One plight many homeschool moms have – particularly those with only small children – is the inability to get to all the chores during the day. We also find it difficult to assign appropriate chores that actually make our day run smoother rather than add extra to our day.
Years ago, I came up with a plan that make my day so much easier. It took care of the eye clutter around the house before we began our homeschool day. It involved my children in every day chores that NEEDED to be done, rather than busy work that they did simply because it was on an arbitrary chore list. And it was very easy for me to put together, making this homeschool mom of many VERY HAPPY!
So, here’s how it worked…
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All you need to make a Chore Board like mine is a simple dry erase board and a set of dry erase markers and an eraser. You can hang the board on the wall, set it up on a bookshelf, or lay it flat on a table when in use.
Here are some items from Amazon that might be of interest to help you get started…
Dry Erase Marker and Eraser Set
Every morning, I would get up and walk through the house looking for the things that were in the most dire need of attention. I was usually too tired at night to properly put the house back together, so often, there were dishes that needed to be done or floors that needed to be swept.
At the time I started this method, I had 2 children who could actually help out. I continued using this method for many years and eventually had more helpers. I would write on the board the names of those children old enough to actually do chores plus my own MOM section. I would then assign and write down the chores that needed to be done before we started school that day.
As we finished a chore, we had the deep satisfaction of ERASING the chore from the board. Once the children were done with their chores, we started school, and I worked through my list throughout the rest of the day. My own section usually had more than what I could get done before school, but it kept me focused during the day on the things that I felt mattered most in keeping up the house.
A Chore Board is a very simple method, but effective. When you are raising a house full of littles, the simpler, the better. This method did not require me to put in a lot of forethought. It addressed the immediate needs of the household, and it worked very well!
Give it a try and let me know how it goes!
Aimee says
When I was deep in the throes of pregnancy and newborn stage this last time and I did not even have the ability to direct the children very well, my husband started doing this on a chalkboard hanging in our kitchen. Only one of my children could read, but 3 could be helpful. They knew they had to finish their chores before Daddy got home, no matter how Mommy felt. So helpful. So thankful for my hubby for doing this. Just another variation for mamas out there.
Amy says
What a guy!
Amanda says
I have used a whiteboard for several years now. I use one that mostly covers the freezer part of the fridge. I put my menu plan in one corner, a weekly planner in another- very simple. I color code (no one gets red)each ones activities/chores. I put my grocery list in another corner so everyone can add to it (then I snap a picture of it before I go shopping), in the center are all the things that I need to do, in my color, kind of like a brain dump marking today’s goals with a red T (t for today). It works for me. We don’t have a lot of kids but we do have a lot going on. I’m glad that I’m not the only one who loves to erase a checklist!
Amy says
Erasing is therapeutic for sure! Great ideas here!
CabotMama says
I love how simple & practical & doable & inexpensive your suggestions are!!! When I create a solution like this, I think I’m being a cheapskate or a no-frills mom. But when I read your post, I realize I’m being realistic! And most importantly, freeing myself and my financial resources to be spent on better things – like getting those chores done & spending time with my Littles!
Thank you!!!
Amy says
Years ago someone I knew who scrapbooked said, “Fancy is fun, but simple is done.” That has become my motto in many aspects of my life! If I can do it simply and get it done, then that’s my method! You don’t get extra points for making it hard on yourself!
Emily says
Hey Amy! I love this! The simpler the better when it comes to raising so many kids. I do the same thing with my six littles but I never thought about the satisfaction of having the kids erase off the board when they are done. I will definitely be changing that! Thanks!
Susan Geddes says
that’s so sensible! Some of those chore charts have a ton of stuff on them that we don’t even do…! Just now we’re working a lolly stick system, they get put in jars with their names on, or at least they will – we’ve been working on getting school up and running first.
Vicki says
We have used a whiteboard system for about 4 years, starting when I had 5 children under 9 and I was pregnant with my sixth. I write up all the jobs I can see after each meal and then we divide it up between us. Sometimes the little ones help the bigger ones. I have never been able to maintain any other system, but this is so easy and it works.
Diana Swavely says
I’m due with number 7 on the 7th of this month and this worked like a charm this morning! My littles are 9,7,7,5,3, and 2. They loved erasing their chore off the board, and one kid even rewrote it when his sibling erased it for him so he could do it himself!
Amy says
Wonderful!
Tammy says
Even though I only have 3 children, I too have used this method. I always get up earlier than everyone else, so it’s easy for me to look around and see what needs to be done. I don’t have a dry erase board, just a note pad. The girls always know to look at the end of the table for the list. Having chores delegated just makes everything run smoother.
Dragomara says
If you have a laminator you can make your own dry-erase-board by laminating a sheet of paper with the things you want to stay on there already on it.
Regg says
We have regular chores, such as dishes, that the kids do daily that don’t go on the white board. All the other miscellaneous odds and ends though get written there. It is so simple yet highly effective. Our white board is actually a full size one that doubles as a homeschool chalkboard. The other thing I found VERY helpful was to write the day’s menu in a small corner of the board, right above where I list the miscellaneous chores when needed. This has cut back nearly completely on the , “Mama, what are we eating?” questions. I don’t know about y’all, but that drove me NUTS.