Our Zones
January 7, 2009
We know one is being responsible when they are doing their duty
not because they HAVE to,
but because they care about themselves and others;
they see everyday chores as a way to make a difference in the world around them.
Alicia sent me this email:
Kathy,
I wanted to thank you for your recent post on responsibility. We have been trying different chore charts and trying to come up with a system that will work. I am very curious of your system. I like the idea of a Zone and was wondering if you could give me more information on how you have your home split into zones and what work is required.Alicia
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This is what our chore chart looked like about 4 years ago. Each child had a zone as I did. We rotated every month. When Josh started working with Jeff more we had to make some adjustments. Now there are just the girls and myself. The zones are divided into two zones, and the girls prefer to rotate every week. I do the laundry and chip in in each zone throughout the day.
We all take turns cooking.
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Kitchen Zone
Daily:
Set and clear table
Wash, dry and put away dishes
Wipe off table and chairs
Weekly (usually on Friday or Saturday):
Clean out refrigerator
Wipe down all surfaces and cabinets
Sweep and mop
Monthly:
Straighten inside cabinets
Clean baseboards
Bathroom Zone
Daily:
Clean toilet
Clean bathtub
Replenish supplies (toilet paper)
Sweep
Weekly:
Mop floor and clean baseboards
Monthly:
Clean mirrors
Straighten cabinets/closet
Livingroom/Hall Zone
Daily:
Straighten and put away things
Sweep/vaccum
Weekly:
Mop
Clean Windows
Dust
Monthly:
Clean baseboards
Clean/Organize closet/DVDS/CDs
Porches/Fold Laundry/Trash/Feed Animals/Car
Daily:
Sweep porches and sidewalk
Fold laundry and put in bedrooms
Keep trash taken out
Feed animals
Weekly:
Wash and Vacuum car
Everyone works in the yard together.
Beds made and clothes taken care of before breakfast.
..
First we make our habits,
then our habits make us.
...
Topics: From Our Mail Bag, Responsibility | 2 Comments »
Comments (2)
At what age did the children start doing these things? We have 5. Our oldest is 11, our twins are almost 8, our youngest son is almost 5 and our baby is 1. Our oldest son helps out a lot. With our twins they do a little and our youngest son…..well he doesn’t like to do anything! LOL He’s our honest child and will tell you I don’t want to do much!
Was just curious about the timing. Thanks for posting your list.
I love your blog so much that when I turn on my computer your blog pops up instead of anything else. :0)
Hugs,
Angie
We divided our home into zones by room. Each member of my family is responsible for a zone for one week. We had a family evening when we walked from room to room and brainstormed what chores needed to be done every day, each week and once a month. We ordered the items for each room in the most logical and efficient sequence. If a cleaner was required for a task, the cleaner was listed next to the task. (I make most of my own and they are stored in different colored plastic squirt bottles so general cleaner is just listed as purple etc…) Then we typed our lists and printed them on bright cardstock. I laminated for durabiltiy, punched holes in the top and looped yarn through the holes. Each day for a week, we all learned how to do each room together. Everyone got to practice each job.
Now after dinner, each child wears their card and does all the dailies in their zone. At first we checked off the zone everyday. Now we just do surprise spot checks with the older children. My kiddos under seven get the daily check-up. During lunch clean-up and about 3:00, everyone takes 15 minutes to quick pick-up their zone. Each child gets to pick the day they will do the weeklies, but weeklies must be checked off no matter how old one is. My four year old loves to check me off. The first Saturday of the month is the monthly morning job day.
Getting set-up took an evening, which turned out to be fun and informative for my children to understand just how much it takes to keep the household running. Training everyone what to do took lots of reinforcement and several weeks. Dad and I never redo a job. If something is unsatisfactory from older children, they do it until its done right. The youngsters just do their very best. Once in while my husband will come home with icecream to say thank you for keeping home a respite and refuge from the busy work world. It helps everyone realize how much more pleasant our home is when we all pitch in. With six kiddos in the house and one on the way, this system has become my sanity saver. Good Luck.