Comments on: Current chore list http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/ the methods and madness of one family of 12 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:10:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Melissa http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-41441 Melissa Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:44:13 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-41441 I only have one 4 year old daughter and she also helps in the following ways (i do consider these chores)... -unload plastics and silverware from the dishwasher -pick up her toys and gets her bed ready each night (she likes it a particular way, so she is tasked with that before i get up there)... and makes sure all her toys are put away before bed. -helps me with the groceries... carries in lighter bags and then helps me put the groceries away. -helps me take in/out the garbage on garbage day -helps take the dogs out, feed and water them (not every day) -helps take up the laundry to our rooms after i've folded them... and can fold some smaller items. I'm also going to have her start bringing all the smaller trash cans to the kitchen on trash day to help make sure all of them get put together. She likes helping Mommy and she likes baking with me. She also likes "sweeping" the kitchen floor (she thinks she's doing it, lol) I think part of it is to make it fun while they are little. Even at that age they can learn that we do things to help others (or serve). Melissa I only have one 4 year old daughter and she also helps in the following ways (i do consider these chores)…
-unload plastics and silverware from the dishwasher
-pick up her toys and gets her bed ready each night (she likes it a particular way, so she is tasked with that before i get up there)… and makes sure all her toys are put away before bed.
-helps me with the groceries… carries in lighter bags and then helps me put the groceries away.
-helps me take in/out the garbage on garbage day
-helps take the dogs out, feed and water them (not every day)
-helps take up the laundry to our rooms after i’ve folded them… and can fold some smaller items.

I’m also going to have her start bringing all the smaller trash cans to the kitchen on trash day to help make sure all of them get put together. She likes helping Mommy and she likes baking with me. She also likes “sweeping” the kitchen floor (she thinks she’s doing it, lol)

I think part of it is to make it fun while they are little. Even at that age they can learn that we do things to help others (or serve).

Melissa

]]> By: Working On Schedules | The Cardamom's Pod http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-31658 Working On Schedules | The Cardamom's Pod Thu, 15 Jul 2010 02:36:21 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-31658 [...] friends about how they manage their chores!  Just yesterday, Kim at Life in a Shoe posted her current chore list.  I’ve been going back and copying down the “weeklies” Connie mentions in her [...] [...] friends about how they manage their chores!  Just yesterday, Kim at Life in a Shoe posted her current chore list.  I’ve been going back and copying down the “weeklies” Connie mentions in her [...]

]]> By: 4 Moms, 35 Kids: the schedule | Life In a Shoe http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-27601 4 Moms, 35 Kids: the schedule | Life In a Shoe Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:02:01 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-27601 [...] Jobs - clean up the house.  Everyone has assigned areas and chores.  This includes bedrooms, laundry, living areas, animals, etc.  Most jobs get done and re-done throughout the day as necessary. [...] [...] Jobs – clean up the house.  Everyone has assigned areas and chores.  This includes bedrooms, laundry, living areas, animals, etc.  Most jobs get done and re-done throughout the day as necessary. [...]

]]> By: Debbie http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-25650 Debbie Fri, 11 Dec 2009 03:00:40 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-25650 Wow! I haven't had an opportunity to check in for a while, and I'm somewhat floored by the reactions to my question/comment. I certainly did not mean for anyone to infer that I was being critical of Kim's choices for her children. After all, they are just that - her children (well, of course, they are God's children and her husband's children, too :) - so what works for their household might not work for mine, and vice versa. I certainly wasn't a perfect parent by anyone's criteria. I did the best I could with the knowledge I had and what worked for our household. My daughters are both responsible, stable, intelligent, and pleasant young women who love God - and keep a clean home! All this in spite of the fact that I did the majority of chores when they were growing up. Of course, if they demonstrated an interest in helping, I encouraged their help. They are both great cooks - much better cooks than I am, thankfully. I also didn't mean to infer that my daughters never helped around our home. While we didn't have a "chore schedule" and while I couldn't (at the time) have conceived the idea of them doing all that Kim's children do, they did help around the house. They also had time to be children, so to speak. I encouraged their individuality, their ability to be free-thinkers, dreamers, and somehow along the way, they learned to sweep and mop, to do laundry, to cook, to dust, etc. So, Kim - my apologies to you if my comment came across as critical, which was not my intent. I was only curious - and, as they say, curiousity killed the cat! This cat will know some things are better left unasked next time!! Thanks for sharing your life as you do - you are truly an inspiration - and I am thankful for the blessings your blog brings. Keeping you and yours always in my prayers, Debbie Wow! I haven’t had an opportunity to check in for a while, and I’m somewhat floored by the reactions to my question/comment. I certainly did not mean for anyone to infer that I was being critical of Kim’s choices for her children. After all, they are just that – her children (well, of course, they are God’s children and her husband’s children, too :) – so what works for their household might not work for mine, and vice versa. I certainly wasn’t a perfect parent by anyone’s criteria. I did the best I could with the knowledge I had and what worked for our household. My daughters are both responsible, stable, intelligent, and pleasant young women who love God – and keep a clean home! All this in spite of the fact that I did the majority of chores when they were growing up. Of course, if they demonstrated an interest in helping, I encouraged their help. They are both great cooks – much better cooks than I am, thankfully. I also didn’t mean to infer that my daughters never helped around our home. While we didn’t have a “chore schedule” and while I couldn’t (at the time) have conceived the idea of them doing all that Kim’s children do, they did help around the house. They also had time to be children, so to speak. I encouraged their individuality, their ability to be free-thinkers, dreamers, and somehow along the way, they learned to sweep and mop, to do laundry, to cook, to dust, etc. So, Kim – my apologies to you if my comment came across as critical, which was not my intent. I was only curious – and, as they say, curiousity killed the cat! This cat will know some things are better left unasked next time!!
Thanks for sharing your life as you do – you are truly an inspiration – and I am thankful for the blessings your blog brings. Keeping you and yours always in my prayers, Debbie

