The 30 Day Chore Challenge will help you get your feet wet in the promoting-good-behavior department.

When kids and teens have responsibilities and moms use the responsibilities as tools for the kids to earn privileges, better behavior is the result!!

Here’s how to do it:

1.  Pick a day of the week.

You’ll use this day for the whole 30 day challenge.  For example, if you choose Saturday, you’ll use 4 Saturdays. 

2.  On that day, before they wake up, take away the activity they love the most. 

For example, their video games.  On Saturday morning (or whatever day of the week you choose), literally take the controllers or the wifi or the TV or the ipad or the phone….whatever (and everything) they use to access the video games.

3.  Also on that day, before they wake up, write a chore list on a full size piece of paper. 

For example…

Good Morning Sunshines!

Andre: clean the bathroom sink, sweep the wood floor and empty the dishwasher. 

Diego: clean the toilet, mop the wood floor, load the dishwasher.

Good Job Mom Pro Tip:  Pick chores they already know how to do when you are first starting out.  Once they get used to doing those chores regularly, you can teach them new ones.

4.  Under their chore list, write that they should cross off the completed chores as they go and that they can have their video games back once the chores are complete, then write “I Love You!  Love, Mom.”  

For example…

Cross off each chore when you finish it.  Once you are finished with all your chores, you can have your games back!  I Love You!  Love, Mom

5.  Put the paper somewhere they are sure to see it and read it right away when they get up. 

I put mine on the toilet or on the bathroom sink.  I know they go to the bathroom first thing when they wake up, so I know they can’t help but see it!

6.  The final chore list will look something like this:

Good Morning Sunshines!

Andre: clean the bathroom sink, sweep the wood floor and empty the dishwasher. 

Diego: clean the toilet, mop the wood floor, load the dishwasher.

Cross off each chore when you finish it. 

Once you are finished with all your chores, you can have your games back! 

I Love You! 

Love, Mom

See??  You can totally do it!  Just insert your kids names in that example above and you’ve got it!!  

Now, yes, there will definitely be some push back if the kids have never had to do chores before.  My best suggestion is to plan ahead for what you think the push back will be.

What to to when they resist doing chores?

I have a worksheet right here that will help you think it through what to do when they push back and even better, it’s free!  I know it’ll help because it’s an incredible tool (hint: print multiple copies) to add to your toolbox of being an awesome mom.  Because you are.  The fact that you read this far and care about your kids this much means You Are An AWESOME MOM!

Good Job Mom!

Lindsey