Teen Chore Success v2010
Transcript of Teen Chore Success v2010
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Teen Chore Success
Getting Your Teen to do Chores
with Less He adache and Hassle
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© www.money-and-kids.com
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Table of Contents
Welcome.............................................................................................. 1
Overview.............................................................................................. 2
The Steps:
Step 1. Start with the Basics – Figuring Out How to Communicate with
Your Teen...................................................................................... 4
Step 2. Basic Things to Consider Before You Make the List...................... 7
Step 3: Determining What Chores Need to Be Done............................... 9
Step 4: Dividing Up the Chores: What is Your Teen Going to Do?..........12
Step 5: Tracking What Gets Done – and What Doesn’t............................14
Step 6: Is It About Money…or Not?..........................................................17
Step 7: Write it Down – and Get Going!...................................................20
Extra Stuff to Help:
Appendix A: Spring and Summer Chore Ideas
Appendix B: Fall Chore Ideas
Appendix C: Teen Chore List Worksheet (Blank)
Appendix D: Teen Chore Contract (Blank)
Appendix E: Teen Chore Contract Supplement (Blank)
Appendix F: Teen Chore Contract (Completed Sample)
Appendix G: Teen Chore Contract Supplement (Completed Sample)
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Welcome to Teen Chore Success!
Congratulations!
You have taken a great step on your journey to build a successful chore
program for your family and teens. I admire anyone who is willing to
accept the challenge and make an investment in their family. This is YOU!
This guide is designed to walk you through building a chore program,
including using a chore contract, that not only works now but which will
grow with you, your teens and the rest of your family.
Your job is simply to read this guide and take it step by step to get to theprogram and balance that works for you. It won’t always be easy – and
some days and weeks will go more smoothly than others. That is both the
challenge and the reward.
Sounds a lot like parenting in general, doesn’t it?
Good luck ~ and please email me at [email protected] anytime
and let me know how you’re doing. I’d love to celebrate your successes
with you!
~Brad Castro
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Teen Chores: Teaching and Encouraging Responsibility
Parents view chores as a way to teach kids that they have responsibilities as
members of the household. Teens think of chores as stuff their parents
think up to keep them from having fun. Ultimately, teen chores are reallyabout learning key life lessons that should start at home.
As Dr. Virginia Shiller, Ph.D. in child psychology wrote in her book,
“Rewards for Kids!,” many families in today’s society have few or no
expectations of their children working or helping out in their own home.
Without that structure, kids are more likely to take the comforts of home
for granted and learn little or nothing about personal responsibility. That
can become an even bigger issue when the kids become teens.
As kids get older, parents expect more. Teens can, and should, help out
more than they did when they were younger. But, teens that haven’t been
used to having chores or otherwise helping out may not come to the same
conclusion so easily.
At the core, teen chores usually represent an introduction (or continuation)
to work (paid or not) and household responsibility. These chores should:
• Instill that everyone in the family has a part in keeping the house
running smoothly, and that it’s not just part of being a parent to doall the work
• Demonstrate that there are rewards and penalties when something
gets done or doesn't. This is true whether money is attached or not.
• Come with a sense of accomplishment.
• Help build self-esteem.
• Help lay the groundwork for a good work ethic.
• Earn praise for a job well-done (and sometimes just done).
Most of these lessons apply to many other things in life: schoolwork, sportsand eventually paid work outside of the house. Why not get teens off to a
good start by teaching them at home through chores and household
responsibility?
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Once you decide to move forward with having your teen do chores, the
work begins - not just for them, but for you too. The biggest key to cashing
in on the positive aspects above is to follow through. That means assigning
chores that are appropriate for their age and then making sure that the
chores get done as agreed.
In the pages that follow, there are ideas on chores for teens as well as a
couple of ways to make sure they get done. Modify all suggestions to fit
your family as needed. Not every idea will work for every family – pick and
choose what will work for you. A critical part of this is being flexible to
finding a solution that balances getting stuff done with teaching teens their
household responsibilities.
