Help w/Chore List

find "What Every Child Should Know along the Way" by Gail Martin.

Great suggestions for life skills taught at what age and regular chores that are age appropriate.

I think he's doing great with what he is already doing. Two things come to mind. One would be to add a "fun" chore like vacuming. My boys both loved to vacume, and for them to seee the difference it made was rewarding. Also, you could start having him help you unload the dishwasher and set and clear the table. If you start by doing it together he will soon be able to do it himself, but it won't seem like a chore, it will just be part of being a responsible family member.

My second grader unloads the dishwasher and does a great job. This is a chore for about every other day in our household. I also consider that my son does his homework without me having to ask or nag or whatever a task well done, so add that to your 8 year old's duties, too. Getting himself up and ready for school is impressive! You guys are off to a great start! :)

Hi,
Hope you're still interested in a resource - Christine Field wrote a book called Life Skills for Kids that has a great chart of age appropriate jobs around the house - children are capable of so much more than we usually think - it just takes us thinking it through - like you are doing right now - and then training them. There are so many good reasons for them to learn these skills early -
hope this helps!
A.

I sat down with my kids and a big board and asked them (5 and 8)what chores they thought they would be good at, turned it into kind of cool thing to talk about! You would be surprised at the excitement they had about coming up with things on their own, and they feel good about making decisions instead of being told what to do!

you're off to a good start already.
my 9yo daughter helps with unloading the dishwasher - started off with just the utensils and she has added plastics and some dishes.
in addition to putting away his clean clothes - get him to help bringing the laundry to the laundry room, sorting and loading. again, my daughter has started helping with sorting and she took it a step further with learning about detergent, drying, etc.
do you have pets of any kind? if so, incorporate some sort of care for your son - if they are small he can feed and water them - if they are large, perhaps he can assist whomever is in charge of feeding and watering.
our daughter also helps outside with the flowerbeds and vegetable gardens - we make it a family affair when pulling weeds, watering, feeding, etc.

I read somewhere that kids should have chores that benefit the whole family so they don't grow up to be egocentric. Dusting is a good one. Cleaning mirrors is another easy one. Also, checking to make sure doors are locked before going to bed, sorting clean silverware and putting them away are some easy family-benefitting suggestions. :)

Everything posted so far looks good. My 2 daughters help w/ pets, dusting, laundry, floors, windows, etc.

The other thing my 8 & 11 yo girls do is get out dinner ingredients (posted on fridge in advance) and help measure/ prep foods before I cook the meal. They are better eaters when they are part of the process, plus they are learning a skill and responsibility. They also help with some of the cooking if I supervise. And it helps me, too, to have a head start.

My youngest is now 9 (he is the youngest of five). He sets or clears the table. He can unload the dishwasher. He alternates vacuuming the game room with his siblings. He shares a room with his brother so they alternate vacuuming their room.

Melissa and Doug make a great wooden chore chart that has magnetic "chores" that you put on the day of the week... and it comes with some blank ones to personalize the chores...

Good luck.
blessings,
stacy

There are many chores he can be involved in with parent help until he gets the hang of it: folding laundry, vacuuming, dusting, loading dishwasher, feeding pets, watering plants, even helping to cook dinner. You will someday have a very happy daughter-in-law!

Make your chart on poster board. Next to (or under) each chore, use a scrap piece of poster board to make a pocket. In the pockets, you can place whatever you think the chore is worth. (.25, .50, .75, $1.00 etc) When the chores have been done to your liking, he gets to collect his "wages" for the job done. Include things like washing dishes, sweeping, vacuuming (each room is a separate chore with maybe a bonus for finishing all or a certain number), weeding the garden, raking, folding clothes, setting the table, wiping down countertops,etc. Additional things can be added as he grows older. Be aware, though, this will take off like wildfire at first. Then the novelty will wear off and he'll get slack.
The one rule for you that will make this work is: now that he's "earning" his own money, he should use these newly discovered "riches" to pay for the extra activities he's going to want to do during the summer. You'll probably get some gripes at first for not just shelling out the dollars but the first time he pays for something with the money he earned and saved, you'll need sunglasses to block that beam of pride! He also learns valuable life lessons at an early age.....responsibility in the home, the value of earning his own way, the importance of saving and "budgeting" (how much for candy/sodas and how much to put back for----)

Hello there!

