Easy summer chore charts are mandatory in my home. I’m not going to sugar coat it… herding cats is easier than parenting most days. In our home, we have one child with high functioning autism who’s very active, and another child with ADHD who loves to day dream. It’s common to hear, “Huh? What?” when trying to get his attention. Child number three is a combo of the first two. This child has ADHD combined with high anxiety. Therefore, transitions, change, and follow-through on responsibilities in our household can be a bit challenging. {snicker} That’s why chore charts and visual reminders of responsibilities are essential!
Free Printable File:
Editable Summer Chore Chart for Boys (6413 downloads )
Free Editable Chore Chart
For the past several years this has been our Summer Chore Chart and summer schedule. Feel free to judge my parenting, crazy need for consistency, and OTT list. You know I love anything Over The Top! {high fives} I’m ok with it. A mama’s got to do what a mama’s got to do, right? Here’s the quick run down… click the link above to download the free editable file to create your own version.
How to Use the Chore Chart
I printed the free download and popped them into a clear frame that stands alone that I purchased at Walmart (you can pick them up at any superstore or craft store). The frames double as wipe on/off boards so they can be reused over and over.
I also taped on a dry erase marker so they wouldn’t get lost and the boys could mark off their chores as they went along. Which they always did, of course. {snort} At the end of the day on my way to bed, I would spray a little glass cleaner and wipe off their marks with a paper towel. It was easy peasy. Some days the boys would write little “love” notes like “Not Today!” or “No Way”. Awe warms my heart. {giggle}
Morning Routine {8:00 – 11:00}
Vitamins
Eat Breakfast
Brush Teeth
Do Hair
Make Bed
Clean Room
iAllowance App
Swim 1 Hour
Only *IF* ALL Completed: 11:00 – 1:00 Technology Time
Evening Routine {5:00 – 6:00}
Help make Dinner
Clean Kitchen
Pick up House
Bath
Afternoon Routine {1:00 – 3:00}
Eat Lunch
Math Apps
Kindle Apps
Swim 1 Hour
Only If ALL Completed: 3:00 – 5:00 Technology Time
Bedtime Routine {8:00 – 9:00}
Protein Shake
Brush Teeth
Read Scriptures
In room by 9:00
Our House Rules!
Yes, our house totally does RULE. {snicker} Here are our rules to give you an idea. Of course, these rules will need to be modified to fit your family and the age of your children.
Schedule
Wake Up Time: Before 10:00 am
Chores:
- Done before 11:00 am
- If not, zero technology for entire day.
Rest and Quiet Time: After dinner, upstairs
Friends:
- Late Night: Once a Week
- Sleep Over: Once a Week
Neighborhood Boundaries:
To be determined
Technology
Technology Includes:
TV, Computer, Xbox, PS3, PS2, Phones, iPod, iPad, hand held devices.
No Technology or Phone:
- Before 11:00 am
- 1:00 -3:00 pm
- After 5:00 pm
- Even if friends are over
Phone Hours:
- On bar 5 – 9:00 pm
- Charging 9 pm – 11 am
No Friends on Computers, ever!
Meals / Snacks
Breakfast: Eat before 10:00 am
Lunch: Eat before 1:00 pm
Dinner:
- 5:00 Help Mom
- 6:00 Eat as a family
Snack: Anytime, help yourself.
Curfew / Bedtime
Check In With Mom:
- Anytime move locations
- Ask to spend the night
- Ask for late night
Bedtime:
- In room
- Lights out 1 hour later
Curfew:
- Weekends ~ Midnight
- Weekday ~ 10:00 pm
Chore Chart App
When I came up with our Summer Schedule, I realized that I needed a Chore Chart App! I needed something that tracked allowance, rewards, and consequences for their changing daily schedules. It’s hard enough keeping track of children when they are not in school, adding in extra’s can be downright overwhelming, right?
