What I Use Instead Of A CHore Chart

I’ve tried various chore charts for the Bigs. Peter, in particular, adores checking off accomplishments on a chore chart for the first week; but he’s also super competitive and turns the chart into a contest with his younger brother. I find it difficult to supervise a long list of chores - I have so many little distractions! I researched a lot of cute options using clothespins, magnets, and cute little cartoons. But, I couldn’t find a method that worked for us, so I basically gave up and we’ve just been muddling through while I remind (or nag) kids about chores.

When the coronavirus quarantine began, I started to lose track of the days and never seemed to get much accomplished because there was no urgency. While attempting to declutter a stack of books, I ran across a small whiteboard that I just knew held a lot of potential for me... I started using it to write my goals (with check boxes, because everyone loves check boxes!) for the next day and it has been revolutionary for my management of household chores.

This whiteboard isn’t large - it’s a personal size of nine inches by twelve inches, so I can’t write an exhaustive list of chores and to-do items, but that’s good! I don’t want an overwhelming list, I want something manageable for the kids and me to reference. I only include the chores that change for the Bigs (something to clean usually), one or two simple goals for myself or my husband (grocery shopping, make kombucha, work in the garden, etc), and anything we have scheduled for the day (such as Peter’s Zoom piano lesson or visits with friends). 

I also use the whiteboard to start habits. Right now, I always begin the list for the day with “morning chores,” which the Bigs know includes eating breakfast, getting dressed, making their bed, and unloading the dishwasher. I still have to remind them to do their bed and dishwasher, so I still write it down for them everyday. We also have evening chores of wiping the dinner table, sweeping the floor, and putting away the chickens; but they don’t need that reminder as regularly, so I don’t write it very often. Once a chore turns into a habit, I’ll consider adding something else to the list (like a family clean-up time right before dinner that will include the Middles).

I always save room at the bottom of the board for the day’s dinner plan. I can’t tell you how much this has improved my life - I’m not joking! Just knowing what I am going to make for dinner the next day has been amazing. I didn’t recognize the stress that I was putting on myself by not thinking about dinner until 4:00 in the afternoon. Even when I had previously made meal plans for the week, I hadn’t been checking the plan until right before I started cooking and it was totally hijacking dinner time. I can take meat out of the freezer, send Michael to the store for extra groceries, or start part of dinner earlier (am I the only one who plans a slow-cooker meal, but forgets to start it in the morning?!). I am so much better prepared to cook when my brain starts to think about it the night before.​

The secret to making this chore board work for me is that I don’t spend a lot of time on it - about five minutes before I go to bed (while Michael is setting up coffee for the morning) - so, it isn’t a difficult commitment! I even think the board is kinda cute sitting on our counter. I prop it up on a plate stand because I like to be able to lay it down to write on it. Grouping it with a little vase of flowers (usually calendula from our garden) or a bowl of veggies looks so homey. On holidays, I draw a silly picture or illustration (my flag on the Fourth of July was pretty stellar!). If I’m exhausted and just trying to get to bed, it’s still a really quick process. 

I’m not sure if this method will work for our family forever. As the kids get older and capable of helping out more, we might need more specific and individual directions. We have the flexibility to adapt to our current needs. I don’t know… maybe we’ll just need a bigger board! Even if you don’t have a whiteboard around, you can use an empty picture frame with glass - dry erase markers work just as well on glass! Put a pretty piece of paper inside and change it out monthly or seasonally. Do you have a method of assigning chores to your kids? What has worked best for you?