Create a Custom Weekly Chore Chart for your Kids

Hi!

Raise your hand if you watched the SuperBowl yesterday.
Raise your hand if you didn't care so much about the game itself but enjoyed watching the SuperBowl commercials yesterday.
Raise your hand if you sat in the room with your husband and father-in-law during the SuperBowl yesterday and pretended to care but, instead of the game, you watched the clock because you were anxious to use the TV to finish up Season 2 of Downton Abbey on dvd.

My hand is raised for one of those. I'll never tell which one. :)

Switching gears: As parents, Paul and I feel it's important to teach our kids about hard work and also about how to handle money. It seems like we've tried ev.ery.thing. to organize a chore/allowance method but, unfortunately for our household, couldn't find any chore chart ideas that worked for more than a week for one reason or another.
 
Our older kids (now ages 8, 6, and 4) have recently set big goals about things they want to save up for and buy. So Paul and I knew we had to get serious about figuring out a successful chores chart and allowance system. We also knew it couldn't be a fancy, complicated deal or we wouldn't stick with it.
 
So I created a super-easy, customizable clear vinyl modifiable weekly chore chart for our three oldest children. It features "pockets" where chores/responsibilities can be added, removed, and swapped out as needed. We've had it up and running for a little while now, and I must say, it's working. For all of us. We're so pleased.
 

If you're interested in doing something similar at your house, here's how I made it (with an explanation of how we use it):
 
Decide how big you want your chore chart to be. Ours needed three columns (for each "working" child) and about 10 rows under the names. Cut two pieces of clear vinyl to this size. (I got 2/3 of a yard of vinyl at JoAnn's for mine and have extra.)
 
Take one of these vinyl pieces and cut it into horizontal strips about 1-1.5 inches high (or whatever size you want, really). These will be your "pocket" rows.
The other piece of vinyl, which you've left intact, will be the back of your chart.
 
 
Take one of your vinyl strips and sew just the bottom edge to the bottom edge of your larger vinyl piece. (I used a large zigzag stitch with a small stitch size.) Lay a second vinyl strip above that and sew just the bottom edge of the second strip to the larger piece. Make sure you leave enough space between rows that you don't accidentally sew the top of one row closed as you're attaching the bottom of another.
 
 
(I apologize for the photos...clear vinyl isn't the easiest to photograph.)

Finish attaching the bottoms of all the strips to the larger vinyl piece. (Because of the slight spacing between rows, you might end an extra/unused strip.) Then sew up the two sides of the thing overall. You should have something that looks like this:

 
Next, you'll want to create your columns. Because mine is for three kids, I sewed mine into thirds. You can measure, but I kind of eyeballed mine. In fact, I eyeballed this whole project. Doesn't have to be exact!

 
You should end up with something like this, where each rectangular "pocket" opens up at the top:

 
A lovely pocketed organizer to fill with whatever your heart desires. We desire slave labor around here. :)

 
Ours includes (from top to bottom):
- Child's name (in white)
- Kitchen duty day (in blue)
- Everyday chores (in orange)
- 5 money-earning chores (in green)
- Bonus chores for extra money
- and some slots for extra chore cards, blank chore cards, and seasonal chore cards. As kids get older, these rows may be used for additional chores.

 
These chore slips will be swapped out each Saturday, after chores are completed and earnings are noted. Payday will be once a month (because I rarely keep the right cash on-hand).

 
So, it's nothing fancy, but it works for us. And, bonus, it helps our house get clean...ish.
 
I'm interested, though. What method(s) have worked for you for teaching your kids about jobs and money?
 
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16 comments:

  1. Hi, this post has some great timing for me. I just got some of the same vinyl to try to make a menu planner with the same basic format. I like the way you sewed it (I was thinking of trying hot glue but my test piece hinted that it would be a hot mess). I was wondering if it would be faster/easier to sew 2 big rectangles together with the row and column lines like you have them, and then just exacto-cut the pocket tops in the top layer.

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    1. Believe it or not, I had that same idea, Mathi. At first. But then I figured the chances of my razor blade slicing through the second layer were very high, so I went with this option. Plus, the little bit of spacing between each row allows for easier access to the pocket opening, which was important for me as well. And, for me, the sewing was the most time-consuming part, and you'd have to sew the pieces together anyway. But if you go with your idea, please tell me how it works out for you so I can add an addendum to this post! Thank you!

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  2. Replies
    1. Thanks, Kaysi. I don't know how "fun" the actual do-your-chores part is for the kids, but at least it's functional. :)

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  3. We must be related because, not kidding, we just made an almost identical chore chart (in principle, not in looks-awesomeness). The surprising thing is that it is actually working for us as well! ? ! I personally don't think Paul is ever going to earn enough to buy him an old time Nintendo and Tecmo Superbowl game, but maybe that's just me being pessimistic.

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    1. I don't think we're related. You must be thinking of a different Brittney who married a Paul who, apparently, once played a nintendo Tecmo game. Maybe. Once.
      Also, why are you surprised that, when I say something is awesome and it works, it actually is and does? Hmmm? Answer me that, Martin.

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  5. Awesome! We've been seriously struggling with chores and allowance (as in not doing much of either!) and I needed some ideas. It looks great and like it would really work. I was wondering if you could send me a picture of the whole thing straight on so I could read what kind of chores your kids do since my kids are almost the same ages. You'd think that part would be easy, but like I said -- struggling :) Thanks for the idea. And PS, I love all your posts and seeing various rooms of your house redone. Gives me lots of ideas.

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    1. Oh my gosh, Melissa. This chart doesn't even hold half of our chores, so I'm afraid a photo wouldn't even really help. We just have broken up the jobs into kid-sized chunks, like "wipe the dining room chair legs," and "empty the shoe baskets," and "wash the upstairs light switches," and "empty all the basement trash cans," etc. etc. Just think of all the stuff you do that your kids could help with; keep a running list through the course of a week, and you'll come up with stuff! For real. Queen of Slave Labor, that's me. :)

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    2. Keeping a list during the week is a good idea. Although, I must say that washing the light switches is not something I generally think much about (unless obviously dirty). I think my house might actually get cleaner with kids doing chores :) Thanks!

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  6. You are one smart mama. :D and as for the game, I didn't expect to care about it but I some how got totally pulled in and watched it all. Then, because my friends have been talking about D.A. I decided I needed to get on board so I ordered the DVD's for season 1 and 2 off the internet and I am halfway through season 1. Love it and I hear it just gets better.
    Thanks for sharing your suburb parenting idea. I am sure people will be pinning it.
    p

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    1. "Suburb parenting idea." Well-said, Pamela.
      Wait, so have you finished season 1 and 2 yet? I watched them in an embarrassingly short amount of time. So many characters to love/hate!
      :) Thanks for coming by, lady.

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  7. super smart! I'd love for you to come link this up at my Tuesday Time Out!
    Melanie
    Reasons To Skip The Housework

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    1. Thanks for the invite, Melanie. Will do.

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  8. I used chore charts when my kids were little and they really helped. There all grown but 1 now! They sure weren't as nice as yours though. :) Thank you so much for sharing with Saturday Spotlight. Have a great week and come back soon!

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    1. I can't believe how fast kids grow up, April. Seriously. I feel like I've blinked, and my newborn is almost a year old. What the what? Noooooo!

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