I first saw this chore pack system used on the Duggar’s Show 19 Kids and Counting. Here’s our version of their chore pack system that we have used for over a year with great success!
Walk with the King!
Courtney
Women Living Well
Resource: Managing Your Chores Chore Pack System
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I’ve been thinking alot about chores for dd. She is only 4 years old, but I’ve seen a desire to help around the house. She really likes to do the things that i do. Does anyone have chores that your children are expected to do? If so, how young were they when you started?
Cindy – my daughter just turned 5 so these were her chores during the age of 4. So all of the above chores your 4 year old would be capable of. I failed to mention that I go along side of them as they complete these chores helping them or straightening other things in the same room that they are working in. I am present, helping and supervising.
Hope that helps!
Courtney
Courtney~ I just LOVE this!! My oldest, Cadi, is 4 turning 5 this fall and then I have an almost 2 year old boy, Scotty. I am so going to try this starting this fall when we start schooling again. Thank you!!
Great idea! I’ve seen that system and wondered about it. Thank you for sharing your version! Love it!
I have the Duggar’s book and have really wanted to do this but couldn’t remember exactly how it went since it is in storage (we’re in a transition right now
). My oldest is 2 1/2. I think that he’s old enough to start with an easy version of it!…what do you think??? (I don’t want to wait too long…I waited until just recently to start memory verses with him and I wish I wouldn’t have waited so long! He picked it up immediately!)
At the age of 2 1/2, all of the work he would do would be along side of you. For example, give your child a duster to dust while you dust. Give your child a damp rag to wipe floors while you are cleaning out the bathroom, let your child stir the bowl when you are cooking etc. As you work, make it fun and soon they will be asking to do more. My children at 5 and 7 honestly bicker over who gets to “stir” the toilet (or scrub out the toilet with the brush). They don’t see it as work YET lol! I know that time is coming but until then I’m enjoying their great attitudes. And they are capable of so much that they are truly a big help!
Hope this helps!
Courtney
I have been using the chore packs sense the Maxwell’s published their book (it’s been at least 4 years now.) I love it. We’re working this summer on “perfecting” the chore packs so that when we start school at the end of July it’s just one less routine we have to learn.
I have a chore pack for everyone ages 2 and up. My now 3 yod had just the basics that I would walk him through: get dressed, make bed (that’s the time I teach that skill), brush teeth, put clothes in hamper, pick up toys, and then a chore downstairs that he would help with. I will make a chore pack for my now 20 yod in November after her birthday.
I also make a chore pack for specific chores around the house, like the bathroom. This has helped my older children learn how to clean the bathroom with minimal help and training from me. This is the first year I have been able to release my husband from helping with the house cleaning because my 3 older children (7, 9, 11yod) have taken most of his jobs now.
The great thing about the chore packs is that it gets the children involved in the house. They aren’t idle. They learn at an early age that they can contribute AND it bring small amount of independence just when it’s needed. My older kids are now required to get up and get started with prompting and they must be done by a certain time. This has freed me to train my younger kids the way I trained them.
Great video. I know that many will benefit from the idea of the pictures. I have too many to do the pictures with. I finally decided to use the Choreware that the Maxwell’s provide and it made my chore planning so much easier.
God Bless. Keep the ideas coming. We love them.
That’s wonderful Courtney! Love it. Do you have them come back once they’ve completed a chore and get a new picture? Do they have to so all those things every morning, or do you switch it up?
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I put 4-5 pictures in their packet after breakfast and then we all get to work making beds, getting dressed, and starting laundry, dishes etc. I put chores in their packet based on what needs done. For example, if one of them was diligent and had already gotten dressed and made their bed before breakfast – then I would get them going watering the flowers, sweeping etc. It changes everyday based on what needs done in the morning.
They help me with the big cleaning (which happens in the afternoons and looks different each day)- vacuuming, dusting, bathrooms etc. but my system on that is for another day’s post lol! But this is how we do the daily “fight the clutter – keep the home in order” chores.
Courtney
I like the necklace idea!
We are doing a similar style, but I put a magnet strip on the back and matte the chores in color. Each child has a different color. I have a line down the middle of the fridge and they move their jobs from one side to the other as they complete them.
I see several bonuses with your method: not having to stop back at the fridge to see what’s next, not having to matte each photo (easier to change up who does what) and I love your bonus sticker!
What fun! Thanks for the great ideas!
I LOVE this!
)
We do a similar version, but with an actual Chore Chart that is hung up on their bedroom walls. I think it is a GREAT idea to have it hanging on their body, though, so they are constantly reminded of the things they need to get done, instead of having to be reminded by me to go back to their room and find out which chores they still need to get done.
One thing I do, though, is on the back of the chore pictures, I write down step-by-step instructions of how those chores are to be completed (in order for the chore to be considered “done” and marked off their lists). For the little ones who are unable to read yet, I walk them through it for the first few times, until they get the hang of it. My kids actually enjoy doing their chores, which is something I never thought was possible!
Thanks for the post!
Loved your ideas on the chore pack.
Great video, Courtney! We did something very similar when the girls were younger, except we had the pictures on the refrigerator and as they completed their chores they would put their pictures in a little pouch attached at the bottom of the chore board. It was easy for us all to see when the chores were completed.
We’ve been using our own modified version of ChorePacks for about a year now. My kids have some special needs, so we have to break everything down into step by step instructions, so ours are quite a bit bigger than that (they’re also older, so they have more responsibilities
), but it works really well for them. In fact, one of my projects for this weekend is sort of “redoing” our chorepacks, to make them more doable for the summer. 
Wonderful!
We implemented a chore pack version for our home. It was wonderful! It was a tremendous load off mom. It’s a great way to build responsibility and dependability.
sad to say I don’t see a thing other than the opening sentence of the post, and the signature. What am I missing?
Marni – it’s video…don’t know why you can’t see it…
Courtney,
Your chore pack seems like a good idea. I’ll see if it works with my wife (clean desk, tidy shoes, weed garden…)
Thanks, I’ll let you know.
J
We have five children and run a small farm so our chore pack is more like a chore “load” but still most days the work is done with cheerful hearts I’m grateful to say. I think if WE do our work happily and willingingly so will the children! Also we don’t offer money, instead they get coupons each day and then when they accumulate a certain number of coupons (depending on the age of the child) they earn a “coupon day” which is a 1/2 day out ALONE with mom or dad! These have been super fun for all of us and led to some deep and meaningful talks during our time out. Oh, the budget for the outing is just $10 – enough to share a sandwhich or enjoy some ice cream.
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