Get Your Kids to BEG You for Chores: Make a Computer Time Chart!

"She's been on there for over an hour!"

"I haven't had a turn yet!"

"I got up to get something and then he got on!"

PLUS our house was a mess! I have a painful bladder disorder called IC. When my bladder flares up I can be in bed for days or even weeks. During these times my kids would fight over the computer and leave the house looking like a tornado hit!

Finally one day out of frustration my husband told the kids "No more computer till this house is clean!" I thought that was easy for him to say since he isn't home with them all day! Lol

The next morning I had an idea. I opened up Microsoft Word and made a chart. At the very top it said in large letters: COMPUTER TIME EARNED

Then I made a table 7 boxes across and 3 down since I have 3 children. I then wrote their names in the 3 boxes on the side. I made a note saying:

Each block is 30mins of computer time

At the very top under the COMPUTER TIME EARNED I added a cute little graphic that shows: Chores + A happy face = Computer time.

Once I posted it on the fridge my 11yr old said "We have to EARN compute time now?" I told her yet. She then asked "What do we have to do?"

I looked around the house and saw the messy living room, homeschooling room, laundry was piled up and pretty much started pointing around to everything that I usually had to do. After my 11yr old had folded some laundry and helped put it away she earned a check for 30mins of computer time.

My two younger kids who are 7 & 5 didn't get the idea right away. They'd rather play together. But I was shocked that later that afternoon my 5yr old son asked me what chores he could do. I suggested he could straighten up our shoe pile we have by the door. This little guy spent about 10 minuets matching up shoes, lining them up and making them look nice. I was impressed a few days later he got on to his sister for messing up the shoes!

I also learned that I need to erase the checks every night. If I don't do this the kids will argue each morning about how many checks they had left over. So each morning my kids earn one check each which is 30mins of computer time.

When it is time for their daddy to come home the kids each earn a check for the following:

1. Their rooms are STILL clean

2. The living room is STILL clean

My kids can also lose checks. Being disobedient will cause them to lose a check. Sometimes depending on what they did they risk losing all the checks.

My oldest daughter for some reason yanked off her sister's glasses. She lost 4 checks because of this. She knows better than doing that and also she could have broken the glasses. She had to do more chores do earn them back.

Another time my 5yr old son hit his sister (something he tends to do a lot as most brother do) and he lost a check.

We've been following this method of chores for about 2wks now and it really works for us. The kids are spending WAY less time on the computer and helping more happily with the house work.

Now things that are expected to be done do not earn a check. Cleaning your room will not earn you computer time, but if you keep it clean that will. Putting up your own laundry will not earn you computer time but helping fold towels or someone else's laundry will.

So far the kids haven't complained about this and I find them asking me "What chores can I do to earn checks?" I'm thrilled with that!!!

You can click the link below to download your own chart. Please edit it with your kids names & if you want your kids to have more than 3hrs a day of computer time just add more columns. Feel free to replace the graphics with your own. I use different ones on mine at home, but had to add copy right free graphics on one to share.

Print out the chart on card stock paper and then laminate it. I covered my chart with clear contact paper. The reason for laminating the chart is this will allow you to write on it. You just use an wipe off marker to write on it!

Every morning give your child a check and the rest they have to earn.

Feel free to type up a list of chores for your kids to pick from. Some chores may earn the child 1 or more checks. But other chores may be really small easy chores and it make take 2-3 little chores to equal one check.

Here are some quick instructions to get you started on making and using your chart:

1. Download the chart - http://www.mediafire.com/?6nxx1bn7kv2

2. Edit the chart using Microsoft Word

3. Print it out on card stock paper (thick paper)

4. Laminate it. Clear contact paper is an easy way to do this at home. Use a wipe off marker to write on it.

5. Hang it up where your kids can see it.

6. Start using the chart right away by giving them one free check each day.

7. Your child then does chores around the house to earn a check.

8. If your child disobeys they will lose a check

9. When your child wants to use the computer set a timer for 30mins and once it beeps erase the check. Reset the timer if your child wants to keep using the computer.

10. Remember that only Dad or Mom adds or erases checks! My kids are not allowed to touch the chart.

11. Bonus checks are given at the end of the day when daddy comes home. If the kids' rooms are still clean they get a check. Feel free to pick extra rooms like a playroom or living room and if they are still clean when daddy comes home the kids get a bonus check!

Did I leave something out? Do you have a question? Feel free to contact me though "The People's Media Company - Associated Content! My name on there is: Faith Hart.