Summer Chore Challenge

As of Wednesday, school is officially over and summer has officially begun!
Aubree finished third grade.

For the last day of school kids could wear pajamas

 Bryce finished kindergarten:

Thane finished his first year of preschool:

 

I wrote a blog earlier this year (here) about how last summer was practically perfect.  Practically, because the major component of work was largely missing.  I've been mulling over that problem for almost a year, and I think I've come up with a solution.  I'm calling it the "Summer Chore Challenge."

My focus with this challenge is primarily in chore training.  I've made a list for each kid of about 15 tasks I would like them to conquer over the summer months.  Some of the tasks are cleaning-related (wash dishes, empty garbages, clean toilets, etc.), some are academic (reading, writing, etc.), and some are life skills (learn to ride a bike, tie shoes, etc.).

Next, I took a sheet of poster board and drew a mountain with 10 levels.

 

I made mini-figures for each kid and they all start out at the bottom.  When they "conquer" one of the tasks on their lists, we will write down what they finished and they get to advance one level.  At level 3 they get their first prize (McDonald's ice-cream).  At level 6 they earn a small Lego toy/kit.  When they finish 10 challenges, they get their Grand Prize - something special of their own choosing (Aubree is leaning towards American Girl doll clothes, Bryce probably will choose a bigger Lego kit, and Thane is undecided).

 If all three kids make it to the grand prize level, the whole family earns a big party.  Once they've conquered ten challenges, they can earn a small prize for every additional challenge they finish.

I wrote out a detailed list of what it looks like to "conquer" each task.

For example, this is what it looks like for Aubree to pass off clean toilet:
Clean toilet

Watch mom or dad & receive instruction (5 times)   

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Clean with mom or dad watching & giving feedback (9 times)

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐

Clean independently & have mom or dad pass off (9 times)

☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ 

 The idea here is that by the time a kid has "conquered" a challenge, I can later say to them, "go clean the toilet," and be confident in knowing that child knows exactly what is expected of them and can perform to the level of expectation.

The kids can work on chore challenge activities any time, as long as their regular daily chores are finished.  I'm hoping the set-up of this activity helps avoid me having to nag them to do "extra" work, and encourages all of us to be intentional and proactive about chore training.

In case you're extra curious, here are the lists we came up with for the kids:

AUBREE (age 8)

1. Clean toilet

2.  Sweep kitchen

3.  Sweep bathrooms

4.  Mop bathrooms

5.  Mop kitchen

6.  Wash dishes

7.  Make bed from scratch

8.  Load dishwasher

9.  Fold load of laundry

10.  Jog 1 mile without walking 

11. Change a diaper

12.  Floss teeth

13.  Water garden/plants/lawn

14.  Complete Scholastic Success 4^th Grade workbook  

15. Read 10 Parent-Choice books

BRYCE (age 6)

1.  Sweep kitchen

2.  Make bed

3.  Finish All About Reading Level 1 

4. Finish All About Spelling Level 1  

5.  Tell time (analog) 

6.  Learn coins 

7.  Tie shoes 

8.  Jog 3/4 mile without walking 

9.  Read 2 chapter books

10.  Wash table

11.  Clear table

12.  Memorize Articles of Faith

13.  Empty garbages

14.  Memorize phone number & address    

THANE (age 4)

1.  Ride a bike  

2.  All letter sounds

3.  Make bed

4. Calendar

5. Jog 1/2 mile without walking

6. Memorize 6 Articles of Faith

7. Set the table

8. Wipe own bum

9. Pee standing up (with no mess)

10. 20 lessons of Teach Your Child to Read

11. Vacuum Stairs

12. Fold Washcloths

13. Clean/Sterilize Door Handles

14. Write name

I'll write another blog at the end of the summer with updates on how it worked out.  Hopefully it's successful!