Chores Update
I was initially disappointed by how quickly Isaac and Charlotte’s zest for chores dissipated, but things are improving now. Understanding timing is important. I’ve learned that they have no desire to do chores if they’re already doing something that they enjoy. That seems like an obvious lesson, but I tried bribing them away from toys in order to do work and it didn’t work and just frustrated me. If I really want to motivate my children, I must create a scarcity that can only be filled through chores. I haven’t been willing to create much of a scarcity for play because they get into trouble if I don’t give them engaging play options. There are two types of things that I am able to create a scarcity in and I have used those two things as my motivators. One is treats/sweets and the other is one-on-one time with mom. As you can see from the picture, they are required to complete four chores for a treat of their choosing. The second part is trickier. Each time t
hey fill a small treat strip, they get to add a picture of themselves to the outing progress cha rt. After four pictures (16 chores) they get an outing with mom. The other children go to Grandma’s house while the child who earned the outing spends time with mom. Outings include things like a bicycle ride (which Isaac is currently working toward), swimming, a trip to the library, or a trip to the park. This system has been rewarding in multiple ways. It allows me to regulate treat intake better, the kids are enjoying doing chores, and I get to spend one on one time with each of them (Nicole gets her mom time at 2:00AM or 4:00AM ).