Working with my Almost-Big-Girl

Well... to follow up MY chore chart I started investigating Pinterest for kids'/toddlers' chart ideas.

I stumbled across this idea to create jars to keep track of what she gets done

http://lullabylubbock.blogspot.com/2011/07/ellas-good-girl-jars.html

I like the idea for when she's a bit older and ready for goal-setting.  At this point, she probably won't like the idea of having to put something cute and fun to play with inside a jar where she can't just get it back out and play with it.

I needed something to bridge the gap, to give her immediate gratification AND something visual.  My answer:  Aislinn's Almost-Big-Girl Chore chart.  They're not really chores, but stuff that I expect her to be able to do with little or no help from me.  I'll put it right under Mommy's chart on the lower part of the fridge, so that she can reach it.

The key to this... STICKERS!  She is all about sticking stickers on things right now.  I've got some sparkly and smiley stickers that she can put on it once she finishes each thing.  At the end of the week, I'll just clear it off.  I think and hope that will be enough motivation for her.  It doesn't take much convincing to get her to do the morning stuff and to take a bath, but maybe getting a sticker to place will help her understand that picking up her toys and books is just as important as the other stuff!  Wish us luck!

Household chores... Divide and conquer!

I have been working on this since July - trying to figure out what I can handle once school got started again.  A lot of the checklists I had found before were created by mommies who are a bit more germophobic than myself (and who wouldn't be if they had the pleasure of staying at home) and I just don't have the time or sanity to be THAT thorough...  I stumbled upon blog (via Pinterest) of a Mommy who thinks like me and needs a plan for tackling everything.  I think the same way and I kind of had a plan for what got done on what days last year.  But then the other things that didn't necessarily need done weekly would fall through the cracks as I forgot how long ago it had been done.  I needed what I do all the time for homework... A CHECKLIST!

http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2010/03/you-asked-squeeky-clean.html

So...I pondered her idea and simplified it for our busy, yet teeny house.  Add a neat font, and some appropriate clipart and BOOM!

 

What can I say?  I'm just a bit addicted to clipart.  I can't say that I've been 100% faithful to this schedule but 1 month into this school year, our house has become cleaner and stayed cleaner than the previous years!  Though, I will also say that I prepped soooooo much more school stuff this summer than I have before...

 

We are determined to have a cleaner, healthier, and more organized school year which equals MORE SANITY FOR ME!