'Save Your Sanity' Chore Lists!

Hello summer!!! {{WooooHoooo!}}

The words that make every teacher smile...summer! 
My summer started only a few shorts days ago. I am finally catching up on some much needed sleep that I missed out on this school year and I'm slowly, but surely, starting to feel human again! But, of course, like most teachers, even though my summer has just started, my summer 'wish list' is already filling up!! My wish list includes school projects that I'd like to accomplish, TpT creations that I'd like to create, places I'd like to visit and some not so exciting house chores that I've been putting off for some time now... can you say 'organizing neglected closets'---yuck!! 

But, what I'm most excited about this summer is that I get to enjoy extra time with my own kids! I have one child who will be entering 4th grade {where did the time go? am I that old?} and one child who will be entering into Kindergarten {it just doesn't seem possible--but double yay for no more daycare payments :) }!!

Today I want to share with you.....
In order to keep my kids from repeating the "I'm bored mom" statement all summer, I devised a simple (yet very effective) simple chore list that they are responsible for on a daily basis! I started this last summer with my oldest who needed a bit of guidance during the summer days. I felt like I was the only one doing any house chores, and never getting anything else done, while she felt unmotivated and lethargic from her TV coma. 

To solve our issues, I created this 'chore' list {and I use the word chore loosely} that was more than just boring stuff (as she says)! Get this...she actually told me that she likes doing the things on her list---and then my mommy heart melted!!  I made sure to include activities that were important to her (and me) so that she could maximize her brain power while staying active! 

Here is her chore list::
I made sure to include some everyday chores that wanted her to do (like the dishes and emptying the trash) and then I also included some of those fun activities that would get her up and get her brain going (like playing outside and ABCya.com on the computer)! It's a win/win for both of us!

I then got a clear page protector and inserted the paper into it so that the paper would stay nice all summer. And to make her feel in control, I found these cute little dry erase markers that are magnetic--double score!! They attach right to the fridge beside her list. She gets to mark each bubble when she has completed that task to let her me know that she has done with that one. (She added a small piece of paper towel under the big magnet so that she could erase the bubbles at the start of each new day.)
This is what it looks like on my fridge on a daily basis!
And since it worked so well last summer, I made a revised version for this past school year. It worked like a charm and kept her on track while also allowing my husband and I a quick look at her accomplishments each day/week! 
And since my little one is now home all summer, I knew he'd want in on the chores fun so, you got it...he gets his own chore list too!! Since he's not really reading yet, I decided to add pictures to accompany the words.....{I leave no room for excuses!}.  :)
It is printing now and will soon be put into a plastic protective sleeve and he'll be responsible for his chores just like his sister!! There is nothing like a little sibling competitiveness to keep everyone working and having fun!! (I should also mention that the times given for the activities are all minimums and more can always be done, the kids get to choose the order in which the chores are done, and most importantly, the chore list is open to revisions at ANY time-no questions asked!)  



I hope you found this useful and can implement something like this for your household too! All you need is a simple {but fun} chore list, a plastic sheet protector, a few magnetic dry erase markers and a little paper towel and you'll be all set to save your sanity this summer!

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