Sunday, September 20, 2009

Chore Organization-Part 1

I started thinking back in the spring that I wanted to set up the boys' chore system a bit differently this year. I spent A LOT of time looking at different chore set ups. My favorite one that I read described was for the MOTH chore system. It has little carrying clip on cases for the kids chores to be in and then they move the cards to the back of the case as they finish. That sounded good, but I wanted to be able to put my own clipart on the cards and I wanted to be able to make our own cards and change them out whenever the need. I decided to use this system--Chores On A Ring. COAR? LOL That's it! My system is the COAR system. Seriously, that just came to me this second. ;D

Anyway, you can see in the photo below that each of the boys has one of those stick-on-the-wall hangers to put their routines on. In their bedroom is where we hang their morning routine cards and their evening routine cards. Before they just had a chart on the wall. Now I can change out one or two cards or change the order anytime I want. (These cards are 3x5 index cards that I contact papered.)


Here they are in a lovely 'fan' fashion.
Morning Routine is as follows:
A Rooster Crowing is the Morning Clip Art
Wake Up 7am (in theory-some days it happens-some days it doesn't)
Make Bed
Put on deodorant
Clean Underwear
Get Dressed
Put pj's away (they either put them in the hamper or place on their pillow if still clean)
Brush teeth
Wash face. Use toner. (Pooh is getting pimples already.)
Brush hair.
Dirty clothes to hamper. (there's usually something that's been left on the floor)
5 Minute Room Rescue
Put away clean clothing. (they each have a hamper where I put their clean/folded clothes--they put away)
Eat Breakfast.
Take vitamins.
Work on chores for day.
Check schedule. (school schedule)

Evening Routine (wolf howling at the moon as an evening clipart):
Lights out by 10pm (once again, in theory...sigh)
5 Minute room rescue
Bath (as needed basis)
PJ's
Snack
Brush teeth 1 minute (using a timer). Then floss.
Wash face. Use toner.
Check schedule for tomorrow. (Pooh reads my calendar to see what's happening.)
Set out clothes.
Storytime.
Prayer.

We are still working on consistency. Pooh, especially, tends to just forget to look at the cards and then will 'accidentally' skip a step here and there. Usually the brushing of the hair in the morning. Tigger forgets to put his cards back on the hanger. It's good that he usually remembers where they are, however.

Things would go better if Mom were more consistent about checking behind them. *cough, cough*

Stay tuned for part 2 of the COAR system. ;D




4 comments:

AF Wife99 said...

That is a great way to organize the chore list! I really like it, and will be implementing it....someday. I know the feeling about being consistent with checking. I remember hearing someone say that a Marine motto is "don't expect what you won't inspect", and I have been checking to make sure the kids are making their beds. But I will have to start inspecting everything else as well.

hicksgirl93 said...

Ok, your COAR chart is super cool! much better than the plain paper chart with smiley faces that I have up.

Anonymous said...

How do you make up your cards? Where do you find the cute pics....is there a site for those?

thanks!

Wendy

MasterpieceMom said...

Wendy,

Most of my pics are ClipArt that came with my Microsoft software. I also can find free clipart online. I think I usually go to the Microsoft free clipart area and hunt around.

If you do use clipart from your computer, be sure to use specific words. IOW, type in the word seven instead of just number. Sometimes that will make a big difference in what comes up.

I usually just use Word or Excel in making up my documents and cards.