Are Chores Good for Kids?

Brawn Meets Brawny (paper towels that is)!

Well, it was one of those late nights for the kids last night as they got home from the Monster Truck races quite late so they slept in until 10:00AM this morning at which time I did something I rarely do - placed a box of PopTarts on the table and said have at it. They like them untoasted.

Then at 1:00PM we had brunch - eggs, sausage, toast and chocolage chip pancakes which are a favorite around here! After brekky, we all did our chores. Here is what we do:

Josh
Clean Litter Box
Put any loose shoes where they belong
Make Bed
Brush Teeth
Put clean clothes away
Empty house trash cans

Ken
Make bed
Brush teeth
Put clean clothes away
Clean one bathroom
Read for 30 minutes
Do a practice math page

Zack
Make bed (he makes it perfectly)
Pick up any toys that are out of place
Brush teeth
Put clean clothes away

Sophia
Brush Teeth
Put clean clothes away
Help mama clean the kitchen and make breakfast

Stephanie does all of the laundry each and every day! Gotta love that! She is one of those people who launders clothes perfectly and folds them so straight and flat! She is gifted.

Mike is in charge of taking out the trash and doing any other type of manly work around here. He also keeps up after himself.

All kids swap turns cleaning up after meals. One day it is Mike and Kenny. The next it is Stephanie and Josh. Sophia and Zack clear the table each night even the china - no accidents yet knock on wood. They love helping.

That is pretty much how our mornings look. Soon when school starts all of this will be moved to the afternoon/evening time. Of course, depending upon their homework loads, we will adjust accordingly. I am not one of those people who believe that allowing "kids to be kids" means not giving them any responsibilities. I believe that we must equip them for their future. When they are adults, these household tasks will be known so well that they can finish quickly, and then have FUN, FUN, FUN. Or, if we do not equip them, they will have to waste lots of time learning how to run a house. I mean I can't imagine not teaching the kids to clean a kitchen or bathroom. I can't imagine not teaching Sophia how to cook. Chances are that the kids will be able to afford a maid and a cook, but if not, they will not be ill prepared. It will come as no surprise to them that keeping a house takes a little bit of work each day or a lot of work each week, or a ton of work each month. What do you think about kids having chores?

Zack and Ken are eager to start school! Josh is okay with it, but would rather not have homework. Josh is excited though that his teacher is a woman and is pretty. Yep, he already thinks that way. Once when he was five, we went to church and he asked one of the ladies who helped in his class sporadically if she changed the color of her hair. She was shocked. She had dyed it the day before! He is just in tune with the ladies. And, lucky for him, he'll know how to help his woman keep house! Who will be able to resist a guy who notices when his wife gets her hair done and then tells her he folded the laundry while she was grocery shopping????

Krista, I found the dress at Nordstrom for only $16.00. Great deal! Kim, do you live in Texas now or still in CA?