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Step 1:
Start with the Basics –
Figuring Out How to Communicate with Your Teen
Even if your teen has been doing chores since they were younger, hittingpuberty can change how you need to manage their chore program. If your
teen hasn’t had chores, you will be facing similar issues. It all starts with
the communication.
As your child goes from toddler to youngster to preteen to teenager,
something in what you say can get lost in translation. They can give you
that blank stare as if the words that are coming out of your mouth sound
like the unseen teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons.
It’s not easy to improve the communication bridges with a teen, but it’s
important to try as these years and the choices they make now will have a
vital impact on their future.
Here are a few tips to help you get started:
1. Watch your body language. How you move, stand and sit say a lot about
you and your current mood. When a person is tired, they tend to slump.
When angered, your jaw muscles tighten and your eyes narrow into slits.Teenagers are good at interpreting body language, especially that of their
parents. Your body language can give you away when you are talking to
them.
Keep it open and honest. Avoid sitting with your arms crossed, eyes
looking away from them or taking an aggressive stance. Conversations
about chores and responsibilities can easily turn negative, and everyone’s
body language will start to show that.
2. Make eye contact. When you don’t look at the person you are talking to
it says that you are either hiding something or you are not at all interested
in what they have to say. Your teenager will shut down emotionally when
they suspect that you are not “tuned in” to them.
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Sit comfortably and give your teen undivided attention with consistent eye
contact. It lets them know that you care. Do this as often as you can when
you are talking to them and not just when you are trying to get them to do
chores.
3. Keep your emotions in check. Remember back to when you were a
teenager. Some of the things you said to your parents were aimed at
freaking them out or just getting a reaction. Teenagers will push your
buttons if they can (lots of younger kids will, too, so you probably already
have a good idea if your teen falls into this category).
Don’t go overboard and get upset. Their target is the situations they know
make you mad. They know what buttons to push. Instead, take a deep
breath and ignore the taunt. Do the opposite of what they expect. Onsome level, they want you to see through their ploy and find out the real
problem.
For example, your teen may say that since he isn’t really home that much,
he doesn’t need to do any chores. Either you or the younger siblings can do
those things now. As tempting as it is to respond with “I’m not your maid
(or butler)!” that reaction won’t get go very far towards the goal of keeping
the house working smoothly and teaching him responsibility.
Instead, you can take out his chore contract and ask him which chores he
will no longer do – and which privileges or money/allowance he’d like to
also give up in return. If you don’t have a chore contract (yet!), you can still
have that conversation. It may be that if he doesn’t pitch in on the laundry,
he doesn’t have clean clothes when he wants or needs them. The key is to
do is as reasonably as you can.
4. Ask them about their day. This technique works with spouses also.
Even if your teen only grunts or says the obligatory, “It was okay,” askanyway. Your show of caring can go a long way to convince them that you
are interested in the things that they do and how they feel (although their
reaction may be that you are just being nosy). While it may not make them
jump up and want to help out immediately, it can help build a longer term
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bond that will make them more likely to pitch in (or at least not grouse
about it as much).
5. Be honest with them. If you don’t understand the situation they are
talking about then say so. Kids know when you are being insincere. Discussthe situation until you get an idea of where they are coming from. Your
teen may not mind explaining as much as long as they know you are
listening. Having you listen is a validation that you care about what is going
on in their lives. For most people – teens or not – it is easier to help out
others once you feel like you’ve had a chance to talk about your own stuff.
The biggest key, though, is to listen and let it stop unless they specifically
ask for something. They may not want or need help or suggestions.
Everyone needs to vent and to have a sounding board. In some cases, theymay also want advice. But, if they feel like each discussion results in advice
(potentially seen as meddling) or a lecture, they are going to share less and
less.
6. Allow them their privacy and give them some space. It can be
frustrating staring at a pile of dishes or laundry and an unmowed front lawn
while your teen is in their room for some private time. Everyone needs
time to decompress. The key is to finding a good balance between the teen
veg time and what needs to get done otherwise.