I have 3 kids, ages 12YO, 4YO and 16months. The older ones have a chart which I have very clearly marked their chores. For example, the 12YO's chores include helping fold and put laundry away, keep room clean, pick up outside after the dogs (toys and poop patrol incl), and change the kitty litter. The 4YO just has to help put his own things away. This includes toys, clothes, dirty dishes, trash, etc. I pay the 4YO on the spot so he can see his 'reward' for doing these things and it encourages him to continue. The 12YO, we pay once a week.

I picked up the chore chart at a learning store here in San Antonio (located over by North Star mall) but I'm sure you can find them anywhere they sell office supplies.

Good luck! I hope you find a system that works for you :)

A.

During a parenting class I was introduced to a book called, What Every Child Should Know Along the Way. It is old school, but has a list by age of the life skills the child should master. For example, my daughter is 10. She knows how to sort and do laundry- she can cook herself scrambled eggs, she knows how to write a proper phone message, how to make a sandwich, ect,... Things I wouldn't have thought of. She doesn't do the laundry, but it's nice if I'm out and her Dad is home working that I can call and ask her to throw a load in the dryer and start the "whites". On another occasion I have asked her to take out our vacuum sealed chicken and put it in water to thaw for dinner. As they get older they can make their own hair and dental appointments, learn how to change a tire, check tire pressure ect,... When they move out they have these life skills to pull from that they will encounter when their on their own.

I have a List that I got through a Child Education class. It Lists various skills/chores that children should learn before college. It lists by category and by age. Although I don't have older children, I have found this very helpful for my kids.
So, according to this List (and whatever grain of salt you want with it), an 8yr old should be able to do (or be learning) - besides what you listed:
Clean/trim nails, wash own hair, clean own drawers and closet (not just open space in room), neatly fold and separate clean laundry, separate dirty laundry, load washer, use electric dryer (what does/not go in), Set and clear table, wipe table, wipe up spills, dust furniture, pick up trash/pet stuff in yard, shake area rugs, spot clean walls, clean TV screen and mirrors, clean toilet, scour sink/tub, empty wastebaskets, sweeping (in and out), wipe down chairs, load and turn on dishwasher, know differences and uses of household cleaners, hand wash/dry dishes, clean combs and brushes, mop floor, use vacuum and put away, clean pet cages and bowls, take down telephone messages, use broom/dustpan, vacuum upholster/drapes, water/dust house plants, water yard, fold blankets neatly, wash car, weed garden, change bed linens

That's all for this age...It looks like a whole whole lot. This is not a recommend chore list; it is a list of things that (according to the list) an 8yr old should be able to do or be learning about. I typed it here in order to give you some ideas for your son's chore list.

HTH and please feel free to email me if I wasn't clear or if you have questions about something I wrote.

K., mama to
Catherine, 5y
Samuel, 2y
EDD 9/09

Have him help you unload the dishawasher...he can put the silverware away without anything breaking...Just make sure you deal with all of your sharp knives..

Have him separate his dirty laundry into piles for you to wash on laundry day...He should be able to do this...

Have him set the table for any family meals you have...

He can clear dishes to the sink/dishwasher or counters (whatever you are most comfortable with) after meal times...

He can put away any thing that goes in the fridge from dinner time...

These are all age appropriate...

Also, you can offer him extra money in the fall to rake up the leaves and put them into a trash bag if you live in a place with a yard...

He can also earn extra money by washing your car...

Good Luck...

Hey A K,

I have an 11yo daughter that has a chore list. Her list is as follows:

Clean room
Sweep Kitchen/Hall & Vacuum Living Room
Put away clean dishes
Feed & water dogs & take out the trash

She earns $2.50 per job IF she does the job every day for a week. If she does all these jobs every day for a whole week, then she gets $10 on payday (Friday). To some, it may seem like alot of stuff for her to do, besides homework, but we live in a mobile home, so the rooms are fairly small. Some days she doesn't have to take out the trash, feed &/or water the dogs, or even put the dishes away. Even if she has to do ALL of these chores, it never takes her more than an hour to finish.

We had to go this route because she was absolutely IMPOSSIBLE when it came to cleaning her room. It's teeny-tiny, with most of her stuff on shelves. For some unknown reason, she could NOT keep stuff put away. We tried everything.....grounding, taking her TV away, guilt, etc. Nothing worked!! Hubby decided to try this route, make it more like a job.....no work, no payday. We've been doing it for about 2 months now, and it's worked fairly well. She tries to get around doing the chores, putting them off to the last minute, etc, but eventually she gets them done.

