Kids can do chores. (Insert gasp here…)

Yes! They are capable of doing much more than most parents expect these days.

I remember when I was in Kindergarten doing chores. You probably did too.

Setting the table for dinner. Clearing the plates after dinner. Dusting the living room shelves. I always loved that one.

My son though isn’t as excited about doing chores… but as he is getting older, it’s not something that he really has a choice in doing. Now I don’t want him to hate doing work around the house, but I need him to understand that he, just like everyone else in the house, needs to pitch in.

What does that mean exactly? It means mama needs help. I need him to become a bit more independent the older he gets and take less off of my plate.

For example: getting dressed in the morning. I will still lay out the clothes he should wear, but he should be able to get dressed in the morning without me having to nag him.

Same with his backpack.

The last thing I want to do in the morning is make sure he has his backpack packed. I’m making sure my purse is packed. He knows exactly what he needs for school, and now he is old enough to get that done himself. (yes, I still check that he has everything…but he doesn’t know that)

You know what your kids are able to do. Sunshine and Hurricanes has a great reference chart that might help narrow down where to start if you are interested in introducing chores to your children.

My son has a chart (free download here) that we go through every day. These are basic “chores” I need him to take care of.

I don’t have to remind him of the list of things that need to be done… he has an actual list. He can mark them with a dry erase marker, or magnets on the fridge.

I also found a few other ways for kids to keep track of their daily chores.

See Vanessa Craft has great visual cards for kids that might not be reading yet.

I actually took these cards and glued them to a dice I found at the Dollar Tree. On days that my boys need to play a game and be active to get them going… this works.

This chart from The Life of Jennifer Lee is super cute for the fridge.

Glue each picture onto the front of a large magnet. Then each day decide the chores you need done by your kids and they can slide them over when they are done. I like the fact that you can change these out depending on the needs of the household, or what you might need a little more help with.

Here is a link to the Organization Segment I did on WPTV in West Palm Beach with some of my favorite ideas.

Below is a list of the products I mentioned and a link to where you can purchase them as well if interested.

Ecos Laundry

Me Do Clothing 

Savor 

Good luck with all of your organization this year, and don’t worry… If at first, a chore chart doesn’t work… switch it up. Create something WITH your family that will work for YOUR family.