The best time to address that is before it becomes an issue. Agree with
your teen that they get a certain amount of time each day (30 minutes as
an example) to be in their room or other private place undisturbed. They
then need to agree, in return, that they will take on their share of
household responsibility based on their chore contract or list.
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Step 2:
Basic Things to Consider Before You Make the List
Before the first list of chores comes out (or you finalize that chore
contract), step back for a moment and think about how your house andyour teen really work. It can be tempting to make a long list of all the stuff
that needs to get done and start assigning it out. Sometimes, that may be
exactly what needs to happen if it’s been a couple of crazy days (or weeks)
and things are a big mess.
For a week in and week out chore routine, there are some basics to keep in
mind. Check these ideas out before you finish that list.
1. Consider what chores your teen might like doing – or at least like
doing more than some of the other options. There are teens who are
fine with vacuuming or doing laundry because they can plug in their
iPod at the same time. Other teens may like mowing the yard or
other outside chores. Just make sure that the chore is within their
capabilities and maturity.
The step alone can eliminate ongoing struggles with getting certain
things done, so don’t skip it without at least considering the options.
Be sure to involve your teen, too. You might be surprised by whatthey say.
2. Know what needs to be done – and be willing to let go of exactly
how it gets done. Not everyone will do a task the same. Teens and
parents are no different. As long as there are no safety issues and
the task is getting done as needed, be willing to accept that there
may be other ways to do the chore than the way you have been
doing it. Giving some freedom in the process may make your teenmore likely to do the chore (and may even result in a better way to
do it).
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3. Make sure they have the training that they need to do the chores.
They might need to be taught how to actually do the laundry or start
the dishwasher. As simple as those may sound to adults who do
them all the time, it’s worth the time to teach your teen the details
so the whites stay white and the dishes get clean.
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Step 3:
Determining What Chores Need to Be Done – The Family View
If your teen has been doing chores for some time, you might be thinking
that there aren’t other chore options. If your kid hasn’t had ongoinghousehold responsibilities, you may not even be sure where to start in
figuring out what and how much they should do.
One way to look at both situations is to take a step back and review
everything that needs to be done in your house in a typical week. Some
chores will be daily, others will be weekly and some may land in between.
A snapshot of a typical week will help give you an idea of the bigger picture
and a good list to divide up between everyone in the house to share
responsibilities.
As you review the lists below, keep in mind that any chore should be
adapted for your family and your teen. No list or recommendation is a one-
size-fits-all answer. Be flexible and make these fit your life (or toss them
out if that's what works best).
Here are the basic categories to consider:
• Routine household chores
o Washing dishes, loading/unloading dishwashero Setting the table for dinner
o Washing, drying, folding laundry
o Cleaning kitchen including wiping down counters
o Cleaning bathrooms (sinks, toilets, showers)
o Cleaning common family areas (halls, living room) including
vacuuming and dusting
o Cleaning own room
o Washing windows
o Emptying household trash and taking it to the curb
o Gathering recyclables and bundling them for pickup or delivery
o Cleaning the garage
o Clearing out and donating old clothes or other household
items
o Plan and cook one meal per week for the family
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• Pet-related chores
o Making sure there is food and fresh water available for all pets
o Walking the dog(s)
o Emptying litter boxo Changing/cleaning fish tank water
o Cleaning bird or other animal cages
o Bathing the dog
• Outside chores
o Mowing the lawn
o Watering plants, flowers, gardens
o Weeding flower beds or gardens
o Raking leaveso Shoveling snow
o Sweeping off porch, deck or patio
o Cleaning outdoor furniture
o Small painting and/or staining projects
o Scrubbing or powerwashing sidewalks or driveways
In addition to these ideas, there are even more seasonal chore ideas (inside
and out) that might work for you. Check out a full list of spring and summer
chores in Appendix A and a fall chores list in Appendix B.
