin board with a 4X6 picture of each member of the family. Next to each picture is the card for the Daily Job and the Weekly Job that has been selected
by that family member. I keep an index card box filled with Help Wanted cards.

Each Help Wanted card includes detailed instructions on how each job should be done. We have plenty of age appropriate jobs from Fish Feeder to Car Washer.
Lots of Kids has an awesome article on age appropriate chores. (My kids do a lot of the older kid stuff like folding and putting away their own laundry. They've been making their own beds since turning 4. They load and unload the dishwasher etc)

Daily Chores are done at the appropriate time of day. (Table setter at lunch and dinner. Librarian, who shelves books at bedtime) Weekly Chores are done on Saturday or whenever worker and I agree upon. I also emphasize that all materials used for job must be returned to proper place. I find the detailed instructions to be critical to getting the job done correctly and thoroughly and without need for parental nagging.

Here are some examples of my Help Wanted cards. Unfortunately, I used a Greeting Card program to make these. If I can get them into Word, I'll make the file available.
(My Dog Feeder card has not been updated.)




Now, these jobs are in addition to their regular daily routine of making beds, cleaning up after themselves etc.