One tough nut in every family is the dreaded CHORE word!  I help so many moms to come up with ways to uniquely implement a successful chore system in in their home – but there are several components that are universal for parents to consider.

Below are a few highlighted tips covered in one of my most popular Blog Talk Radio Episodes on Chores.  The audio is packed with good information and is just at 15 minutes – so grab a basket of laundry or a cup of coffee and listen in.  I would love for you to share your own tips on how you have successfully handled chores in your home too – please leave a comment for other moms.

Consider these areas when considering how a chore system will flow in your home.

Evaluate

You will want to consider the ages of your children, their current abilities and development as well as what areas you would like to see them challenged in.  Chores are a way of helping build life skills in our children, so find ways to challenge them a bit out of their comfort zone too.

Expectations

Clear, concise and consistent expectations will help tremendously in the success of any chore system in your home.  Decide on daily and weekly chores, post them clearly, have a deadline for completion and do not NAG to get chores completed.

Coordinator

It is often very helpful to have one person “in charge” of chores in your home.  On person to “inspect” to make sure chores are accomplished both correctly and on time.  Also, their is no difference of expectation on how a task should be completed if you have different people sharing this responsibility.  How I think a bathroom should be cleaned may not be how my husband thinks it should be, so it could become very confusing for my child.

Rotate

Give children the opportunity to change chores.  Rotate tasks between children and even go so far as to ask them what chores they like doing.  Giving them an opportunity to have a say in what actually happens tends to provide more inspiration to comply.

If you are wondering what chores to start with in your home, consider some of the tasks found in the Weekly Household Planner, many of these are perfect for you to delegate to little ones and NOT so little ones!

Photo Credit

Practical Tips for Kids Chores is a post from: The Confident Mom

Have you signed up for - "The Opening Act - Becoming a Calm, Cool and Confident Mom."

This week’s task for Saturday in the Weekly Household Planner:  Straighten car interior (trash, vacuum)

I don’t know about you, but I can be in a much happier mood doing carpool when my car is clean!  It is often hard to keep up with this task, but when you have a regular schedule for picking up inside the car, it will be much easier to maintain.

This task is perfect for younger kids – remember that word delegate?  Even 4 year old can go out in the car and help find trash and items that do not belong in the car.  Give them a small bag and even have a contest to see how much they can find.  Then grab the vacuum and do a quick once over.  I also take a damp rag and wipe down the dashboard and clean my steering wheel off – it is amazing how dirty it gets!

Go one step further and pick up a few air fresheners so you can have them on hand to replace as you tidy up your vehicles.  Getting all your senses involved is a good thing, clean car + fresh scent = happy carpooling mama!

For some other tips on keeping your car in “user friendly” condition, you’ll want to read:  Tips for the Mom Chauffeur.

Photo Credit

Weekly Household Quick Tip is a post from: The Confident Mom

Have you signed up for - "The Opening Act - Becoming a Calm, Cool and Confident Mom."