16 yob, 14yob, 10yog and 9yob

They all get up at 7:30, Monday through Friday and sleep later on Saturday. Sunday we all get up by 8:00 and leave for services around 9:00. These jobs are finished before breakfast:

• 16yob-feed/water cats and clean litter box (upstairs)
• make bed, clean room, and personal hygiene
• 14yob-make bed, straighten, personal hygiene, empty trash, vacuum 1st floor
• 10yog-make bed, straighten room, take dirty rags from kitchen to the basement, personal hygiene
• 9yob-make bed, straighten room, feed and water dog, bird, turtles and clean litter box in kitchen, personal hygiene

These same jobs are done on Sunday except the 14yob does not vacuum. The dishwasher is loaded and unloaded during the day as necessary by the 14yob regularly or another child as a form of discipline.

Saturday Jobs

These jobs are done before and after breakfast and usually take most of the morning because of “playing around,” which is permitted to a certain extent.

• 16yob – clean and vacuum entire upstairs, clean room, change sheets, straighten clothes in dresser, clean tub, sink and wipe up bathroom floor, take dirty clothes to basement and sort to proper baskets, empty upstairs trash
• 14yob – clean room, change sheets, straighten clothes in dresser, empty trash, clean and mop downstairs bathroom, vacuum first floor
• 10yog – clean room, change sheets, straighten clothes in dresser, take dirty clothes to basement and sort to proper baskets, straighten and vacuum kitchen and shake rugs
• 9yob – clean room, change sheets, straighten clothes in dresser, take care of all animals, clean bird cage, and litter box in kitchen, vacuum basement and basement steps, vacuum steps that go to the second floor, wipe down dining room table and chairs

We have 5 laundry baskets and everyone sorts their own laundry when they take it to the basement. The 14yob and the 9yob have their rooms in the basement and they sort their clothes as they change them. There are other jobs that are done as needed but this is what they are required to do to help out. They are all really good about helping, too. I hope this helps someone.

Miscellaneous hints and tips… From Robin – I have six children ranging in age from 13 to 10 month old daughter. My older five children constantly wanted computer time to play various computer games, etc. We had tried everything – 30 minutes daily for each child, etc. We usually had problems because the older children had software games that usually required longer to play a game than the 30 minutes assigned them. This year we established that each child has a computer day with 1 hour and 30 minutes of playing time. There is no more bickering or this constant sense that somebody has been at the computer more than they should. We all know who’s day it is and I can keep track of the time. I think for big families something like this can be a life saver. We also have two computers – but it never seemed like enough.