A couple of weeks ago, I started my nine year old son on a chore chart in response to his complaint that he wished he had more money to buy all the things he wanted. He had just spent about $30 of his own money on a video game, and knowing we were heading to the states soon, where there would be so much more he would see at the mall and want, he was concerned that he wouldn't have enough to get anything else. So, I suggested he start earning weekly allowance money by doing chores. Surprisingly, he agreed to it and has impressed me with making his bed regularly, putting away his own laundry, helping out with yard work, and doing various other tasks around the house that normally is accompanied by much whining and complaining.
I've tried charts like this in the past for my kids with special privileges being given when they do well, but it's never really stuck long term. This time, I think we can make it work. I mean, I have my very own "chore chart" every week called my "to-do list." This is a very useful concept to teach my son. Of course, things like hanging his towel up after he takes a shower, taking his plate to the kitchen after dinner, and generally cleaning up after himself are not part of the chore chart, much to his chagrin. I explained to him that those are habits he should be in without having to be compensated for it. After all, as adults, we do that kind of stuff every day without thinking, hopefully. That or someone is doing it for us or we are living like slobs. :)
I hope that my son will learn to appreciate these habits and even begin to find intrinsic motivation to take care of his home and himself one day, showing respect and consideration for those he lives and shares his life with. My "to do list" is motivated intrinsically now. I don't do the yard work because I am getting paid, and I don't clean the house because someone is giving me special privileges to do it. I am motivated to do it because it makes life more pleasant, because it keeps the chaos to a minimum, and because it's healthy for me and my family and shows pride in the blessing of having my own home that I worked so hard to get in the first place. Who ever thought I chore chart could teach so much? No matter how much or little my son gets out of the chart, it's a starting place toward independence, toward teaching responsibility, respect for your home and your parents, and consideration of others living in the same space, and that's worth more money than I could ever hand to him out of my small wallet. :)
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