CHORES FOR KIDS

It can be a "chore" to get children to do chores, but housekeeping jobs help children feel "worthy" and a valuable part of the family unit.  Chores can also be a powerful way to develop "task initiation and task completion" (aka the executive function).

Parent Conferences
One teacher explained that when she had parent conferences she emphasized the importance of having children do chores and take responsibility for helping their family. There are several good websites with ideas for chores children can do:

www.webmd.com/parenting/features/chores-for-children

www.focusonthefamily.com/...kids-to.../age-appropriate-chores

parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/.../age-appropriate-chores-for-children      

We often “assume” that children know how to do a task and then we get frustrated when they don’t do it correctly. That’s why it’s important to model expectations and demonstrate specific steps. Here's an activity that would be perfect for a learning center or housekeeping area.

Setting the Table
Bring in some plastic plates, utensils, and cups and demonstrate how to set the table. You might want to trace around the items on a paper placemat so the children can match one to one.

                        

Training Tools
Go to the dollar store and purchase a dustpan, broom, duster, etc. Demonstrate how to use these and then invite children to help you keep the classroom clean.

*These are perfect props for your dramatic play center

Teeny Tiny Duties
Let children share the chores that they have at home. Make a list of these tasks on the board. Ask children to choose three or four that they could do to help at home and make a job chart. Tell them to hang it on the refrigerator and keep track for a week. Demonstrate how to make a check mark each day when they complete the task.

                                         

GETTING ORGANIZED IN 2022!

Helping children get organized can nurture the executive function and boost the emotional climate in your classroom. When children know expectations their behavior and academic skills can improve.

Student Office
With a personal “office” your students will be able to organize their work space and stay focused at home or in the traditional classroom.

Materials: 2 file folders for each child, wide packaging tape, markers, crayons, copy of alphabet letters, numbers, shapes, class word wall, hundreds chart, etc.

*Note! Adapt student offices to appropriate skills for your age level.

Directions Tape two file folders together for each child. Let them decorate the outside with markers, magazine pictures, trading cards, stickers, etc. On the inside staple a copy of alphabet letters, sight words, shapes, numbers, and other pertinent information. When children write in their journals or do independent work, they can stand up their “office” on their desk.

*Make an "office" similar to the one shown with pocket folders. Children can put work completed in one pocket and things they need to finish in another pocket.



Hint! Before singing your "Good-Bye Song" each day, encourage your students to clean out their folders and work space. That way they'll be "fresh" to learn the following day.

Daily Schedule
Post the daily schedule and review each morning and after lunch.  

Hint!  Use rebus charts and photos with the schedule.

*After explaining assignments, ask a student to retell classmates what they should do.

Fist List 
Have students tuck in their thumb and then put down a finger as they repeat each task they need to complete. Adapt to their assignment for the day. For example: 
Put down 1 finger. “Journal writing.” 
Put down 2nd finger. “Phonics game.” 
Put down 3rd finger. “Independent reading.”
Put down 4th finger. “Ipad skills.”

                                     

Classroom Calendar
Write birthdays, school events, and other special information on a classroom calendar. Count the days to holidays and demonstrate how to use time organizers to plan for special days.

                                  

TIDY UP!

Taking responsibility for cleaning up the classroom nurtures responsibility, cooperation, a sense of accomplishment, and organizational skills.  Someone once told me:  ONLY DO WHAT ONLY YOU CAN DO!  You'll be amazed at what children can do to care for classroom materials.  However, you're going to have to "teach" children how to clean up, just like you teach them how to write their name.  And, it will take some time, modeling, and specific guidelines.   

Clean up will also be much more successful if you choose a song and sing it consistently when you want the children to tidy up. You really can use any song that you like (country, broadway, college fight song), but use the same song every day and then model what you want the children to do. 

I used to sing these songs in my classroom and to my own children at home. (My daughter and son would clean up just to get me to shut up!)

A Helper I Will Be (“The Farmer in the Dell”)
A helper I will be.
A helper I will be.
There’s work to do,
There’s work to do.
A helper I will be.
A picker up I’ll be.
A picker up I’ll be.
It’s time to put our things away,
A picker up I’ll be.

Hint! Change the words to whatever you want the children to do, such as “pick up the trash,” “push in the chairs,” etc.

Tidy Up (“Jingle Bells”)
Chorus:
Tidy up, tidy up, put your things away.
Tidy up, tidy up, we’re finished for today.
Oh, tidy up, tidy up, put your things away.
For we’ll get them out again another school day.

We’ve had lots of fun as we’ve worked and played.
Now it’s time to all join in and play the clean up game.
Chorus

Can You? (Tune: “Skip to My Lou”)
I can clean quietly, how about you?
I can clean quietly, how about you?
I can clean quietly, how about you?
How about you, my darlin?

*Change the words to “push in my chair,” “pick up trash,” etc.

Magic Trash
Select one random piece of trash to be the “magic trash.” Have children pick up the room. As they dump the paper and scraps in the trash can, inspect what they have in their hands. The one to find the “magic trash” gets a prize or gets to be the line leader. (Only you and I know there's no special piece of trash!)

                  
 

Timer
To help prepare children bring closure to what they are doing and clean-up before another activity set a timer for five minutes. Explain, “You have five more minutes. When the timer goes off we will have a whisper clean up.”

*One of my classroom jobs was called "the five minute person."  When there were five minutes before we needed to clean up the "five minute person" would skip around the room and hold up five fingers as they warned their classmates, "Five more minutes!  Five more minutes!"  (It was one of our most popular jobs!)

Who You Gonna Call?
Send a letter home asking if anyone has an old dust buster to donate to your classroom. Choose one person each day to be the “dust buster.” When there’s a mess shout, “Who you gonna call?” Children respond, “Dust buster!” The designated “dust buster” of the day GETS to clean up the mess.

Classroom Jobs
Assign classroom jobs weekly. Title the jobs by real careers.
Supervisor – Calls the roll.
Maintenance – Picks up the classroom.
Police Officer – Makes sure everyone walks slowly in the hall.
Mail Carrier – Passes out papers.
Librarian – Cleans the classroom library.
Gardener – Waters the plants.
Meteorologist – Gives the morning weather report.
Accountant – Does the lunch count.
UPS – Takes reports to the office.