Just so you know, I don’t have any affiliation with the allowance app and I paid for it myself. {wink} I just needed a way the boys could take control of their own schedule and know what needs to be done and when. This way the App is the “bad guy” when things aren’t done and not me. {evil laugh} I’ve used iAllowance as well as Allowance & Chores Bot. They both have their issues but I was happy to give the boys the responsibility of checking what needed to be done that day. I would strongly recommend it! {no, I don’t get a kickback if you buy one. It genuinely helped me so I thought it might help you too.}
How We Treat Each Other:
We also came up with a list of rules of “how we treat each other”. I’ve found over the years that when children are suddenly home from school with their siblings they need rules just like at school as a reminder that we treat each other in certain ways!
- If someone says “stop it” then you need to stop it, immediately.
- No name calling, mean words, or foul language.
- If you are feeling frustrated WALK AWAY.
- We will be kind and considerate of one another and empathetic to everyone in the household.
- We will respect privacy.
- We will try to keep our voices down.
- Be positive and supportive of your siblings efforts.
- Don’t forget your manners. Please and Thank You will take you a long way.
- If you say you are BORED ~ you will be assigned a job of MOM’s to do.
- Honesty is vital to trust, character, and increase privileges. Consequences for misbehavior will be more severe for lying or a cover up.
- Self-Care is vital. You will brush your teeth twice a day, eat 3 meals a day, exercise, and shower every day.
General Family Rules:
- Dad and Mom are in charge. Children have a legal right to adequate food, shelter, education, health care, clothing and protection from abuse. Parents are not required to give their children anything else.
- Children follow directions and requests made by parents. Parents may discuss the matter and explain their reasons, but parents are not required to explain or justify their decisions.
- Children follow directions and requests made by parents. Parents may discuss the matter and explain their reasons, but parents are not required to explain or justify their decisions.
- Children are expected to be self-managers. Parents will become involved at the appropriate level of need, become more involved as necessary and help their children when they appear to need help. The child’s behavior determines whether or not parents need to make decisions for their children and give them more directions.
- Children will discuss and admit errors, mistakes and inappropriate behavior when this is pointed out by parents. Children will talk with their parents or will communicate with family members to resolve problems and misunderstandings.
- Children will not push, use physical force, spit, break or throw anything to get what they want, to hurt anyone or because they did not get what they wanted.
- Children will come to dinner and family meetings on time and wait until excused from the meeting or meal.
- No shoes beyond the mud room are allowed in the house. If your feet touch the kitchen, they should have socks on or be barefoot. You will mop or vacuum, if I see your shoes on.
- Everyone must be outside at least 1 hr a day.
- Do not talk to Mom when she is on the phone, ever.
- Children’s belongings are now allowed in the family room. No clothing, shoes, toys, or food. Children’s space in the Xbox room, Lego room, upstairs play room, and their bedrooms.
- Children will not take or use things that belong to others without permission. Return all borrowed items as agreed and in the condition they found it.
- Your mother is not the maid; clean up after yourselves. If you open it, close it. If you get it out, put it back. Throw away your trash, put your dishes in the sink, laundry goes in the basket. Leave no trace!
- After dinner needs to be quiet time – bath, reading, bed, or quiet play upstairs. You can play outside. The only time this doesn’t apply is if friends or guests are here.
- Sleep overs at our house can be done once a week. Permission must be given by all parents involved.
- Late nights at our house can be done once a week until curfew.
- Children can also ask to play date, have a late night, or sleep over at other friends house’s during the summer as many times as they’d like. Permission will be granted no more than 2-3 times a week depending the child’s ability to stay happy, complete responsibilities, and act respectful at friend’s homes.
- Parents will try to help, support and solve problems if children are having problems. Children will lose some freedoms, choices and privileges if they do not cooperate or if they refuse to follow the house rules.
Resources I was Inspired By:
As you know I adore promoting creative women and I rarely tackle a project without some research. So her are the fabulous women who helped inspire my Summer Schedule Chore Chart for my boys.
I love the concept and design of this check list. However it is not truly editable. I need more tick boxes in some areas and there is no way to add them. Boo. I was really hoping to not have to recreate the wheel.
I am going to try and implement in a family meeting tonight; lets see 🙂