Depending on your family and your house, some of these may not apply at
all or you may need to add other items. The important part is to complete
the list of everything (as best you can) before you start dividing it up. It
will help keep frustrations down to not have lots of changes to the chore
list or contract for stuff that got forgotten.
With your list in hand, write beside each item how often each task needs to
be done and how long it takes to do it. This is important because it will
help balance out each person’s list in terms of how much time it takes and
not just the number of chores on the list.
For example, you could have each person have 5 different chores. If one
person’s list is all daily chores and the other’s list is all weekly chores, that
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may not be the best balance. (Check out Appendix C for a template to use
to make your list with frequency, time involved, etc.)
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Step 4:
Dividing Up the Chores: What is Your Teen Going to Do?
Once you have an overall list for your entire household plus an idea of what
each family member might enjoy or prefer doing, you can move on tomaking a specific list for your tween or teen. It’s what you’ve been waiting
for!
Here are some simple steps to making that list:
1. Take your household chore list with the things that need to be done
and take a new look at it.
2. Add four new columns to it:
• Must be done by an adult
• Can be done by teen with training• Can be done by teen now
• Name of person who would like to do it
3. Go through each chore and figure out which of these new columns
they into.
This will give you a final list of chores that your teen can do and may even
prefer to do. Depending on what is now on the list, you might be done. For
example, if you have five total chores – some that are daily and some that
are weekly with about 30 minutes a day, that is a nice balance and a doableamount of time. On the other hand, if there are 10 chores on the list that
could take 90 minutes on one day, you probably need to whittle it down a
little more.
Next, look at your teen’s interests and their other obligations such as
school, clubs and sports. How much time is reasonable to have them doing
chores each day or week? Should most chores be done during the week or
on the weekends – or should it be both depending on your family?
Based on this final review, pick out the top 3 – 5 chores as starting a point.
This is true for all family members and for all chores. That may mean that
there are some chores that don’t make the cut to be initially tagged to
someone in the family. Don’t freak out if that is the case. It is more
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important to get started on stable ground. You can always add more as you
go along.
There are just two more things to consider before calling this a done deal:
1. how to keep track of the chores, and2. what privileges or compensation will be tied to the chores
Let’s tackle each of those now!
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Step 5:
Tracking What Gets Done – and What Doesn’t
There are a couple of ways to track the chores that need to be done – and
whether they are actually getting done. When kids are younger, chorecharts are a great visual way to do this. As kids move into the teen years,
they may feel like chore charts are too much like little kid things. That
makes the better options for this age group chore lists and chore contracts.
Chore Lists
A list is an easy thing to make, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. The list
should include a couple of columns to spell out the key parts of each task.
These could include the name of the chore, how often it gets done and how
much it earns (if applicable). It is best to have a separate list for each teento keep arguments about who did what to a minimum. There is an example
of this type of list in Appendix C for you to use or copy/modify.
Chore Contracts
The reasons to use a contract are not much different than the reasons for
using a chore list. Each provides a way to document the chores that are to
be done. By doing so, helps make sure that everyone agrees on what will
be done.
Contracts can help even more depending on how you write them. They can
put in writing nearly all aspects of chores - which is something that chore
charts usually don't do as well. It can be a challenge to put all the parts of
chores (how, when, where and consequences of not doing them) on to a
chart or list. All of those pieces can be put into a contract without much of
a problem.
Plus, for teens that need and want more independence, contracts are a
step toward adulthood. Most contracts are legal documents that teenscannot sign until they are 18. Having a contract that they can sign is
another step in their maturity. It gives them a chance to have something
more formal without the same risk as signing a binding contract with a third
party.
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That is really the only difference between the supplement and the original
chore contract. The other basic parts of the agreement are the same and
will likely include:
• What: Which chores will be done.
•
When: Timing of the chores. Are they daily? Weekly? Some of both?
• Where: Where the chores get done. This might all get covered in
the "what" section. For example "clean bedroom" is both what and
where.
