We use chore packs from Steve and Teri Maxwell's book "Managers of Their Chores". I just love them. With our big happy family, chores are a constant necessity. After a few months of doing our chore packs, the children were a little less than motivated to get their chore packs on and begin in the morning. I was talking with the Lord about this and an idea came to my mind.
When I sat down with the children at breakfast, I told them we would no longer have any desserts or treats unless it was a birthday or holiday. Then came the exception. For every chore pack card they complete, they get one point. If they do jobs over and above their chore packs they get two points, and if for every subject in school they get done, they also get a point.
I also expanded this to special events. If they get a large amount of points in a day, we can go to the park, the library, the zoo....etc... It also works in reverse, one Thursday of each month my oldest daughter organizes a volleyball/ultimate frisbee/park day for all the families at our church. The children have to have so many points to be able to attend. This week, we have a similar even and they all need 45 points to go.
Each week, Kate prints me off "chore point checksheets" to tape up on the dining room wall. Then, as the kids complete jobs, schools or extra things they put tally marks in their daily box.
Now, I my management job is a little easier and I am so grateful to the Lord for His creativity. I am also grateful to the Lord for the hands full of blessings He has allowed me to train. He must have known I'd be lazy if I had any free time ☺.
May God bless your days with creativity!
Enjoy the pictures of our park trip at the end of a high-point earning day.
yes, we stayed until dark....