]]> By: April Bauer http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-25311 April Bauer Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:30:36 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-25311 This was a great post. I have had several people telling me that I have my children do too much work and I feel they don't do enough. Their list isn't as extensive as yours, but we don't have animals and the oldest is almost 9. Still, I rely on him for so many things. I jokingly call him my pack mule in training. He enjoys the attention and knowing that he is a strong guy. The 2yo does help put some dishes away, plastic, spoons so forth and he also helps the big ones unload the washer. It's never too early to teach them to help others and care for themselves. My brother is single at 33 and if my mother hadn't taught him to do housework/laundry/cooking he'd be in a mess now. I know my children are learning valuable lessons from helping about. And when someone complains about a job, they take it on for a week and the others get a break. I find it to be a nice incentive. april This was a great post. I have had several people telling me that I have my children do too much work and I feel they don’t do enough. Their list isn’t as extensive as yours, but we don’t have animals and the oldest is almost 9. Still, I rely on him for so many things. I jokingly call him my pack mule in training. He enjoys the attention and knowing that he is a strong guy. The 2yo does help put some dishes away, plastic, spoons so forth and he also helps the big ones unload the washer. It’s never too early to teach them to help others and care for themselves.
My brother is single at 33 and if my mother hadn’t taught him to do housework/laundry/cooking he’d be in a mess now. I know my children are learning valuable lessons from helping about. And when someone complains about a job, they take it on for a week and the others get a break. I find it to be a nice incentive.
april

]]> By: Alice M http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-25291 Alice M Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:32:41 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-25291 Thank for this. I now know I'm not being an ogre over here, and in fact , should probably be having them do more. My oldest (almost ten)cleans the kids' bathroom (nearly) every day and usually gives her four year old brother his bath every other night. She also folds laundry and other misc. things as need be. I am also now teaching her my bread technique (we use wild yeast for all the bread) and she is picking up on that really well. The boys (8,5,4) clean up after supper and do dishes and laundry as well my two littlest can pick up a toy here and there. I agree with Wendy, too that I really have to not expect perfection (my son's idea of folding laundry and mine are very different). They are learning. I need to be patient. Thank for this. I now know I’m not being an ogre over here, and in fact , should probably be having them do more. My oldest (almost ten)cleans the kids’ bathroom (nearly) every day and usually gives her four year old brother his bath every other night. She also folds laundry and other misc. things as need be. I am also now teaching her my bread technique (we use wild yeast for all the bread) and she is picking up on that really well. The boys (8,5,4) clean up after supper and do dishes and laundry as well my two littlest can pick up a toy here and there. I agree with Wendy, too that I really have to not expect perfection (my son’s idea of folding laundry and mine are very different). They are learning. I need to be patient.

]]> By: Jennifer http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-25290 Jennifer Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:19:53 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-25290 The last line also cracked me up! My husband has also said that before to some friends! They usually just look at him not sure if he's serious or not! :-) Thank you for posting this list....it reminds me to inspect the work! The last line also cracked me up! My husband has also said that before to some friends! They usually just look at him not sure if he’s serious or not! :-)

Thank you for posting this list….it reminds me to inspect the work!

