Since I have received several questions about it, I have done a video showing how a large family can schedule chores.
Let me know if you have any questions I didn’t address, and please do excuse the strange eye darting. (I blame the [allergy] drugs.)
See our list of paid chores.
See more about our schedule.
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I LOVE your system! Currently I do not have anywhere where I can put something like that, but I'm thinking of adding a smaller version to my binder, or maybe on the back of the laundry room door…LOVE LOVE LOVE it!
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We have a great file card system, but we haven't remembered to look at it for three weeks. Sigh.
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What does your little one use to sweep under the table? A dustpan? A little broom? I want my kids to take over the sweeping in the dining room, but they can't handle a big broom and I can't find the small brooms without ordering them off Amazon and I refuse to ship a BROOM. Unless someone promises me it's worth it and my floors will shine forever and always…
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Rebecca Burgener Reply:
June 7th, 2010 at 9:49 pm
@Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae,
A mini-vac picks up lots of dining room crumbs (and pet hair), and my children (5 and 3) use one easily. My one year old also enjoys trying it.
I have also seen toy brooms in kid size that look like they would work just as well.
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I love your system!! It looks wonderful!! We're struggling with our homeschool schedule right now with our baby turning 16 months and my oldest in 6th grade who needs a longer school day than his younger sisters. This just might be the answer…
love your southern accent too!!
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Very impressive indeed. Do you think the MOTH system would work with just three small children? I have a 4, 2, and newborn.
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Love it! Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, everyone!
Lora Lynn, I found a little hand broom and dust pan a few years ago, probably at a Walmart-ish place.
Jamie, I have found that my little ones do better with a verrrry loose schedule. It stresses everyone out to try to get little ones to follow the clock, at least in my house.
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Awesome post!
I love seeing your system, and then doing by video was such a great idea! So fun! I keep thinking I will wait until my kids are older before we get into a blocked system like this one, but I love 'studying' them!
Lora Lynn – we have a little hand broom and matching dustpan for our littlest to use. Kind of like Connie said, I think ours came from a dollar-store of some form or other.
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Love it! This goes along with what I just posted about: the godly life is a disciplined life. Also, for any who are interested, we use a cordless shark for sweeping under the bar/table and my kids love using it! It's very easy to handle, as is the swiffer wet jet.
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Wow! I love this system. My children are a bit young to do the heavy (4, 4, & 2) chores but they are definitely learning and I would love to work up to this. I think I'll start by adding an additional chore to their regular ones, which basically include clearing the table, making their beds, and cleaning their rooms.
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Love this, Connie! I've always liked MOTH and always kept the colored square chart up as my regular schedule BUT those little squares and means of sticking them… THIS is a big help to me – and it helps that I love love LOVE post-it notes. I am going to get all the different colors TODAY and transfer my tiny MOTH chart to these. THANKS!
Regarding what someone else said about brooms – Walmart sells some smaller ones, with regular size handles. For my littles, I just took off the plastic holder, cut the metal handle down, then replace the plastic end. With wooden handles, just cut and round off the end with sandpaper. I recently bought 6 more large brooms so we actually have 1 broom for everyone in the house – they are in different locations so there's always a broom where needed.
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This looks like the little broom we have.
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Could you tell more about what chores are assigned to the different ages? Also, I LOVE the post-its instead of the little sticky squares. Did you actually attach them to the poster board (like with tape or that sticky tack) or did you just use the adhesive that they already have on them? I wasn't sure if that adhesive they have on them would be strong enough to stay up long term – especially with my 4 boys.
Thanks!
Mamashortcake
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Mamashortcake,
I just used the Post Its with no additional adhesive. I haven't had a problem with them staying up.
I'll try to do a post listing chores and ages.
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@Lora Lynn @ Vitafamiliae,
I bought a smaller broom and dust pan at Home Depot. It is called a lobby sweeper or something similar. Just right for little ones.
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Thank you for showing us the chore schedule, I am a visual learner, and this works much better for me than just a write up.
I was hoping you could tell me what system is represented with the clothespins and cards behind you on this video.
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Smockity Frocks Reply:
February 15th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
@Polly, You’re welcome! I just made up the clothespin system.
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Wow… I’m in awe!
As I sit in my needs-a-cleaning-house I’m inspired.
Organization doesn’t come naturally for me… it’s all learned behavior
and a constant struggle. This reminds me that there’s a way and
a system for everyone that really will work.
Thanks for taking time to share your life & wisdom with us.
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Thanks so much for doing this video! I am like some of the others, lacking in organizational skills and am a visual learner as well. This video has really been a God-send! Just what I needed to create a chore chart that I might actually use for more than a day or two! Blessings!
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Hey! I’m with Polly (not really…I just want to know about the clothespins, too). Can you tell us how you use the clothespins and cards behind you in the video?
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