Family Daily Routine & Daily Chores, Working it Out Together

Daily Chores & Daily Family Routine are important part of life

We get up, dress, eat, tend to our needs, meet others’ needs, work, play, go to bed, and do it all over again the next day. It is necessary to teach children the importance maintaining daily routine activities and how to follow them. Smooth routines make life better not just for the parent, but also for the child, and for the child’s future.

The Routine Chart is not just a “Chore” Chart

For example: giving back to the family through setting the table, taking out the garbage, vacuuming, etc. reinforces giving to others and empathy; doing homework teaches responsibility and organization; completing tasks within a time frame develops time management skills; following a sequence of tasks (work before play) helps children learn to delay gratification. Therefore, it is necessary to first be clear about what values and skills you want to teach and then explain them to your children. They need to know the “why” of things. You are asking them to help out not to make your life easier, because as any parent knows, it is easier to do it yourself than to try to get your child to do it. You are teaching them to follow daily family activities and chores because it makes their lives better.

Introducing The Chores Chart to Your Children

It is helpful to introduce the chore chart to your children at a family meeting. Start the meeting with something positive such as a prayer, compliments, joke, or fun question such as, “What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?” Explain the importance of following routines, that it makes everyone’s life easier, reduces conflict, and teaches useful life skills. Talk about what happens or could happen without routines. Have an idea of what to include in the chart but also elicit input from your children. When your children feel they have a say in the development of the chart, they are more likely to have ownership of it and cooperate.

First, Talk About Time Frames And Activities (Time and Mission)

When should it be time to get up? How long will breakfast take? Should homework start right after school or should there be some down time first? Talk about what activities to include and do not forget to schedule fun. The “My window of Harmony” space refers to compromises that you and your child make. For example, you may decide to do something together to make it more fun, or you may negotiate what a clean room actually looks like.

Monitor Behavior On A Daily Basis

Courtesy: Sarah Itzhaki

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