The projects I love to make most are the ones that solve a problem around our house. Like the book slings. Choosing a book was taking too long at night because Bo couldn't recognize her books by their spines. Once I figured out a way to face them forward--without the use of my nonexistent carpentry skills--the bedtime story routine went more smoothly.
So, finally, we now have a chores chart. This thing has been a long time comin'. I couldn't for the life of me figure out a design that I thought would work for us. I didn't want a set list of chores running down one side because some days they need to wash the dishes and some days they don't. I needed more flexibility.
When I saw this chores chart from Jessica over at Balancing Everything, I knew I had my answer: fabric pockets that would hold cards with tasks I needed the girls to do.
This is what I created.
That's a "B" and an "M" on the left, by the way. The girls' first initials. I should have used a darker fabric for that. And, actually, both their names happen to have six letters so I could have appliqued their full names with one letter on each pocket, but I was trying to get this done during one episode of Yo Gabba Gabba.
I printed the cards on cardstock, and I'm in the process of drawing pictures on each one so the girls understand what I'm asking them to do.
As Bo and her birdie demonstrate here, once their task is done, they flip the card over to the back side, where there's a checkmark (drawn by me; colored by Bo).
I'm sure the thrill will wear off soon enough, but so far the girls have been racing to get their chores done so they can turn their cards over. Naturally, Bo (being almost 5) is more on board than Magpie (who's 2 1/2). In fact, last night big sister did a couple of little sister's chores just so she could flip more cards over.
Now I need a little card for myself that says "make a chores chart" so I can flip it over to the checkmark side.
I have to share this story about Bo from yesterday. I don't know if I've ever mentioned this, but she was born early and small. Perfectly healthy and not super early (3 weeks) and not super small (4 1/2 pounds), but still--I've always felt like she was catching up a bit.
That has made the decision to send her to kindergarten next year tough. She has a summer birthday, so she'll be young anyway. Academically, I think she'll do great, but there are just times when she has meltdowns we thought would sort of be gone by now, you know?
So yesterday our neighbor was visiting. Bo decided to show her how she knows how to skip now (it's really more of a gallop, but that's beside the point). A few beats into the skipping, Bo tripped, fell and skinned her knee. For the next 10 minutes, she was sobbing on my lap. I could tell, though, that she was more embarrassed than physically hurt.
Once she calmed down, she went to the garage, took out an old chalkboard and on her own drew two pictures on it--a happy person and a sad person:
I realize they both look happy there (and with giant bellybuttons), but that's how she explained it to me. She wanted to show how at first she was sad and now she is happy. I guess my point is that maybe kids are more emotionally advanced than we think. There are plenty of times when I should have drawn a picture of a sad or mad face instead of throwing wet rags across the kitchen. Kindergarten, here we come.
And one last thing today: A reader named Angela Chevalier sent me photos of the three book slings she made for her daughter's nursery:
Get out of town, huh? Total cuteness. I love the alphabet addition and am so impressed by how straight she got the letters. And check out the cute matching book bags on the floor. Thanks for sharing, Angela!
great idea! i love the chores chart but imagine my drawing skills might actually confuse the children...maybe i'll look for stickers of what i want them to do...i forgot our children are so close in age (sea turns 5 in july and story turned 2 in february)...we'll have to compare notes on kindergarten this fall...such a big step! i LOVE your daughter's drawing on her emotions...i could so use tips on that and sea, who loves drawing could maybe use that idea, too! thanks for sharing...
Posted by: denise | May 03, 2010 at 03:19 PM
Oh it's so great! I love the checkmarks on the back, what a great idea.
For what it's worth, the thrill STILL has not worn off over here, they still like finding their tickets, completing the chores and putting them in the 'done' pocket.
Posted by: jessica | May 03, 2010 at 03:22 PM
I love this chore chart idea! I was getting ready to make a "normal" one this week, but this one seems so much more fun! Plus, I have a four year old, too, who really needs the pictures. I'm so doing this - thanks!
And I was just talking to my husband last night about how the most prominent feature on said four year old's drawings is always the belly buttons! What's that about anyway? =)
Posted by: mandy | May 03, 2010 at 03:31 PM
LOL, Denise. I should say that I was looking at drawings online when I drew the pictures you see on my cards (like the bed and the trash bag). They're still pretty bad, but I had some help.
Thanks again, Jessica, for your brilliant idea.
Mandy, I know! The bellybuttons! So funny. I guess it all leads back to the womb. ;)
Posted by: Megan | May 03, 2010 at 03:35 PM
As a teacher and a mom, I think kids tend to save the meltdowns for at home. Our son is an angel when he is at someone else's house and throws tantrums at our house. Someone told me once that kids feel so comfortable around their parents that they "let it all hang out". I'll wager your daughter will do great in kindergarten!
Posted by: Jill | May 03, 2010 at 05:13 PM
Super cute and really accessible chore chart!!
Posted by: Hollie Eastman | May 04, 2010 at 04:35 PM
Such a cute chore chart, I love that you can change the chores.
Posted by: Emily | May 04, 2010 at 06:17 PM
I love this.
Your problem-solving creativity is positively inspiring.
...Now, tell me, is it completely inappropriate and infantilizing if I make one of these for my husband?
Posted by: mkpoggie | May 05, 2010 at 04:26 PM
Ha, ha, ha, mkpoggie. Good idea! After spending this morning re-organizing my daughters' closets, I think the first card I would make for J would say "Put laundry away where it's supposed to go, not willy nilly all over God's green earth."
I'm sure he could think of a few cards for my chores chart, too. ("Don't leave half-empty glasses of water all over the house." "Keep craft supplies in the friggin' CRAFT room.")
Thanks, everyone. All the credit goes to Jessica at Balancing Everything for the chores chart's design, though.
Jill, it's good to get your perspective as a teacher. Thanks.
Posted by: Megan | May 10, 2010 at 01:49 PM