Teaching Children Responsibility

Posted by Erica | 0 comments

Are you constantly running around like a chicken with your head cut off? Do you spend most of your day running from one mess to the next, barely keeping up? Do you see all those kids over there lounging on the couch while you clean their smashed goldfish crackers? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then read on!

I’m always looking for ways to teach my kids responsibility, and frankly I needed something more visual for everyone so we don’t forget, slack, or ignore all the household chores that need to be done! Not to mention the fact that I was also losing a bit of my sanity with each Lego I stepped on. Enter the Interactive Kid’s Chore Chart!

Click here to download the Chore Chart Cards

I put the assigned Monday – Friday task cards in the 2nd – 6th slots. When a task is completed, the child can turn the card backwards and place it behind the remaining task cards for the day. (I used one color for each day just to try and keep things straight). At the end of the day, I look to see which tasks are completed and switch them out with reward tickets.

At the end of the day or week, I allow my children to spend their tickets on items in a small prize box (gum, candy, erasers, pencils, 5 Minutes iPhone time, etc). Instead of a prize box, you could also choose to let your kids exchange their tickets for money, we pay $0.25/ticket. This way they can save their money for something they want to buy, and we also encourage them to tithe and save some of it as well.

If your child completes all the assigned tasks in a day, they receive a sticker on the reward card in the 7th slot. Once that reward card is full, they can exchange it for something more special like a larger prize box selection. I use things like mini-Lego sets, Pet-Shop’s, Polly Pockets, computer time, TV time, Wii Time, etc. Really the prizes are up to you. I charge my kids roughly the same price I paid for the item. For example, our tickets are worth $0.25 each so they would pay 20 tickets for a $5 prize.

I also included “Best Bee-havior” cards that you can reward when your child has displayed a good attitude for the entire day, helping others, being kind to siblings, or anything else you deem as outstanding behavior. These are very special for our family and are handed out only for very good behavior. They can be redeemed for something fancier like a trip for ice cream or to a sleep over.

I also have a Chore Chart for younger kids that is a little less intimidating and easier for them to use. For this one, they have one set of cards, that they flip over when done. I’ll swap them out for a ticket at the end of the day, then flip their cards back over for the next day.

Longing for some structure in your home? Click for downloads and to see detailed instructions on how to implement this idea in your home today!

Erica is a daughter of Jesus, a wife, a mom, and a homeschooler. She likes to digiscrap and dabbles in graphic design in her *free* time. She authors Confessions of a Homeschooler and would love you to drop by for a visit anytime!