• Why: Why the chores are being done. This could include how much
allowance or pay goes with each chore. Or what privileges are
earned (or can be taken away) for each chore.
• How: How each chore is to be done. This is where the parent and
teen definitions of "clean" can be ironed out.
One thing that might be different from the original contract is that the add-
on might end on a certain date. For example, if you do a supplemental
chore contract that is meant to cover winter snow shoveling, then you can
write it to end on March 31st (hopefully!). You can also leave it open-
ended and then just revisit it when chores move into the next season or
when it is no longer needed.
If you have already done a chore contract, doing this add-on will be no bigdeal. It can give you some more flexibility in your teen chore program. If
you are just starting with a chore contract, you can do a supplement at the
same time for chores you know will only be seasonal in nature.
If your teen is trying to earn extra money by doing chores around the
house, you may or may not want to use a chore contract supplement. A
supplement can be more work than it might be worth if it’s an afternoon or
weekend of chore work. This can also depend on your teen, though. If
having a contract will help make sure the job gets done well and the pay isfair, then definitely use one.
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Step 6:
Is It About Money…or Not?
There are all kinds of ways to look at what your teen gets for doing their
chores. This can range from personal satisfaction and contributing to therunning of the house to actual payment. There is really no right or wrong
view on this. It is more based on your personal and family views. Here are
the three most common views.
View #1: It’s Part of Being a Member of the Family
A household doesn’t magically run on its own. There are no laundry fairies
or elves that do the dishes. It takes real work to keep a house running – let
alone running smoothly. Everyone – in same way – should pitch in to make
sure that it does.
The reward for doing chores is a sense of personal satisfaction and
achievement as well as knowing that this is a key contribution to making
the family and the house run more smoothly. It’s just part of being a
responsible member of the family – and will be the most representative of
how chores will get done when the teen reaches adulthood and lives on
their own.
View #2: There is no money involved – just privilegesChores are something that needs to be done, but there should be
something connected to do them on time and well. It shouldn’t be money
because that adds all kinds of negative connections to the chores and to
earning money. It is also just a lot more complicated to add money into the
equation.
There should be privileges and consequences attached to the chores so
that there is accountability and personal responsibility for when chores get
done (or don’t). For example, if a teen needs a ride to meet their friends atthe movies every Friday, their associated chore could be to clean the family
car each week. If the car doesn’t get cleaned, they don’t get to go (letting
them hitch a ride is an easy way out). There is an immediate consequence
– and an ongoing privilege attached which helps the kid see the connection
between chores and benefits.
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That’s how it works in the rest of life too. If no one does the laundry, there
are no clean clothes to wear. Same with going to the grocery store, doing
the dishes or other routine chores that need to get done. This is real life.
View #3: Kids need a way to earn money from a young age besides having
to “get a job”
Chores are basically the first job that kids can have. There are rules to
follow on what needs to be done, how it should be done and by when.
Most kids don’t have a way to earn money when they are young, and this is
a good way to teach them that money doesn’t get handed to them without
them putting in some effort.
Sure, there are some chores that don’t pay anything. Those are basic housechores that everyone contributes to (putting your dishes in the sink) as well
as basic personal care (brushing their teeth, as an example). There are also
plenty of other ones that do get paid. Some people call the payment as an
allowance, others refer to it as a commission. In either case, the key is to
not pay if the chore is not completed. This is a basic money management
skill that everyone needs to learn starting at a young age.
One thing to note is that certain behaviors and expectations should never
have money attached to them. These are things like respecting others,speaking nicely and having a good attitude.
Which one is right for your family?
Only you can answer that question. You may find that one answer works
when the kids are younger but you need to change to a different mode as
the kids get older. This should be a combination of motivating your teen
(without making it all about the money), your family budget and your
beliefs.
You will also want to think about how this connects to any money
management skills you are trying to teach them. Instilling responsibility
through chores can be a great match for teaching money management
even if they are not directly tied together.
