Ah, chores. Sometimes they can seem never-ending, right? Like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get through that to-do list. Not to mention when you add that carefully curated homeschool lesson plan to the agenda.
But, have you ever considered chores being a part of the homeschool learning experience? There is something to be said for the learning that can be had in everyday activities… like chores!
By assigning daily, weekly, and monthly chores to your lesson plan, you are creating an opportunity for children to learn about responsibility and contribution along with many other valuable traits.
Here are some of our tips for including chores in your homeschooling (and a downloadable chore chart to keep track of them!)
Tip #1 – Set Regular Chores
Establishing responsibility for certain chores is integral to weaving these activities into your daily homeschool life. Not only will it give your children ownership of their set tasks, but it will also help them to learn about how to keep to a routine.
Tip #2 – Set Standards
Setting the standards for completion of these chores will help establish just what is expected of them as they carry out their set tasks. It will also help you see how they improve over time and act as an indicator of when they are ready to take on more complex chores.
Tip #3 – Make the Chores Age Appropriate
This one probably goes without saying, but assigning chores that are appropriate – while also still challenging your child – is very important. You want it to be a task that helps them learn and grow, while also being something they can complete without becoming frustrated. For some suggestions on age appropriate chores, click here.
Tip #4 – Listen to Music or Podcasts
Adding a little audio stimulation during chore time can help keep young minds active while completing assigned tasks. Perhaps you could introduce your children to the works of famous composers? Or listen to podcasts related to a topic they are learning in their studies that day?
Tip #5 – Show Appreciation
Something as little as a “thank you” can be more than enough to show your appreciation. Communicating your appreciation is so important to developing their sense of pride about contributing to family life in a meaningful way.
Tip #6 – Offer Rewards
Children will find motivation through different things depending on their age and interest. You might find younger children will respond positively to being rewarded with things such as choosing a movie for the family to watch, or dinner for that night. For older children, it can be a great way to help them earn their allowance for the month or week.
Tip #7 – Switch the Chores Up
Okay, maybe this sounds a little like it is contradicting tip #1, but keeping things fresh and interesting is also important. Perhaps every month you can review chores and provide a new set of tasks for the month ahead. That way, children can learn all about routine while also having exposure to a diverse range of tasks that will help develop a different skill-set.
Tip #8 – Assign Team Tasks
Learning teamwork is so important for children of all ages. Set a couple of tasks each week that require your children to work together effectively and efficiently as a team. It’s a great way to help them learn key skills about cooperation, compromise, and communication.
Tip #9 – It’s Never Too Early To Start
Even the littlest of people can help in some small way with the chores. Toddlers can pick up toys, preschoolers can empty the trash – all ages can contribute to the family life. You can weave in some learning for younger helpers with such tasks as practicing counting with laundry items, or simply just reading the chore chart.
Tip #10 – Don’t Micromanage
We saved the most important tip until last – don’t micromanage! Letting them exercise their independence is so important. You’ve assigned responsibility for their chores and you’ve established the standards, so let them get on with it!
We hope these tips have provided a little insight into how integrating chores into your homeschooling schedule can be done. It’s such a great way to teach some valuable life lessons to children while also enabling you to be a little less distracted by that long list of chores. That’s a win-win if you ask us!