She enjoys getting money to spend on whatever she wants, or saving it up for something big. She also finally figuring out that it helps me SOOOO much, since it's hard for me to get a lot done when I'm chasing her 8mth old sister around all day long.

Don't know if this will help. Good luck!!!!!!

My daughter is 4 years old and she has the same "duties" as your 8 year old. Sit down and ask him how he'd like to help out. You would be surprised. I'd say have him do chores 2-3 times a week, plus a bigger chore (like helping with the lawn or washing windows) 1-2x's a month. Those big chores, I think, deserve an allowance. You've started out on the right food, in my mind. WTG.
GOOD LUCK, CJR

I read all the other responses so far I am #25 lol. This is my advice to you. I grew up the oldest of 4 children and now I am the oldest of 5 children. I am 29, 1st Sis is 28, 1st bro is 22 (i think lol), 2nd bro is 19, and 2nd sis is 5. So as you can see mom had 3 main helpers when we were growing up and now she has some new helpers lol. Me and my sister could by 8 do the following chores without supervision or bribery (allowances based on chores), we could clean our room, hygenie for self and little baby sib/ cousins (diaper changes and stuff), wash dishes by hand or dishwasher, "cook" simple stuff like soup or mac & cheese or spaghetti.... simple stuff on stove top, prep other foods to help parents cook, feed and take care of all of our animals, clean yard of debris to help dad with mowing, dust, vaccuum, do laundry (sort, wash, dry, fold, put away correctly), clean floors, clean restrooms completely. Basically we could do all the chores needed to "run" a household. Mom tried the money per chore thing and it didn't last long, as she said if we help make the mess then we should clean it and us having a roof over our heads, food to eat, clothes to wear, etc.. was our payment. They tried to give us allowances based on our behaviour when they could. Sometimes looking back now I realize that we didn't get an allowance all the time because their money was tight. Anyway that was me growing up and now with my own kids I have a 3 1/2 yr old son and my daughter just turned 2 a few days ago. My son & daughter can clean their room (most of the time I have to help to get them started but I just go in there now and keep them on track, they like to "forget" they are cleaning and start playing again), both of my kids love to vaccuum (stick vac) love to try to sweep the floors, my son can clear dishes from table and put in sink, he will wipe the table and he likes to "help" me wash the dishes when I let him. They can go and put trash in the trashcan and wipe spills off the floor or anywhere they make a mess. I am raising them with the idea that if they make a mess they are responsible for cleaning it up period. At this age all of these chores are a game to them and they love "helping" mommy, but I know by instilling good cleaning habits now will make it eazier in the future to keep a clean house. You are the best one to know what you feel comfortable with letting your son be responsible for. And what you think he should be learning to do for himself. Just remember an 8yr old is easier to "train" than a teenager and one day he will have to do all this stuff for himself, unless he lives at home and you do it till he gets married LOL. As far as the comments I read about time for homework and kid stuff we were all honor roll students and I remember lots of playing and goofing off too. If your child knows they have to clean up their own messes then they make fewer messes so there isn't alot of work to do. Plus Saturday morning is great for weekly vaccuum of house, dusting, mopping, etc... the chores that shouldn't have to be done daily. Anyways this has kinda gone on longer than I meant to but most importantly do what works for you and your family. Lists do help as reminders especially when you are first getting started.
Lots of luck
N.

I have 2 children who do the same plus take care of our pets (feed/water, clean cat's litter box). They also help clean house, clean the kitchen, load/unload dishwasher, vacuum, mop (sometimes :0)& clean the bathroom.

My daugter is 8 as well. She gets herself ready in the morning, minus the hair. Her hair is long and curly, so it's a working progress. Her chores are to keep her room tidy, and clean it once a week(dusting and vacuming). She cleans the sink in the bathroom(it's a shared bathroom with her older brother, he does the rest). We have a loft that the kids use as their living room, so her job is to dust it and all the ledges. I think what you have your son do is appropriate. My daughter use to ask why she didn't get paid to do chores. I just simply explained that my belief is that children should not get paid for chores. This is their house and they should contribute to keeping it in order, and be proud of it.

You have an 8 1/2 year old so wo gets himself up and ready for school (do you have to prod hime)? He makes his bed and keeps his room clean, pts way his clean clothes on aundry day and occasional tkes the trast out. What else do you want an 8 1/2 year old to do. You are either a terrific morher of a weapon weilding witch to get all this out of an 8 year old. You might ask his to set the table for dinner and remove his plate when finished. When does he have time to study and play? He needs to be doing little boy things. He can also be taught to use the vaccume. But don't fill his day with housework, let him be a child while he still can be, otherwise he'll grow up to be someone's lousy husband.

