OH! Rewarding Children Can Be Rewarding for Parents: Rethinking the ‘Chore Chart’

PLAN- IT

What in the world were we thinking calling it a chore chart?

Despite the fact that we have typical Mars-Venus-type conversations, my husband and I are both die-hard optimists and made an executive decision to rename “the chore chart”. It is now known as: “The Reward Board”. Our thinking is based on the belief that enthusiasm is contagious. Focusing on the results or the goals should always be kept front and center in anyone’s mind—especially a child’s.

While creating a Reward Board we had a clear, pure purpose. We wanted our boys to understand that there is a direct correlation between hard work and rewards. “The harder you work the luckier you get” is something we chant daily.

Rewarding Children Can Be Rewarding for Parents
It is gratifying knowing that children can spend a few minutes a day with a parent and learn something. Teaching these chores can be rewarding for the children and the parents; eventually children won’t need help. They will be able to perform the tasks on their own. In addition, they will gain confidence and boost their self esteem. A few ideas to add to your own Reward Board are below:

3 - 5 year olds

• Sort laundry into color specific piles
• Place the napkin on the left of side of the dinner plate every night
• Count aloud the appropriate number of spoons needed at dinner in a foreign language
• Use polite words
• Pick up dirty clothes and towels
• Carry the newspapers to the recycling bin
• Explain what “courteous” means and do a “show and tell”

5 - 8 year olds

• Make the bed
• Feed a pet
• Select a healthy snack without help (parents need to set this up)
• Match freshly laundered socks
• Set the table properly: knives/spoons on right and napkins/forks on left
• Read aloud for 5 minutes to the dog or cat
• Draw a picture and mail it to an elderly relative
• Explain what “integrity” means and give an example

8 - 11 year olds

• Close and open the shutters or draperies
• Clear the table and load the dishwasher
• Unload the dishwasher
• Wheel the trash and recycling to the curb
• Assist with yard work (water flowers, pick up twigs and pinecones, fill birdfeeders)
• Empty the trash out of the car
• Help unload groceries and put things away in the pantry
• Launder the sheets and towels (folding sheets requires an assistant)
• Be respectful of others and their property
• Write a post card or a letter to an elderly relative

What is the Reward?
Rewards can be anything. For the first few years we rewarded with them with “planet stickers”. Stickers of the moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Pluto, etc. were all treasured. After 5 planets were collected we taught them one quick fact about their chosen planet.

5 - 8 year olds
A total-points-for-the-week system should be employed. After so many points are accumulated allow the child to pick one: a family movie, game, or story to be read aloud on a specified evening.

8 - 11 year olds
Perhaps allowing them to stay up 30 minutes later than usual on Friday nights is appropriate. Or, in our home they can earn a new book.

By the way, both of my sons, as I compose this, are earning points to buy books on their favorite topic, the solar system and the planets within it.

As an organizer I lovingly refer to this as the, “planet—plan-it method”.