Daily Chore Charts

Our family's cleaning and chore schedules have variedcook dinner every evening because I enjoy it.
widely overBetween cooking,
the years. In two short years we have gone fromfeeding the boys, and getting them ready for bed, that
having oneis about
teenager in the home to having two teenagers andall I have time for in an evening. Having the girls do the
two toddlers.other
In the past I have tended to do much of thechores is a huge help.When I created the schedule, I
housework myself,did keep in mind the girls'
with help off and on from my teenage daughter. Ouroutside activities. For instance, if I know one of the girls
cleaninghas
schedule was very different then. We got away withan activity one night I won't have her do the dishes
vacuumingthat night.
once or twice a week and didn't even do the dishesI have set up a schedule where each night one
every day.Our lifestyle changed dramatically when Idaughter picks up
was pregnant with ourand vacuums and the other daughter does the dishes.
twins. It got to the point I could do no housework at all.Those are
Atthe two biggest chores. Then they usually have one
the time my daughter was 17 years old, attendingother small
communitychore. Most nights their chores take 20 minutes or
college, and working at a part time job. I was notless, but
requiring hersave me at least an hour of extra work. On
to do much housework because of her busySaturdays they clean
schedule. While I wastheir bedrooms, and take turns cleaning their
pregnant we both decided she would quit her job andbathroom.We haven't had any problems getting the
work for megirls to do their chores.
instead, doing housework, cooking dinner, and doingFirst of all, they can't go anywhere until their chores
groceryare done.
shopping for me. This arrangement worked very wellIf they still choose not to do their chores they will not
for us and Iget
enjoyed the extra time we got to spend together.their allowance. Although one daughter also has a part
She was able totime job
easily find a new part time job after her brotherswe also decided to give her a small allowance for
were born anddoing household
I started doing more housework again.After the birthchores because she spends so much of the rest of
of our twins my teenage step-daughter moved inher time doing
with us. It wasn't until the boys began to crawl andhomework and working at her other job. We wanted
then walkto give her a
that the housework became totally unmanageablesmall incentive and to let her know her help is
and I had to admitappreciated.We keep track of chores on a dry erase
I couldn't do it all on my own. That is when we startedboard that has a calendar
ourpre-printed on it. Every month I write in the days for
daily "chore chart".First I wrote down the chores withthe new
which I needed the most help:Daily ChoresDishes, cleanmonth and write in the girls' chores for every day.
kitchenThere is no
Pick up and vacuum living room and dining roomconfusion as to who has what chores.You can adjust
Take out kitchen garbageTwice-a-Week ChoresMopyour chore charts to suit your needs. You may not
kitchen floorneed your living room vacuumed every day like we
Clean litter boxdo. Chores can
Do a load of laundryOnce-a-Week ChoresTake outbe varied according to how many children you have
all garbagesand their ages.Rachel Paxton is a freelance writer and
Put garbage can up on streetmom who is the author of
Clean bedroomWhat's for Dinner?, an e-cookbook containing more
Clean kids' bathroomThis cleaning schedule hasthan 250 quick
worked very well for us. I choose toeasy dinner ideas.