Making a Family Job's List Binder

1. Get 2 three ring binder. Place plastic protector pages in the binder.

2. Make a master book for yourself and one for the family.

3. Put a section in the book for each child.

4. In each child's section in the protector pages should appear a list of things the child is to accomplish to have his/her work done for the day.

5. In the last section is the Jobs Descriptions section. For example: Clean the bathroom. Would have under it. Clean the toilet with a disinfectant. Listed under this would be: clean the top and sides of the tank, clean the top and bottom of the seat, clean the bowl inside and out, clean the base of the toilet and the floor around the toilet. Each item would be on a separate line so they would distinctly stand out and could bee seen in a glance. Each item to be cleaned in the bathroom would be written out just like it was done for cleaning the toilet.

6. Instead of just giving the list to the child, the child receives on the job training. S/He cleans while you sweetly supervise the first time. That way the child knows exactly what clean looks like to you.

7. In your family each day's work can be different or Monday through Friday can be the same with Saturday having extra responsibilities that can be saved for Saturday or done through out the week as time presents itself. Have the children come up with they're way to split up the jobs and when jobs rotate to another child.

8. Deciding when the jobs will be done is a good thing for the children to decide democratically. That way they feel they have a say. This helps them buy into the whole process. It is their plan. This plan can change if the children wish it to. Your children may like to keep the same jobs for a month. Others like to have it change weekly or daily.

9. It really doesn't when the jobs rotate as long as the work is done and checked off daily by a parent. This must be done consistently by both the children and the parents.

10. Set a deadline for work to be done each day. Set consequences for its not being done.

11. A job description for each job may also put in protector page and taped behind the door at the site that it defines so that it is handy for the youth and you to check.

Below is an example of what might be in a Job List Binder. Print each major job on a different sheet of paper.

REGULAR DAILY CHORES

All members of the family have accepted the daily tasks of housekeeping. These duties are not intended as punishment. They are important to the happiness and well-being of the family. Each family member has agreed to cheerfully contribute to the welfare of the family by working together as a team to get these chores done quickly every day.

We have a separate checklist for each day of the week. Each list is slightly different. Each person will have a number assigned to him for the day. He will complete all corresponding items from the checklist, starting at the top, and complete them in sequence. We will cheerfully work together on each room until the checklist for that room is done, then move on to the next room. Any disputes over the completion of a chore will be settled by Mom or Dad.

SATISFACTORY CHORE COMPLETION

Failure to satisfy one's responsibility may result in grounding and the assignment of additional chores as punishment.

No chore will be considered complete until inspected and approved by either parent. Anyone having an incomplete chore is grounded until the job is done.

UNSATISFACTORY CHORE COMPLETION / GROUNDING

Grounding means that a family member will not be allowed to watch TV, listen to the radio, CDs or tapes, play computer games, make telephone calls, leave the house to play, or to eat desert or other treats. Grounding does not mean nagging. A person who is grounded will not be released from grounding if he or she must be reminded to perform his or her duties.

DISHES

WASHER

1 Scrape any food scraps into dog dish or garbage.

1 Wash all dishes after each meal in hot water.

1 Wash all large pots and pans in hot water.

1 Clean sink.

1 Wipe off stove top.

1 Wipe off refrigerator.

1 Wipe off all countertops.

Have the job inspected and signed-off by Mom or Dad.

RINSER

2 Search the house for dishes.

2 Dry and store all clean dishes in appropriate cupboard.

2 Wipe off food containers, lazy susan, and salt/pepper shakers.

2 Properly store food, etc.

2 Wipe off table and chairs.

2 Wipe off all appliances.

2 Clean microwave oven.

Have the job inspected and signed-off by Mom or Dad.

KITCHEN

All: Each person pickup and properly store personal items.

1 Wash dishes, cook.

2 Rinse dishes, cook.

3 Pick up trash.

3 Take out the trash.

3 Water the plants when dry.

4 Mon: Clean window sills, windows, walls, door sills, doors.

4 Tue: Dust pictures.

4 Wed: Clean refrigerator top.

4 Thu: Clean baseboards.

4 Fri: Clean under refrigerator and refrigerator drip pan.

3 Sat: Clean trash can.

3 Sat: Clean range hood.

3 Sat: Clean cabinet fronts, sides and backs.

4 Sat: Clean inside refrigerator.

4 Sat: Clean walls.

4 Sat: Clean inside drawers and shelves.

1 Sweep the floor.

2 Mop the floor when needed.

Have it inspected and signed-off by Mom or Dad..

Living room

All: Each person pickup and properly store personal items.

1 Water the plants when dry.

2 Sweep entry way.

3 Pickup trash.

3 Vacuum the carpet in living room, hall, and Mom's bedroom.

3 Thu: Clean under furniture.

4 Mon: Clean windows, window sills, walls, doors, door sills.

4 Tue: Dust pictures, piano, TV, cabinets.

4 Wed: Clean railings.

4 Thu: Clean baseboards.

4 Fri: Vacuum furniture.

Have it inspected and signed-off by Mom or Dad.

BATHROOMS

All: Each person pickup and properly store personal items.

1 Wash dishes, cook.

2 Rinse dishes, cook.

3 Pickup trash.

3 Take out the trash.

3 Wed: Take trash to curbside at night.

4 Sweep the floor.

4 Sat: Mop the floor.

4 Keep a dry, clean floor mat on the floor.

4 Make sure the bathroom has soap, shampoo, and cream-rinse.

3 Make sure the bathroom has toilet paper including an extra roll.

3 Make sure the room has four clean towels, 2 hand towels and 2 washcloths.

3 Wash a load of towels.

4 Mon: Clean windows, window sills, walls, doors, and door sills.

4 Tue: Dust pictures.

4 Thu: Clean baseboards, scale.

4 Fri: Wipe off vanity sides, front, under sink.

4 Sat: Clean tub, shower door, shower walls.

3 Wipe off the sink, vanity top, toilet.

Have it inspected and signed-off by Mom or Dad..

BEDROOMS

All: Each person pickup and properly store personal items. All: Make the bed (clean sheets: Tom-Mon, Jenny-Tue, Hyrum-Wed, Micah-Thu, Mom & Dad-Fri).

1 Pickup trash.

2 Place all dirty clothes in laundry basket.

2 Return empty clean clothes-basket and empty hangars to the laundry room.

3 Mon: Clean window sills, windows, walls, door sills, doors.

3 Tue: Dust furniture, pictures, shelves.

3 Thu: Clean baseboards.

4 Vacuum the carpet or sweep the floor.

Have it inspected and signed-off by Mom or Dad.

FAMILY ROOM

All: Each person pickup and properly store personal items. All: Each person put away personal clean clothes.

1 Pick up trash.

1 Sat: Clean behind and under freezer.

2 Sat: Clean behind and under washer and dryer.

3 Sweep the floor.

3 Dry a load of towels.

3 Take out the trash.

4 Mon: Clean window sills, windows, walls, door sills, doors.

4 Tue: Dust desks, shelves, computers.

4 Wed: Wipe off freezer, washer, dryer.

4 Fri: Sweep off all decks.

Have it inspected and signed-off by Mom or Dad.

Crawl Space

All: Each person pickup and properly store personal items.

1 Sat: Pick up trash.

1 Sat: Take out the trash.

2 Sat: Hang packs, fishing rods, bows on ceiling hooks.

3 Sat: Place tarps, tents, sleeping bags, and sleeping pads on left rack.

4 Sat: Place stoves, lanterns, pots, tackle boxes, tool boxes, duffels on right rack.