Hi, I have 3 kids so I have them doing a chore for the entire week. For example they alternate every week between bathroom, living room and kitchen. I have thrown vacuuming in their for twice a week. I thing having them do something different everyday can be confusing at this age, but my kids look at the calendar for the week to see what they are doing and they focus more on that chore instead of worrying about what do I do tomorrow.
I think that would help you out as well. A chore for the whole week.

Good Luck!

My daughter is 8 1/2 also and she helps out quite a bit. She is able to unload the dishwasher, switch the laundry, put up her folded clothes, gather up the trash from the bathrooms, wipe off the table with a hand wipe, clean the toilets with one of the disposable scrubber things and go get the mail (along with picking up her room, etc.)
I have a poster board chart with all the chores listed and if she does any of them (without me asking),then she gets to stamp her chart and gets paid based on the number of stamps she accumulates over the month. I also stamp her chart when I have to remind her that chores need to be done - but I really encourage her to do them without being prompted.

When we were kids mom had a weekly rotating chore list that included dishes, trash, and help w/supper. (there are 3 of us) Sounds to me like your 8 1/2 yr old is pretty responsible already. Keep it up!

sounds like enough to me. what else do you want from him? does he have homework? after school activities? friends? he's only 8. sounds like he is a responsible young man. I'm sure you do not expect him to make dinner do you? If you feel like he HAS TO increase his duties around the house then I would say to make his own lunch the night before school.
But that's just me. I'm curious to see what other moms say. We do have a "work party" @ my house(thanks to dads frat from college) we set the timer (15 min.) & everybody in the house has to pick up, put away, sweep, etc..until mom(I) say it's done. That's kinda fun because we are all doing it as a family & it's sort of a contest to see who does the most.

I think it depends on what needs to be done. My kids always had more chores than my sister's kids but they all turned out fine.
I would just like to comment on the idea of paying for chores. I think the children just naturally share in the family finances as well as the family chores. "everybody works, everybody eats" was my mantra so the kids got an allowance not tied to chores although they could earn money for extra stuff (eg. picking up dog droppings, car washing). The things that have to happen: clean up kitchen, get clothes to laundry have their own built in consequences for not happening. I don't cook if the kitchen is not clean. I don't wash clothes if they are not in the laundry.
I would go with my gut on this. You know your son best. I have to say that my youngest was thrilled when he got promoted to having a dishwashing turn. His sisters were mystified and sure that he was not all there, but he saw it as a rite of passage toward adulthood.

K.

My 8-year old son has about the same responsibilities, plus he sets the table for dinner and is responsible for caring for the family dog (he and his sister switch off with feeding and cleaning up after the dog each month). He is also responsible for cleaning his pet rat's cage (every other week) and cleaning his fish bowl (every week), but he requires my help with those things. Of course, he always requires a lot of prodding to get his chores done, but I'm hoping that someday he'll be responsible enough to do things on his own (maybe when he's 21)!

my boys are 9 1/2 and 7 1/2. Every night they are responsible for the dinner dishes. One sets and clears the table, the other rinses and loads the dish washer. Every Saturday, they have chores around the house like vacuuming or cleaning their bathroom. I will tell you it would be easier (and cleaner) to do it all my self, but I want them to learn.

The three of us kids growing up rotated chores. One month one of us would do the dishes ( load,unload dishwasher, wipe off counter, collect dishes from the living room or anywhere cups seem to linger around. ) Trash chore was taking out the trash cans from the house, kitchen, bath, office, bedrooms if any, laundry room trash too. Then we were responsible for getting the cans to the street. This was a big responcbility for a kid so I suggest telling your son at breakfast. Laundary duty was the simplest. We took laundry pile from both bathrooms and ploped it into the laundry room. That was it!!! You could get him to take his laundary to his room. Help fold towels. We got paid five dollars a week. I know some parents arent really into giving money for chores. This taught me the value of a dollar at an eairly age. I horded my money for along time most any given day I would have 80 bucks. I still hord my money and its really come in handy espically these days. You could open an account and let him deposit it into the bank so it would grow intrest. Save it for Christmas time or for college or for a big gift to himself. We were doing these chores for as long as I can remember. Pictures of me and my brother doing dishes when I was in diapers standing on a stool. Of course supervised. Hope this helped.