Wednesday, June 4, 2008

JOB CHART



You know how after time your kids get immune to the chore program that worked last month? This is probably our longest working (and smallest) charts we've ever used and it controls computer use too.


In the morning I empty all the chore pockets. As the kids get their work done they put their colored papers in the chore envelope. But the rewards don't stop there (gone are the days it used to be so great just to get your slip of paper in the pocket). There is a sticker for every chore done (we used to do tally marks but it became more of a lesson in honesty) BUT two stickers if you get the job done before school (or 9:00 am in the summer). The stickers equate to minutes on the computer. So now the kids don't accuse me of never letting them play on the computer and the house gets clean (and piano practiced) sometimes even before 9am. The greatest thing about this chart is that generally I don't have to hound the kids to get their work done and they can't play on the computer more than about 1 hour a week (we have so many fights and general irritability with computer use). The bad thing about this chart is that we can't put it high enough that Grant can't reach it, hence, the taped pockets and falling off stickers.

8 comments:

Tami said...

I'm always looking for an effective way to get my kids to do their jobs each day. This looks like a really great idea--and just in time for summer! Thanks for sharing.

Jared said...

Cute idea, i need to develop something for our out of school days. It is so hard to keep something going that doesn't get forgotten. (by me the mom usually) Why do we feel like such slackers when programs fail?

Cheri said...

good for you, staying so on top of it. even my job charts have sorta lost their novelty...dang. i need something to re-vamp the idea of them. sounds like you're doing a great job and your kids are really earning computer time.

Cathy said...

I have decided it is time for the Wheel of WOW to come back. The simple wheel chart I made last summer worked so well, but it mysteriously vanished. Oddly enough, I have been doing a majority of the work ever since. I find that if it's written out and posted the work gets done much better than if it's a verbal assignment.

Diana said...

I had written out chore charts for awhile that they hung in there room. It didn't really work out so well. I'm glad your charts are a success.

leigh said...

I'm just pretty sure that I can never institute a job chart for fear of failure (which is why I didn't comment on this post earlier.)

leigh said...

but I think it's awesome that it works for you and cleaver kids. (and the computer part is WONDERFUL!)

Karen said...

I'm always looking for another job chart. Maybe this one will work for mine!