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No matter which option you choose (or create on your own), it needs to be
communicated across the family. Communicating means more than just
announcing it. It means that you should explain to your teen what comeswith getting chores done and what doesn’t. You should be ready to answer
their questions.
Sure, there are some things that are really just your decision, and they
don’t have to agree with all of it. But, helping them understand and buy
into the decision will be a BIG help in getting them to do the chores that
come out of that decision. This is a great way to keep the communication
lines open at the outset of a chore program – and to keep it on the right
path as you move forward.
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Step 7:
Write it Down – and Get Going!
This is the final step. It’s time to put into writing all the work you have
done so far. The best way to do that is to jump in and start getting thingson paper.
Take out the chore list or chore contract along with the list you have from
Step 4. Put the chores along with frequency and privileges (if applicable) in
the list or contract.
Sit down with your tween or teen and review it. Make sure everyone
agrees that what’s on the list is correct. It can be changed in the future, but
you really want to come up with something that is going to last through thefirst month.
After the end of the first month, you and your family can review the plan
and see if it’s working. Make it a friendly meeting and list what is going
well and what isn’t. Sure, there will be gripes that are just part of life.
There may be some real things that you didn’t think about at the beginning.
For example, your teen has early swim practice each Wednesday. It is all
everyone can do to get out the house to be at school at 6 a.m. Trash day isWednesday, and your neighborhood rules don’t allow for the trash to be
put out the night before. It may be that this is just part of life, and your
teen needs to get up an extra 10 minutes early. Or, you could consider
changing the chores around. The key part is to have the discussion so that
everyone’s views can be heard.
Make any changes or updates and keep going! There are two keys to any
chore program: getting started and keeping it going. By this time you have
gotten through the worst part of both of these. Now it’s time to giveyourself (and your family) a pat on the back for what you have
accomplished to not only make your house run more smoothly but to also
teach your teen responsibility.
Way to Go!
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Appendix A
Spring and Summer Chore Ideas
Ongoing chores (weekly)
1. Mow the yard
2. Cook dinner one night a week including making menu and staying
within a provided budget
3. Vacuum house (or clean floors if not carpeted)
4. Clean bathrooms
5. Take care of pets including feeding, watering and exercising
6. Wash, dry and fold own laundry
7. Do family laundry (such as bathroom towels, sheets)
8. Wash and clean out the family car (especially important if the teen is
using it!)
9. Water plants (inside and outside) and/or garden
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One-time chores
1. Clear out flower beds for any dead plants from last year
2. Plant spring flowers and lay down fresh mulch
3. Apply lawn treatments (ideally with a push sprayer to minimize
contact)
4. Wash windows (outside or inside)
5. Take down curtains and wash
6. Fully dust or clean blinds
7. Get out and test garden hose; patch holes
8. Clean birdbath
9. Get out summer lawn furniture or cushions; check for pieces that
need to be washed or repaired
10.Wash and/or repair summer lawn furniture and cushions
11.Paint or stain outdoor woodwork, such as deck or fence
12.Check summer equipment (sports, swimming) for damage and
cleaning
13.Organize summer sporting equipment and lawn care implements so
that they are easily accessible
14. Change out air filters on furnace (may need to be done more than
once but not weekly)
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15.Clean out closets and sort outgrown clothes
16.Clean out basement and sort items no longer being used
17.Organize and run a garage or yard sale with the stuff from the
cleanings done in #15 and #16
18.Organize gloves and hats within easy access for cold mornings
19.Clean out garage and put away winter tools and supplies
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Appendix B
Fall Chore Ideas
1. Rake leaves
2. Clear out flower beds of dying summer flowers
3. Plant spring bulbs
4. Lay down a fresh layer of mulch for overwintering
5. Fertilize the lawn (ideally with a push sprayer to minimize contact)
6. Plant fall flowers (such as mums)
7. Clean outside flower containers and store (if not used for fall flowers)
8. Start a composting pile with all the yard debris
9. Check windows and doors for needed weatherproofing
10. Add weatherproofing to windows and doors
11. Store garden hose for winter (if no longer needed)
12. Clean birdbath and store for winter
13. Clear out garden
14. Lay down compost in garden for overwintering
15. Clean all blinds and windows
16. Take down and clean out birdhouses
17. Clean and store summer lawn furniture or cushions
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18. Clean and put away summer toys
