Thanks. I love these ideas. I have renewed inspiration!

Since I wanted the girls to understand the importance of time management, I left the scheduling/organizing of what to do and when to do it, up to them. I showed them how I made an Excel worksheet, listing everything I needed to do daily/weekly/monthly, and gave them the option of doing it that way or not. One daughter really dislikes lists, but has learned through trial and error that they can be an aid rather than a source of frustration. Another daughter, by nature makes lists.

I also went through each room and made a list of what needed to be done in order for me to feel it was clean, when they were learning how to clean each room. They then checked each box off as it was completed. When they were 7,8,9 I would hide pennies in the room, which they were allowed to keep. That made it fun for them and let me know that the inconspicuous places were dusted/swept!

As far as daily, each child has their assigned kitchen chore (which rotates monthly)that they are expected to do after each meal, picking up their bedroom, making bed, and one other room that they are assigned to keep picked up. Each child puts away his/her laundry after supper each evening. Anna plans and cooks supper on Monday, Kara on Thursday. Becca always sets the table, Isaac is in charge of taking out the garbage, keeping the van cleaned out, the sheds & garage tidy, making sure the outside is picked up, with gates and doors closed and the lawn mowed once a week. We all weed the gardens together and this year’s project is painting the trim (possibly the house if time permits) which we will all work on together.

I was looking for any ideas, Lily, so thanks for sharing.

One thing we have done in the past was I printed up jobs for each room and posted them on index cards. I was to assign her one of those index cards each week but I was never consistent with it. I think the issue I had was not only did I want her to do those jobs but I wanted her assistance in the kitchen each evening so it was easier for me to just ask her to do certain things during the day. What I don’t like about doing it that way is there isn’t enough focus in the morning times because I haven’t assigned any particular jobs.

They have cleaned house for money for a few different people, so I know they are capable of doing that.

I also had Anna manage the house for three months, which included everything except the weekly cleaning.

For laundry I had them do all of the laundry for one month. I wanted them to experience the day to day routine…in sickness and in health. 😉

For meal planning they have planned the meals for a month and made one meal per week for several years. (When Anna managed the house she made all of the meals- three meals a day for the entire three months.)

Don’t know if this helps or not…