Charts
Periodically I will post different charts and schedules we have been using. We change our children’s chore charts approximately every six months or so, and we don’t tend to pass down a chore unless we have seen faithfulness in the performance of that chore by the child who has had it already. Train those littlest ones to do chores, however insignificant, and they will gain an understanding that they are contributors, not just consumers.
Usually, our 5-year-olds are the youngest to have an official chore chart. Not every chore is performed every day, but here is a sampling of what a 5-year-old can be working on:
|
MORNING CHORES |
EVENING CHORES |
EXTRA CHORE (ONE EACH TUESDAY) |
|
empty dishwasher |
set table |
week 1: organize closet with Mom |
|
wipe down girls’ toilet |
assist Mom w/dinner prep (once a week) |
week 2: organize hair stuff |
|
clean light switches downstairs |
clean clutter on stairs and in upstairs hallway |
week 3: organize armoire |
|
clean light switches upstairs |
week 4: clean under bed |
|
|
tidy shoe rack |
A friend once recommended that I take a clipboard with me as I performed all of my chores one day and then make note of which child could do which job I was doing. You might be surprised by what you realize your little ones can accomplish. Remember, though; the goal with little ones is to get them into the habit of working. They rarely (ok, never) achieve perfection and you need to have low expectations.
We have a constant stream of visitors in our home and I was finding it stressful to prepare for them in the midst of children who didn’t understand my goals. So I made a “Company’s Coming” chart that looks like this:
Company’s Coming!
|
Mom |
14-year-old |
12-year-old |
10-year-old |
8-year-old |
|
Clean guest bathroom |
Tidy and vacuum schoolroom |
Pick up stairs |
Sweep front entry |
Tidy family room |
|
Set dining room table |
Tidy and vacuum laundry room |
Pick up front entry |
Put away outside toys |
Clean glass table in family room |
|
Tidy master bedroom |
Clean upstairs hallway |
Clean off table in entry and desk in kitchen |
Close office and guest room doors |
Tidy living room |
We consider the Lord’s Day to be the pivotal point in our week, and so we take special care in preparing for worship. Each child participates in the quest to gain Sunday morning peace through Saturday afternoon preparation:
Sunday Preparation
|
14-year-old |
12-year-old |
10-year-old |
8-year-old |
6-year-old |
|
iron church pants and shirt |
ask Mom what extras need to be set by front door |
line up all children’s shoes by front door |
stock diaper bag (3 diapers, wipes, extra clothes) |
gather all Bibles and set on entry table |
|
set out belt and tithe |
set out belt and tithe |
set out belt and tithe |
set out tithe |
set out tithe |
Beginning to get the idea? What do you need to write down? Simply making a plan has brought peace to potentially stressful situations for our family.
Several people have asked to see a sample schedule for the school year. Here it is! Not really anything inspired or new, but if it is a springboard for peace in your home, then you’re welcome to it. There are no times listed because we only have set times for rising, lunch, afternoon school, and dinner. Other than that, we tend to use our schedule more as a flow chart. I’m a disciplined person by nature so this works for us. You might need more or less structure for your family.
|
Mom |
13-year-old |
11-year-old |
9-year-old |
7-year-old |
5-year-old |
3-year-old |
|
Quiet Time |
Morning Stuff |
Sleep |
Sleep |
Sleep |
Sleep |
Sleep |
|
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Make Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
Breakfast |
|
Clean Up/Circle Time |
ABC Verses with little ones/Circle Time |
Clean Up/Circle Time |
Clean Up/Circle Time |
Clean Up/Circle Time |
ABC Verses with 13yo |
ABC Verses with 13yo |
|
Kindergarten with 5yo |
Chores |
Chores |
Chores |
Chores |
Kindergarten |
Chores w/older sibling |
|
Schoolwork With 7yo |
Math |
Math |
Piano |
With Mom |
Chores |
Tape Time |
|
Schoolwork With 9yo |
Math, Latin |
Guitar |
With Mom |
Read to 3yo |
Table Activities |
Read with 7yo |
|
School w/ 11yo |
Logic, Piano |
With Mom |
Math, Greek |
Math |
Pick Up, Signing Time |
Pick Up, Signing Time |
|
Lunch Prep |
Lunch Prep |
Pour Drinks/Lunch |
Lunch Prep |
Lunch |
Lunch |
Lunch |
|
With 13yo |
With Mom as Needed |
Quiet Hour |
Quiet Hour |
Quiet Hour |
Quiet Hour |
Nap |
|
History or Science |
History or Science |
History or Science |
History or Science |
History or Science |
Quiet Hour |
Nap |
|
Clean Up/Projects |
Clean Up/Projects |
Clean Up/Projects |
Clean Up/Projects |
Clean Up/Projects |
Clean Up/Projects |
Nap |
|
Dinner Prep/Paper Work.Laundry, etc. |
Free |
Free |
Free |
Free |
Free |
Free |
|
Dinner Prep |
Evening Chores |
Evening Chores |
Evening Chores |
Evening Chores |
Evening Chores |
With Mom |
|
Dinner |
Dinner |
Dinner |
Dinner |
Dinner |
Dinner |
Dinner |
|
Family Worship |
Family Worship |
Family Worship |
Family Worship |
Family Worship |
Family Worship |
Family Worship |