As a parent, you may become frustrated with your children if they easily forget tasks such as finishing their homework and doing their chores. Sometimes, children need a bit of help remembering to get things done each day. According to the book, "The Successful Child," keeping kids on task by drawing up a chore chart will teach them time-management skills and help them complete all of the jobs that they need to perform each day.
Step 1
Make a chore chart. On a piece of poster board or a white board, make a list of tasks that your child should complete that day, in the order that you'd like them completed. Be sure to include chores, homework and, if needed, personal hygiene activities such as brushing teeth and taking a bath.
Step 2
Mark off each task as your child performs it. If you've made the chart on poster board, you can use decorative stickers to check off the jobs your kid remembers. If you're using a white board, simply checking them off with markers will do nicely.
Step 3
Offer gentle reminders to keep your child on track. Don't nag; it is his responsibility to make sure that his chart is complete by the end of the day. However, if your child is struggling to remember what comes next, you can help him by pointing out the task on the chart.
Step 4
Assign chores that are developmentally appropriate for your child. A 3-year-old may be able to fold towels and make her bed, for example, while a 10-year-old can vacuum and load the dishwasher. Your child is more likely to finish all her chores if she can accomplish them without struggling with attention span issues.
Step 5
Tweak the schedule if necessary. Children may need to cut back on household chores, for example, particularly if they're having a hard time in school or keep a busy schedule. The point of helping kids remember day-to-day tasks is not to fill their days from sunrise to sundown, but rather to offer the structure they need to be successful.
Step 6
Acknowledge your child's success. By praising your child for remembering to complete his tasks each day, you're encouraging him to remember the jobs in the future. Soon, the day-to-day schedule should become second nature to your child, and he will need little help remembering his jobs.
Things You'll Need
- Poster board or white board
- Markers
- Stickers (optional)
References
- "The Successful Child"; William Sears, Martha Sears and Elizabeth Pantley; 2002
- Parents.com: Say Yes to Chores
- Dr. Michele Borba: Ending Chore Wars
