What are some good ways to motivate preteens to do chores?

Question

My kids need some sort of system that will motivate them to remember to do their daily chores...forgetfulness is running rampid in my household.

Answer 1

Some people find that if they don't let their kids watch the tv or go on the computer until they finish their chores, they will be motivated to do them. If they don't make their bed, for instance, don't make it for them and when they rush home from school to watch a program, etc, they will have to take time to make it first.
Explain to them why it is important for them to do chores and that it really helps you enormously when they pitch in. When they do a good job, praise them. Praise them in front of your friends and they might even try to do the chore better. Try not to criticize the job they do or they will definitely balk at doing it again.I don't think it is good to pay children for doing chores. Explain that they are part of a family unit, that everyone has to do his/her part to keep the household running. Ask them what would happen if you or your spouse stopped shopping for food, maintaining the house and car repairs, cooking, washing clothes, etc. One thing my daughter does is if the dirty clothes aren't in the clothes hamper, if the kids run out of clean clothes they have learned not to trust that Mom will go through their room looking for dirty clothes. It is hard to let them take the consequences for their actions but it seems to work well in the long run by making kids more responsible and I think they have higher self-esteem if they feel what they do to help is really making a difference.

Answer 2

With my girls who are 8 and 11, I created a chart that had all the chores that needed to be done in the house. Some were daily and others not as often. they were each assigned 10 chores and for extra points they could do any of the other chores on the list. We kept track all month of all the points and whoever had the most points won the larger gift certificate. We had one for five and one for fifteen to the store of their choice.

My house has never been so shiny. they made a competition out of it and in 30 days we had more than 1000 chores done between the two of them. They even found things on their own to do just for extra points. We had a lot of fun making the chart together and deciding what needed done. It worked for us better than I had hoped.

Answer 3

My daughter is 7 and we have a chore chart...she earns .25 for each chore she finishes each day. At the end of the week she can earn $7.50. There are also 2 extra chores that can earn her more each week. Even if an allowance isn't the answer, there has to be something that they enjoy that could be an incentive for them. Going to a movie, xtra time online or phone, a new book, movie, game (whatever they are into), shopping at their favorite store...there are lots of things! Good Luck!

Answer 4

Same here!! i can really understand. We can up with this:

For each person - My self, my Husband, and both our son and daughter, we took poster board and made a list of each persons daily chores. The kids have their lists posted on their bedroom doors and mine and my husbands are in the kitchen. I know it sounds silly, but I can ask each child - did you do todays chores and we look at the list. Seeing it in print really helps - espically for our son and myself because we both have ADD. It helps me a great deal and cuts down on the nagging, begging and asking. Our kids are 12 and 13. They get an allowance each week for the chores that are done. If something didn't get done or I have to do their chore then they owe me for it. For example, if the trash didn't get taken out and I have to do it, then who ever that chore belonged to owes me a dollar. If I ask them to do one of mine then I owe them a dollar. I have to say it has worked well for the last year, they aren't about to give up any money if they can help it. Both kids say they like the lists becasue it really makes it easier to remember. I hope you get some good ideas from your question. I will be interested in what others come up with!!! Good Luck!!

Answer 5

Make a point system where they get points for douing chores. After that give rewards for points, but also be able to take points away when they do not listen. The rewards do not have to be material items, it can be watch tv for 30 mins. You need to make things rewards that may not really be consider a reward.

Answer 6

i understand how you sense. i'm behind in cleansing myself this week and easily at the prompt are not waiting to get influenced. I do a ton of cleansing for paintings also (paintings with animals) and its merely too much some days. One aspect that helps me is to pick on 3 concerns with a view to make an excellent replace in a speedy era of time. furnish the rooms a can and see what the topics are. For me making the mattress, picking up the laundry in my room and cleansing off the bookcase make an excellent huge difference. Its no longer desirable even if its a initiate and seeing it commerce promptly receives me truly more beneficial triggered to do somewhat more beneficial. there's a e book I received at the moment stated as the position of residing that cleans itself. It takes you with the help of steps to ascertain the right thanks to get rid of muddle and guard it from happening and to dodge between the needed cleansing themes so that you'll sparkling a lot less and it takes a lot less time. in any case. i'd merely slow. proper now probable pass be certain on up the whole dirty dishes and take them to the kitchen. Or a similar with the dirty laundry. straightforward a bathroom. Then quit for the evening. merely do it in small jobs that take no longer as a lot as twenty minutes then pass do even if exciting like watch some television, examine a financial ruin in a ebook, etc then do a diverse interest that takes 20 minutes or a lot less. Makes it quite a lot less daunting. Taking my personal suggestion now and going to pick upon up some clothing :)

Answer 7

Completed Chore = A Privilege Granted (ie., time with friends, time on computer, telephone or TV, new shoes, ride to the mall, etc)

Answer 8

Treat it like a game, make housechores appear as if it is lotsa fun.

Make 'score board' for the best helper of the month with points and whatever, let them challange each other with their task to achieve being the best helper.

Let them have something (rewards) to work forward to.

Answer 9

Money or gifts; tell them that you'll give them an extra 5 bucks or something a week depending on how they did their chores that week. Or if you can't swing that; tell them they get a "pizza night" or something.

Answer 10

Money is always good. If that doesn't work, stop feeding them until they remember to do their chores.