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Chore Store!
By Kendra | October 19, 2009
Over the years we’ve gone back and forth, forth and back about allowance and chores. Should we offer payment for jobs done? Should we give allowances so the kids can learn to manage their spending? We always came back to the idea that our children are members of our family, and so certain chores are expected simply because they’re part of the team. We also want them to leave our home with all kinds of skills- no paying some girl at college to do their laundry 
Recently, however, the kids’ piano teacher instituted a point system by which her students could earn points for practicing, attending recitals and concerts, and even for good behavior during a lesson. At a designated time, she would open her “store” and allow them to spend their points on fun things- pencils, stickers, etc.
This got me thinking. My kids could use a little motivation. I think we’ve been very successful at communicating their responsibility in our home, so perhaps having something fun to strive for would just be a nice little motivator as the weeks roll by.
I started by taking their daily responsibilities and attaching a point value to each chore:
1 Point
Morning Stuff
Breakfast Prep
Each Chore = 1 Point
Zones Completed
2 Points
All morning stuff and chores completed each week = 2 bonus points
A Good Attitude, calculated weekly
5 Points
Quietly working on a reorganization project (game cabinets, puzzle cabinet, schoolroom, garage cabinets, costumes, armoire) without being asked.
Surprise inspections- everything from closets to school shelves to bathroom drawers.
The chore point tally sheet. Very primitive. Needs revamping.
There were also some bad habits established that have bugged me for years, so I thought I could seize the opportunity to use our Chore Store point system to fix the problem. Some people around here think I won’t notice when they drop things on top of the dryer on their way to the school room instead of putting said things away in the school room where they belong. Ahem. Others have told me their chores are completed when, indeed, they are not. Can you believe it?
The following result in a loss of points:
Not putting things away where they belong (Legos in the piano drawers, stuff dumped on the dryer instead of put away in the schoolroom, etc.) -2 Points
Lying about chores being done results in a complete loss of all points!
So far, Chore Store is going really well. I keep a tally sheet and we check off accomplishments every day or two at breakfast, and the kids are eager to hear their totals. I haven’t set a time for the opening of Chore Store, but I did tell them that nothing in the store will be under 100 points. I won’t open it until everyone can purchase something.
Even my oldest guys who have fewer chores than everyone else are interested in earning more points for themselves. I lured them into participation with the promise of movie tickets and gift cards. When the stack of preschool DVDs needed to be reorganized, and lost discs found, guess who volunteered?
The big guys are so great with the little guys. I toss out bonus points for the kindnesses like these.
I still ask, grab, call out to, and assign children tasks all day long without the promise of points. I’m watching to see if attitudes turn greedy, but so far nothing has really changed except for a sudden eagerness to do chores every day. Works for me!
Topics: Chores, Resources | 11 Comments »
October 19th, 2009 at 5:26 am
We have a system, too, and I wrote about it here and decided it was waaaayyy too long of a comment so I posted it on my blog.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:19 am
Thanks for this, Kendra! My husband and I have been discussing doing something just like this, but haven’t been able to flesh out the details yet. I’m glad I can now send him here to your post so he can consider your ideas as he plans what he wants to do with our family.
Many blessings to you this week! (And may many, many points be earned along the way!
)
October 19th, 2009 at 8:38 am
Sounds great!! I’m looking forward to getting my little guy into official “chores”. He’ll be 3 in December. I’m thinking it’s probably beyond time. He helps with all sorts of stuff already. Any suggestions on how to start chores with littles and at what age?
October 19th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Ooo, I love that photo (and the kindness behind it)!
We have daily chores, and then extra chores for renumeration (regular = kitchen clean-up, bathrooms, extra = 5 cents per root for a nasty weeds, or clearing out the garage, etc.) and it’s amazing how much more motivated the kids are to weed than to clean the bathroom.
There may be a chore store in our future.
October 19th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Kendra,
I love your idea. Just curious, what kind of items do you have in your store?
October 19th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I love this, Kendra. Great idea! I might have to do something like this, too.
October 20th, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I was also wondering what kinds of things you put in your store.
October 20th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Babychaser- Start now by having little ones go with you to do things around the house. Ask them to toss a diaper in the trash, mash up bananas for banana bread, pull up the blanket on their bed (with your help). Just make it a natural part of your day.
Lois and Kristi- Being the frugal, clutter-detesting woman that I am, the items are things I’ve gotten for free or extremely cheap by couponing, and are mostly consumable: gum, lip gloss, hot wheels, lego kits, etc. Gift cards, movie tickets, a favorite soda or candy bar will make the older guys happiest, but they’ll have to pay in big time points for them
October 21st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
LOVE, love, love this idea! About how long does it take to work up to a “regular-sized” prize and a “big-time” prize?
October 21st, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Jennifer- All prizes here start at 100 points, and it’s taken them three weeks to get there. One still only has 85 points
April 26th, 2010 at 4:07 am
Dear Kendra,
I have read Raising Godly Tomatoes and want to bring up my kids along that framework, as you have done. I get stuck half the time, though. I get stuck with figuring out what kind of offenses need corner time (and how long for each child/each offense), what kind need a spanking, and what kind needs other methods (distraction?natural consequence? etc.). I am trying HARD to be consistent, but I realise that since I can’t seem to decide on the appropriateness of the consequence, my kids see my inconsistencies. My boys are 5.5 and 3.5, and a 1.5 girl.
Thank you for all you do and say,
Lisa