Chores

I felt my 3 year old was old enough to begin learning the responsiblity of helping out around the house and taking over some of the things I do for him. This was also good for me because I have the tendency to take over when it comes to cleaning or getting him ready. So the night before the chores began we discussed what a chore is and why it is important to begin doing things like a big boy. I told him he would get a dime for each chore he completed and that the money would go into his piggy bank. Then we would go to the dollar store on Saturday morning to buy toys with the money he earned. His eyes lit up and was very excited to go right now.

Each morning, (I walk him through each chore. Once I feel he is ready to do it on his own it will be his responsiblity to complete them. And yes, I realize I may be doing this for awhile, but at least he is doing it.) he has to complete 3 chores. I wanted to start out with chores in which he could have success. His 3 morning chores are making his bed, brushing his teeth, and taking pjs off and putting them on his bed so they are ready for bedtime and putting the clothes on which we have laid out the night before.

Every morning, he asked if it was Saturday. So I made a "My Week" chart to help him have the concept of time. The chart is divided up into seven sections. Each section has the name of the days of the week. I laminated the chart and put velcro sticky dots under each day. I used "My Week" clip art of items that pertain to our schedule and a star for the current day. I will add more pictures as needed. Each picture is laminated and a velcro dot is on the back as well. When he wakes up he moves the star to the next day. This way he has a visual of what he will be doing that day. Now when he asks if it is Saturday yet, I can tell him to look at his chart, find the star and see if it is Dollar Store Day.

Once, I feel he is able to complete the chores on his own I will give him a chore ring. There is a picture for each chore that he has to complete. They are printed on cardstock and hole punched at the top and kept together with a ring. Once he completes the chore, he flips over the chore to see what he needs to do next. After he completes his chores he will come get me to check his chores and receive a dime for each chore he has completed.