Kids Choice Chore System!

My house is a lot of work.  You all know what that's like I'm sure.

Between the kids, the cat and the hubby, my house rapidly turns into a pit.

I clean something, and 5 minutes later it's a mess again.

I go from room to room to room to room and back to the first room to discover it's in disarray.  Again.

It's hard to keep up.  And I'm always the only one who seems to see the mess.  

Yet it's always there, and very rarely is it my mess.

It's time for a change.

My older 2 kids are old enough to contribute the the running of our household!  

And certainly more than capable.  I believe in age-appropriate chores.

And I'm not just talking about things like clean your room and brush your teeth.

Because they are now almost 10 and 8, I'm a believer that tasks like those are must-do's and not ones that need rewarding.  In real life, there are chores that just have to get done.  Brush your teeth.  Wash your hands.  Clean your room.  Feed the cat.  All required tasks.

But there are so many other tasks that need done around the house, and it's time the kids pitch in.

I scoured for different system ideas that the kids and the hubby & I could maintain.
I've tried the old chart and sticker system, but it always fell to the wayside.

This time I was determined to find something that would work for us.

So I put together a kids choice financial reward system.

The intent for this system, is for the kids to be able to earn some money, by choosing how they do it.

My hubby & I don't buy a lot of extra toys and stuff for the kids outside of holidays and birthdays,

but they are always wanting lego, and pet shops and barbies every time we go out.

So now the kids have the opportunity to make and save their own money.

Enter in Martha Stewart.

I am a big fan of Martha Stewart.

And organizing.

So when I discovered that Martha Stewart has a new line of stationary products at Staples, 

I couldn't get there fast enough!  

Someone finally created a line of pretty and functional stationary products!  

I'm in love!

With Martha on my side, I knew I could find exactly what I needed to put together my kids chore system!
On a side note...this project cost less than $10.

• I bought 2 packages of the Martha Stewart Home Office Large Metal Rim Tags.
• I bought a magnet roll with a sticker backing, so that I could just attach the size of magnet that I wanted to the back of the tag.
• I wrote each chore on a tag, and assigned a dollar amount.

• You give them chore options.  They pick the chores they want to complete.  You could use this system for the EXTRA chores, not the day to day stuff they should do anyway.
• Make the system visible and accessible!  Ours is on the front of the fridge at their eye level.
• The kids can pick and choose the chores they want to do. (And they can't each do the same chore, so they have to negotiate with each other if there is conflict.  Or it's first come, first serve.)
• Once they have completed their chore (after approval from Mom or Dad), they hang their completed chore tag on their assigned hook.
• Friday is payday.  On this day we add up what they have accomplished during the past week, and give them their money!

Tip!

• There are some chores that don't need done everyday or even weekly, so I just put those tags off to the side, and put them back on the fridge when I need them done.

• Brush the cat.
• Clean baseboards on the main floor.
• Vacuum the basement.
• Sweep after dinner.
• Change your bed sheets.
• Dust stair railings.
• Vacuum the stairs.
• Clean your bathroom tap, sink and mirror.
• Empty dishwasher.
• Parent's choice, for those other tasks that come up from time to time.
• The possibilities are endless!!

I just put all the tags onto a pretty piece of scrapbook paper on the fridge.
The paper keeps all the tags contained.  And it's looks nice too!

Honestly, the kids are so excited about this system!  I can't even tell you how much!

My hubby & I exchanged several surprised looks over the weekend.  

We couldn't believe how much was getting done around here.  Our house feels and looks cleaner.

And the best part....

My daughter said "Mom, look how much I got done!  I feel so good about myself!"

AWESOME!

So I'm happy.  The kids are happy and feel good.  The house is clean.

Win-win-win!

Pretty Linking:
Funky Junk, Positively Splendid, Craft-O-Maniac, Under the Table and Dreaming, Tip Junkie, Oopsey Daisy, Whipperberry, I Heart Organizing, Skip to my Lou