My kids are gonna "Owe their souls to the Company Store." Will this work?

**Early Bird** · 02-04-2006, 09:47 AM

Even my DH tells me that I don't nag HIM enough.

But, my gentle reminders aren't getting the kids to finish ... or sometimes even start ... their chores.

On Thursday and Friday, I started my day with a couple of HOURS of clean-up. We'd had a busy week thus far, and the kids had had friends over for dinner-and-homework Wednesday. There was a lot of mess.

What did my children do while I was working on the house? They scampered away ... to play and argue and read fiction.

We started our homeschool day very late on Thur. And I didn't get a school day in at all on Friday.

This needs to change.

So, I have a list of undone items from Thursday & Friday.

This morning is ALLOWANCE DAY.

I'm gonna call the kids, "Allowance Time!"

Then I'm getting out my index cards.

DD#1 normally gets $3/wk. However, she'll get docked $0.25 for each chore NOT DONE.

So, her tally will look like this:

Thur:
* fold 1 load laundry -- not done
* damp mop rec room -- not done
* Spanish -- not done
* trashed the bathroom -- laundry all over the floor
Friday:
* TWO loads laundry not folded
* vacuuming undone
* vacuum left in dining room walkway
* bathroom still trashed
* microwave not wiped out.

That's $2.50 in fines. For just two days.

She'll get $0.50 allowance this week.

***********************************

I hope you hear the cries of outrage all the way to Canada.

***********************************

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I feel like Simon Legree. Or Simon Cowell, at least. OTOH, I canNOT spend my days following kids around making sure they are working on their chores. I have a household to run and 2 kids to homeschool. I'm busy.

**AmyBoz** · 02-04-2006, 09:53 AM

I think you are doing the right thing. You are right...you are not the only member of the household, therefore, you should not be the only one who does the chores.

Julia is only 4 (5 in 2 weeks) and she has a chore chart. If she completes 25 chores on the chart (there are 6 possible chores for each of the 7 days of the week), she does not get her $1 allowance on Saturday.

A few weeks ago, she was not in a "helping" mood, and did not complete 25 chores. I'd ask if she'd like to help with the laundry and she'd say, "Nah...I'm playing with this or that..." I said, "Okay, but remember, you won't get your allowance if you don't get 25 stickers." She said, "I know," but wasn't really paying attention.

Well, Saturday rolled around and she had 22 stickers. That is not 25 (obviously) and she didn't get the allowance. She learned the lesson and has been on top of those chores. (Just as an aside, there are certain chores that she must do that are not on the chart. No allowance is associated with them because they are just part of living in our home.)

Let us know how it went!

**canadian gardener** · 02-04-2006, 12:18 PM

Right on EB

If they pulled this at a job site, they'd be fired.

Better they learn now, than later.

**Emerald_Mommy** · 02-04-2006, 03:23 PM

I think it's a good plan. We have Isabel "on commission" for several chores. No work done, no money paid. That's how the world is supposed to work.

**Darlene** · 02-04-2006, 04:00 PM

Momma's everywhere are cheering you on.

**Early Bird** · 02-04-2006, 08:16 PM

Well, unfortunately, they still have some Christmas money.
So, they didn't scream too loudly.

Today, they had chores:

Each had TWO loads of laundry to fold.
DD#1 had a backlog of vacuuming.
There are still DD1's vacuuming and laundry undone.
She did, however, clean up her bathroom.

So, it looks like 3 missed chores today for DD#1.
DD#2 has done most ... or even all of hers.

Next Saturday (payday) should really impact them.

**mizniteowl** · 02-04-2006, 09:30 PM

This sounds like a good idea. I'm having trouble with getting mine to at least clean up their own messes. I think I'll try this out.

**Mamaw** · 02-05-2006, 12:18 PM

You are doing wonderful! After a few times of not having any $$ and not getting it from you ( Even though they will plead, beg and whine) they will get the idea. I like the notion that dollars in equal work out! Stand firm!

**canadian gardener** · 02-05-2006, 12:47 PM

If dollars don't do it, priviledges can be removed.

TV time is a good one, or video games. Nada till the work is done. Amazing how fast they can suddenly work.

ITZA MIRACLE CURE I TELLS YA!!!!!

heheheheh

from EXPERIANCE!!!!

(evil mum made her appearance there, and spoke)

**Early Bird** · 02-06-2006, 11:36 AM

Well, here's their list for today:

DD#1

morning routine (dress, make bed, empty dishwasher, eat breakfast, brush and floss)

vacuum main rooms
kids' bathroom counter & floor
trash out; poop patrol
fold/put away 1 load laundry
**********
math
Spanish
language arts
music

DD#2

morning routine (dress, make bed, feed dog, eat breakfast, brush and floss)

vacuum & edge vac kitchen
swish/swipe toilets
pick up your bedroom floor
fold/put away 1 load laundry
**********
math
Spanish
language arts
music

It looks like a lot, but it's really not. It takes about 15 minutes for each chore. And about 3 hours -- with me teaching/helping -- for them to get all their schoolwork done. (Math takes about an hour apiece; Language Arts, another hour. Spanish about 15 minutes on the computer. And 30 minutes of music lessons for each kid today.)

So, between 8 and noon, they COULD be done with everything.

************************************

But they've got to learn to do this stuff, without ME screaming and nagging. That's not my management style anyway.

**McD** · 02-10-2006, 11:08 PM

Just as a suggestion---if they come out in the negative at the end fo the week, either make them cough up money to you, or a favorite toy, dvd, book, etc. They can earn it back.

**Early Bird** · 02-12-2006, 11:49 AM

The youngest owed me $1.25.
The oldest owed $1.

They both paid up, but today they start out w/ a clean slate.

We'll see how next week goes.

**Dancing Lotus** · 06-22-2010, 07:50 PM

bumping this because it's a good tip for any parent struggling with getting kids to do chores.

**Paws** · 06-22-2010, 08:52 PM

I've been having a hard time lately getting my DD to do her chores also...(she's at that difficult stage evidently-about to be 13).
I really like this system...think I'm gonna try it....

When she hasn't any money to go skating on...it may make a difference...
At this point, any improvement would be great! Between the attitude, mouthing, and not doing what she's supposed to be doing...well...can drive a mom looney...