Comments on: Our Zones http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/our-zones/ Equipping Families with Practical Skills for Real Life! Mon, 21 May 2012 18:09:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Theresa http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/our-zones/comment-page-1/#comment-12749 Theresa Tue, 03 Aug 2010 22:35:36 +0000 http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/?p=1227#comment-12749 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. 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.

]]> By: Angie http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/our-zones/comment-page-1/#comment-6879 Angie Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:26:25 +0000 http://teachinggoodthings.com/blog/?p=1227#comment-6879 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 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

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