Extra Chore Ideas for an 8-Year Old

I do not know what chores she already does. but here are some ideas.
1 fold laundry
2. Dishes, set the table
3. Help clean out and organize a closet.
4. Make beds.
5. Dust & vacuum
6. do you have any animals? if so let her feed them and change the water.
7. Clean the batroom or Tub, or sink, or toilet.
8. Help with the grocery shopping. Teach her how to make a list so that you get the things you need. Maybe even have her help find coupons. Have the butcher explain the different cuts of meat and what they are used for.

I realize that all of this would be too much, but the learning is what she will get from it would be priceless.

You would not believe how many parents do not give chores to their kids. But chores are how they learn to be independent. Also with providing money also teach her to save 10% of it.. it will teach her money skills and learn how to save for the future.

Good luck

NW this is a great idea. Having her help work to replace items does teach the value of money. it gives her a sense of accomplishment also. Make a chart which shows how much any given job is worth. and stick to your guns. she will learn to take better care of her items. jobs our kids did at that age are

sweeping the kitchen floor
wiping the table after meals
setting the table (silver ware, plates, condiments etc)
clearing and rinsing dishes
loading / unloading dishwasher
emptying small trashcans in the bathrooms (we kept jewel bags in them to make emptying easier
sorting the laundry
folding laundry (mostly towels and their own clothing)
picking up sticks and stuff out of the yard
dusting
wiping chair legs and backs down
dusting the mini blinds

these are all easy things but they seem like big work to an 8 year old. and you always have to check them when they are done lol. but its a start.
S.

I think you're headed in the right direction! Good for you.

I'm not keen on the idea of paying her to do chores, but working to earn her stuff back is a great idea...if YOU found it. If she has truly lost it (as in you don't know where it is/gone forever) then maybe she doesn't deserve a replacement?

As far as chore ideas:
- laundry
- dishes
- hand washing the floors and bathroom
- dusting
- vacuuming
- window washing
- cleaning out a storage area/repackaging all the holiday boxes
- washing your car

Also, what about volunteer work? Seeing how less privileged kids have to live might help her start appreciating what she has. Go to a homeless shelter, food pantry/soup kitchen, etc. Of course, you and Dad could go with her. Make sure she meets some of the kids there and gets a chance to talk with them. Not only do people not have "stuff", what they do have they have to drag around from place to place, they need food, don't have money for clothes and extras and have no privacy. A little perspective may help her be more appreciative. If this is presented in the right light - giving/helping those less fortunate as a family experience, there may be an added lesson learned.

Good luck!

PS Thought of another one this weekend - what about volunteering her time at the library? She can reshelve materials, sort donations, or whatever they need. You could also consider Goodwill or another group that accepts donations.

How do you lose something at your mom's house? Did her mom throw it in the laundry and misplace it? It seems a little harsh to make her pay for something that's outside her control.

Not saying chores are bad, just saying that it is really normal to lose clothes! I have about 10 items of clothing here that I'm trying to get back to their owners (from sleepovers, taking sweaters off, whatever. These are 9 and 10 year old boys, but still. (and you should see the school lost and found - bursting at the seams with stuff.) Now I feel really horrible that my kids' friends parents might be making them do chores to pay for stuff that's sitting here! (but I'm not sure who it belongs to, haven't seen the parents recently, etc.)

But having said that, we also use chores as consequences sometimes. There are a lot of little things that we don't get to as often that a kid can do, and those are my favorite jobs to give them. Dusting. Washing the fronts of the kitchen cabinets and refrigerator. Washing the inside of lower windows/french doors (that they can reach.) Using the crevice tool on the vacuum to get the tops of the baseboards and the carpet on the stairs. All those little things that are a pain to do, but not a horribly difficult job for a kid.