19. Locate, organize and store summer swimming gear
20. Organize snow shovels, rock salt, etc.
21. Change out air filters on furnace
22. Clean out closets and donate outgrown winter coats and clothes
23. Organize gloves and hats within easy access for cold mornings
24. Wash curtains and rehang
25. Clean out garage and prepare it for winter
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Appendix C
Teen Chore List
ChoreFrequency
(daily,
weekly)
Must be doneby (day of the
week)
Time toComplete
Task
Privilege orPayment
Must bedone by
adult
Teenneeds
training
Can bedone by
teen now
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Appendix D
Teen Chore Contract – Blank
Chore Contract
Between
And
The purpose of this contract is to outline the household responsibilities and related
privileges of (teen name). The effective date of this contract is (date).
Section 1. Responsibilities of (teen name)
This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the householdresponsibilities of (teen name).
1. Daily: Make bed; ensure coats, shoes, backpacks and sports equipment are
properly stored
2. Each Wednesday: Empty all trash cans within house and take trash to curb
(pickup is on Thursday)
3. Once each week: Plan menu and prepare simple family meal
4. Weekly: Vacuum and dust living room and own bedroom
Section 2. Acceptable completion
The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by (parents’
name).
Note: Consider putting into writing what this means. For some tasks, it is really easy –
either the trash is taken out or its not. For others, such as making the bed, there may be
some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way around if as much as possible
is agreed to up front.
Section 3. Compensation
In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, (teen
name) will receive the following each week:
1. An allowance/commission of $202. An hour of uninterrupted computer time on the family computer 3 nights per
week.
3. The choice of one family activity per weekend.
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In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the
conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the
compensation may be reduced or withheld.
Section 4. Modifications to contract
From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of thiscontract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting
them and then agreed to by both parties.
These changes can include, but may not be limited to:
• Responsibilities of (teen name)
• Definition of acceptable completion
• Compensation/privileges earned
Section 5. Full contract and agreement
This contract is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may bedetermined). Agreed to this _____ day of _____ by:
Teen Signature
Parent Signature
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Appendix E
Teen Chore Contract Supplement – Blank
Chore Contract Supplementbetween
(Teen Name)
and
(Parents’ Names)
The purpose of this contract supplement is to outline additional responsibilities and
related privileges of (teen name). The effective date of this contract is (date).
Section 1. Responsibilities of (teen name)This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the household
responsibilities of (teen name).
1. Weekly additional chores:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
2. One time additional chores:
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
3. Other (as needed):
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Section 2. Acceptable completion
The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by (parents’ name). This includes:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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Note: Consider putting into writing what this means. For some tasks, it is really easy –
either the Christmas tree gets watered or it doesn’t (and the needles make a nice
blanket on the floor). For others, such as shoveling the drive (and how clear it really
needs to be), there may be some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way
around if as much as possible is agreed to up front.
Section 3. Compensation/Privileges
In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, (teen
name) will receive the following each week:
1. __________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________
In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the
conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the
compensation may be reduced or withheld.
Section 4. Modifications and supplements to contract
From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of this
contract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting
them and then agreed to by both parties. These changes can include, but may not be
limited to:
• Responsibilities of (teen name)
• Definition of acceptable completion
• Compensation/privileges earned
Section 5. Agreement
This supplement is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may
be determined) but should be considered along with the original chore contract dated
______________. Agreed to this _____ day of _____ by:
Teen Signature
Parent Signature
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Appendix F
Teen Chore Contract – Completed Example
Chore Contract
Between
Joe Smith
and
John and Mary Smith
The purpose of this contract is to outline the household responsibilities and related
privileges of Joe Smith. The effective date of this contract is February 1, 2010.
