There’s not a thing wrong with using a chore chart. It’s just that they get a little tedious. Plus, a lot of parents are learning that giving kids a choice makes them more likely to get their chores done. In my family, we like to switch up our chore methods from time to time. We usually focus task selection on the kids. It breaks up the dull routine and makes them feel they’re a part of family decision making.
Have you tried the penny jar method? Place a jar for each child on top of the fridge. Every time they do something penny worthy, you drop one in their jar. The worthy task could be a chore, a kind word or gesture. At the end of the week, the pennies are counted and each child get’s that amount of money. The pennies are tossed into the parent jar to use the next week. This simple method works best for younger kids.
The price list is my daughter’s favorite chore method for her kids. She makes a list of all the chores that need doing on a daily or weekly basis. Next to the chore she lists the amount she is willing to pay to have that particular chore done. When the kids need money, they go to the list and take action. My daughter keeps a separate list that tells her what each child has earned. Brilliant and no nagging!
The chore lottery is used by many parents. They simply place slips of paper with chores written on them in a hat for kids to draw. Kids draw one or two slips a day, depending on their age. They then do the chores they drew from the hat without fussing. At the end of the week, kids get an allowance based on their ages, rather than the chores they did. Kids who refuse to do their chores that week receive no allowance at all.
Some parents make a game out of chore selection. Kids toss rings around bottles or knock over pins with chores written on them. You might also use a rubber duck pond with chores written on the ducks. It’s like chore carnival games. You can either give kids prizes or money, once the chore is done. I tried this with my kids a few times. They absolutely loved it. In fact, once the chores were all done and the prizes all won, they just kept playing with the games.
Let kids apply and bid for jobs. Post jobs you’re hiring for on the fridge. Kids make a list of the jobs they want to do and the salary they would like to be paid for each job. They then submit applications. Parents can choose the person with the lowest bid to get the job done. They can also switch it up and choose by experience and quality of the last job done. This clever chore method gives kids a taste of the real job market and some spending money besides.
More from Jaipi:
Kids and Credit Ratings: Education and Revelation
Helping kids understand the family budget
Spring cleaning chores kids love