]]> By: Wendy http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-25289 Wendy Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:28:01 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-25289 After reading the others' comments, I have a few additional of my own :) I was taught by a Godly older woman, "Inspect what you expect." They are children, after all. The younger the child, the more excited they are to be given work--it's fun to them, and makes them feel part of the family--don't waste this opportunity. You have to expect that when someone is learning something, they will not do it perfectly (e.g. the way you do it:)--but God allows us to help Him with the very crucial job of sharing the gospel with others and making disciples--if He can allow us to do that, as imperfectly as we do, we should be able to let our children do our laundry imperfectly while learning. When I got married, I didn't know how to cook. (or do many other home functions.) I was determined I would not give that disadvantage to my daughter. She is an excellent cook, and a hard worker, as is my son. Showing the example of considering work "normal," even "fun," is a Godly one. Work is not part of the curse--it was part of the Garden of Eden, and will be part of heaven! Playing and lack of responsibilities is not something you can find in the Bible--unless you count the children who harrassed the prophet and then were attacked by a bear for their misdeeds! Oh, yes, and finally, the way we taught our oldest (a boy) to do laundry, at 8 years old, and this could be transferred to many other chores, was to write the instructions on a square card/piece of paper, put clear contact paper over it, punch a hole in the bottom of the square card (so when he tilts it up to read it will be going in the right direction), put a long piece of yarn through the hole, so he could put it over his head and look at it for reference while doing the job. It hung in the laundry room on a hook when not in use. Of course, I supervised and was by his side at the beginning. He still does quite a bit of the laundry (age 23). Both my children "look down", shall we say, or at least notice, young people who don't know how to work or are "slow"--actually, I am fairly "slow", but I get the job done, which is the important thing. The attitudes and character which are taught through chores are the most important reason to train them to do them. (Sorry for the length of this--the comments of others just made me think of so many things I wanted to share:) Wendy After reading the others’ comments, I have a few additional of my own :)
I was taught by a Godly older woman, “Inspect what you expect.” They are children, after all.
The younger the child, the more excited they are to be given work–it’s fun to them, and makes them feel part of the family–don’t waste this opportunity.
You have to expect that when someone is learning something, they will not do it perfectly (e.g. the way you do it:)–but God allows us to help Him with the very crucial job of sharing the gospel with others and making disciples–if He can allow us to do that, as imperfectly as we do, we should be able to let our children do our laundry imperfectly while learning.
When I got married, I didn’t know how to cook. (or do many other home functions.) I was determined I would not give that disadvantage to my daughter. She is an excellent cook, and a hard worker, as is my son.
Showing the example of considering work “normal,” even “fun,” is a Godly one. Work is not part of the curse–it was part of the Garden of Eden, and will be part of heaven! Playing and lack of responsibilities is not something you can find in the Bible–unless you count the children who harrassed the prophet and then were attacked by a bear for their misdeeds!
Oh, yes, and finally, the way we taught our oldest (a boy) to do laundry, at 8 years old, and this could be transferred to many other chores, was to write the instructions on a square card/piece of paper, put clear contact paper over it, punch a hole in the bottom of the square card (so when he tilts it up to read it will be going in the right direction), put a long piece of yarn through the hole, so he could put it over his head and look at it for reference while doing the job. It hung in the laundry room on a hook when not in use. Of course, I supervised and was by his side at the beginning. He still does quite a bit of the laundry (age 23). Both my children “look down”, shall we say, or at least notice, young people who don’t know how to work or are “slow”–actually, I am fairly “slow”, but I get the job done, which is the important thing. The attitudes and character which are taught through chores are the most important reason to train them to do them. (Sorry for the length of this–the comments of others just made me think of so many things I wanted to share:)
Wendy

]]> By: KimC http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-25288 KimC Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:00:38 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-25288 Wendy, Yes, that's my own quote. I had a good giggle over it when I typed it but worried just a bit that readers might take it wrong. I'm glad it's been received in the spirit it was intended. :D Of course you can use the quote. Wendy,
Yes, that’s my own quote. I had a good giggle over it when I typed it but worried just a bit that readers might take it wrong. I’m glad it’s been received in the spirit it was intended. :D
Of course you can use the quote.

]]> By: Wendy http://inashoe.com/2009/11/current-chore-list/#comment-25287 Wendy Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:56:49 +0000 http://inashoe.com/?p=5651#comment-25287 "We used to have more children, but had to make examples of some." Kim, is that original to you? I love that quote! May I quote you--my friends at church (non-bloggies) will love it! Thanks for sharing your chore list. Don't tell them I said so, but your 8 and 9-year-olds have the hardest jobs, I think! But then, I have never liked laundry, especially hanging wet clothing. However! This is the age to get them really used to doing hard work, without complaining! You are wise. I love the book, "More hours in my day" by Emilie Barnes, partly for the list of jobs that even the smallest child can do. Also, I will never forget the suggestion I heard many years ago that a 1 1/2 year old can help with dinner by tearing greens for a salad. I implemented this with our daughter (I think she was much older though--maybe 2). Thanks again and let me know about that quote! Wendy “We used to have more children, but had to make examples of some.”
Kim, is that original to you? I love that quote! May I quote you–my friends at church (non-bloggies) will love it! Thanks for sharing your chore list. Don’t tell them I said so, but your 8 and 9-year-olds have the hardest jobs, I think! But then, I have never liked laundry, especially hanging wet clothing. However! This is the age to get them really used to doing hard work, without complaining! You are wise. I love the book, “More hours in my day” by Emilie Barnes, partly for the list of jobs that even the smallest child can do. Also, I will never forget the suggestion I heard many years ago that a 1 1/2 year old can help with dinner by tearing greens for a salad. I implemented this with our daughter (I think she was much older though–maybe 2). Thanks again and let me know about that quote!
Wendy

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