KIDS AND CHORES. IT JUST MAKES ME FEEL ALL WARM AND FUZZY INSIDE. Over the years my kids have learned that chores are just a part of life, a part of helping the family and making their contribution. We don’t pay for chores in our house. If our kids want to make some extra money, then they can ask to do additional jobs. They happily do their regular chores, and we rarely have to force them, simply because they know they don’t get to do anything fun until their chores are done. They also carry the responsibility of the lives and well being of the animals, which keeps them in check. (I oversee the care of the animals, but they “think” they carry this responsibility, which I think is important) Currently, our 8 year old’s chores are to milk the goats each morning, feed & water the goats each morning, unloading the dishwasher each morning, then she is also responsible for keeping her room clean. In the evening she gathers the eggs. On the weekends she gives her dog a bath and does all her own laundry from start to finish. Lydia also helps plan the meals and goes grocery shopping with me. (although I don’t think she counts this as a chore, the girl loves food!) Currently, our 10 year old’s chores are to milk the goats each night, feed & water the chickens, fix any problems with the goat/chicken pens, assess/look for signs of chicken predators, load the dishwasher each morning, then he’s responsible for keeping his room clean, and feeding & watering the dogs. He also mows the front lawn twice a month. On the weekends he gives his dog a bath and does all his own laundry from start to finish. Paid jobs in our household are to rake up leaves, pick up fallen branches in the yard, clean the car, do the parent’s laundry or the towels laundry, organizing things like DVDs or the game closet, any other spring cleaning-like jobs, etc. They also do jobs for the grandparents to make money (although we think those grandparents pay way too much – wink wink)
AGE-APPROPRIATE FARM & OUTSIDE CHORES: Ages 2-3:
Gather eggs
Brush goats
Pick up sticks in the yard
Pick up rocks in the garden
Ages 4-5:
All of the above, plus…
Feed small animals
Bottle feed animals
Plant seeds
Water garden
Sweep patio
Ages 6-7:
All of the above, plus…
Water animals
Rake leaves
Weed garden
Wash the windows
Hang laundry on the clothesline
Sweep the porch/garage
Unload/load dishwasher
Ages 8-9:
All of the above, plus…
Harvest fruit & vegetables
Feed larger animals
Milk goats
Shovel snow
Paint a fence
Give small animals a bath.
Ages 10-11:
All of the above, plus…
Milk cows
Organize tools
Give animals baths/trim hooves of small animals
Ages 12 & up:
All of the above, plus…
Trim hooves of large animals
Help deliver baby animals
Trim yard
Till the garden
Maintain bicycles
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