Section 1. Responsibilities of Joe SmithThis section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the household
responsibilities of Joe Smith.
1. Daily: Make bed; ensure coats, backpacks and sports equipment are properly
stored
2. Each Wednesday: Empty all trash cans within house and take trash to curb
(pickup is on Thursday)
3. Once each week: Plan menu and prepare simple family meal
4. Weekly: Vacuum and dust living room and own bedroom
Section 2. Acceptable completion
The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by John and
Mary Smith based on:
1. Bed is made so that covers are pulled fully over the bed and pillows are at the
head of the bed.
2. Coats, backpacks and sports equipment are not left lying on the floor in any main
family room/area.
3. Trash cans are emptied and trash is to the curb for pickup each week.
4. Meal is planned and served on agreed-upon day. Meal should include a main
dish and a vegetable.
5. Vacuuming includes main areas as well as under tables and picking up items on
the floor (and not just vacuuming around them).6. Dusting includes all main tabletops and shelves as well as TV and computer
screens.
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Section 3. Compensation
In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, Joe
Smith will receive the following each week:
1. An allowance/commission of $20
2. An hour of uninterrupted computer time on the family computer 3 nights per
week.3. The choice of one family activity per weekend.
In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the
conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the
compensation may be reduced or withheld.
Section 4. Modifications to contract
From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of this
contract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting
them and then agreed to by both parties.
These changes can include, but may not be limited to:
• Responsibilities of Joe Smith
• Definition of acceptable completion
• Compensation/privileges earned
Section 5. Full contract and agreement
This contract is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may be
determined). Agreed to this 29th day of January by:
_Joe Smith _______
Joe Smith (signature)
__John Smith __ ____Mary Smith _______
John Smith Mary Smith
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Appendix G
Teen Chore Contract Supplement – Completed Sample
Chore Contract Supplement
betweenSusan Jones
and
Sally Jones
The purpose of this contract supplement is to outline additional responsibilities and
related privileges of Susan Jones. The effective date of this contract is February 1, 2010.
Susan is taking on these additional tasks because her brother broke his leg while skiing.
Section 1. Responsibilities of Susan
This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the householdresponsibilities of Susan Jones.
1. Weekly additional chores:
• Rinsing the dishes and putting them in the dishwasher on Tuesday and
Thursday (in addition to Monday and Wednesday)
• Taking the recycling to the curb each Friday morning
2. One time additional chores:
• Boxing up the old home computer and parts to be taken to the recycling
drive at church on February 13, 2010.
3. Other (as needed):
• Emptying the dishwasher and putting the dishes away (timing of this varies
depending on the family schedule)
Section 2. Acceptable completion
The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by Sally Jones.
This includes:
• No food left on dishes after the dishwasher has been run (this means that
they weren’t rinsed well)
• Having the box of computer parts at the door to garage on the evening of
February 12th.
• No more than one meals’ worth of dishes in sink waiting to be put into the
dishwasher (more than one meal would mean that the dishwasher hasn’t
been emptied timely).
Note: Consider putting into writing what this means. For some tasks, it is really easy –
either the houseplants get watered or they don’t (and the leaves start turning brown
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and dropping). For others, such as shoveling the drive (and how clear it really needs to
be), there may be some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way around if as
much as possible is agreed to up front.
Section 3. Compensation/Privileges
In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, Susanwill receive the following each week:
1. An additional hour of computer time on the family each week.
2. An additional $2/week of allowance
In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the
conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the
compensation may be reduced or withheld.
Section 4. Modifications and supplements to contract
From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of thiscontract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting
them and then agreed to by both parties. These changes can include, but may not be
limited to:
• Responsibilities of Susan Jones
• Definition of acceptable completion
• Compensation/privileges earned
Section 5. Agreement
This supplement is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may
be determined) but should be considered along with the original chore contract dated
May 15, 2009. Agreed to this 31st day of January 2010 by:
Susan Jones
Teen Signature
Sally JonesParent Signature