Again, I apologize for the quality of the photos. I am working my hardest on getting a decent camera!

Getting the kids to do their jobs is a constant struggle. A fight that I know I am just starting. I also know that I am not alone and that I always learn better ways to do things from other people who have struggled with this also. So send some help my way!

We are really good with a “method” for a few weeks and then we fall off the wagon when the “fun” new idea is getting old and they realize that I have tricked them into doing their jobs again. 

The problem is that I hate to have to trick them, or bribe, or beg, or scream, or demand etc.  I wish they would just want to have a clean house. Yea right. 

The method that has worked the best, although it is on and off again, is this one I will describe below. 

We have a family meeting, usually on a Monday night, and we let the kids make a list of things that they think they should be responsible for on a daily basis. We talk about how it is important mentally, spiritually, and physically to have a clean house and to work together. Paul usually talks about what it takes to be a family, how we have to work together, and the importance of doing our part. All the kids make this list even the 3 year old. We have another list of weekly and monthly items as well, but I don’t keep that one posted in view all day as they seemed to get overwhelmed. 

We then talk about what they can earn if they consistently do their jobs. These are not material things. They are things like a date with Paul and I to a movie by themselves. Or choosing an entire meal that I make for them including dessert. They have chosen to have a friend spend the day with us. We usually write their wish list on the back of the chore chart. When they have 2 weeks of all their chores done every day they get to pick one of their awards.  They typically earn an award about once a month.