Last school year, my friend sent out a link to a chore jar concept. I don't remember the whole logistical method (because usually my brain starts to spin with such instructional scenarios), but I did have a take away of my own which thus far seems to have stuck.
I'm a simple mom and I'm always on the lookout for ways to make our life even more simple. I don't like fussy, time consuming charts, etc...but I do like efficiency and happy helpers at home.
Enter The Chore Jar...
Around here, we assign chores for each school year then rotate them after summer. Everyone chips in and even the little ones have age appropriate responsibilities. This is our everyday method which works well for us, but sometimes we can all use a change of pace and The Chore Jar seems to fit the bill. Here's how it works:
The Chore Jar:
Who:
Kids & parents both work together. We want our children to understand that we're a team.
If a task is too complicated for a little one then they get a buddy for the job.
What:
Strips of colorful paper have all the chores necessary for a complete house cleaning written on them.
Then they are placed in a jar for the picking. A boy might choose "Girl's Room", a parent might choose "Dress Up Closet", or a child might choose "Mommy and Daddy's Bathroom", but the mixing it up goes a long way for motivation. No job is too small for a paper strip assignment. We have some very minor chores in our jar to encourage us as we serve. We also have some biggies that require a buddy and hard work. Sometimes we pick a task that has already been done or is not in need of maintenance. When that happens, we simply choose again. As time goes on and we discover a messy section that doesn't have a paper strip assigned to it yet, we make a new one and add it to our jar. This way, we ensure everything is accomplished each time we use The Chore Jar.
Where:
We all gather around, usually in the kitchen, to pick paper strips out of the jar. We then head off in various directions to complete tasks as we pick them. (This includes inside the house and also our backyard.) Children do not pick a new paper strip until one parent has checked their work. This provides accountability and ultimately means an overall job well done in the end.
When:
We pull out The Chore Jar every now and then (no scheduling needed) on a day when the regular chores seem daunting and we feel the need to mix things up OR when our house looks like we've been ransacked and we don't want to spend the whole day cleaning. It's amazing how much more enjoyable and fast the daily chores can be when they're accomplished in this way!
Why:
Because some days we just need a little chore-time-perk-me-up.
(After all, even the heartiest worker gets in a "chore rut" every now and then.)
How:
Joyfully.
We strive to employ The Chore Jar's efficiency with loving and encouraging hearts, words, and attitudes.
It makes ALL the difference how we do our chores.
So, as we anticipate a new school year and reevaluate our routine, The Chore Jar makes the cut.
"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."
Colossians 3:23
