A few weeks ago I came up with this fun magnetic chart as a way to help me get the kids back on task and off of the television/wii/computer (yes, I’ve really been that busy that I haven’t even had a spare moment to post this in weeks!). The base is a piece of framed sheet metal, divided into sections with vinyl and covered with wooden disks and stars that have been turned into magnets.
My oldest isn’t really interested in video games, and he’d much rather be outside playing with his friends, but my five-year-old has fallen in love with Super Mario games, and I needed a way to help him earn his screen time while helping out around the house. We’ve tried traditional chore charts and rewards charts, but nothing has worked as well as this! I think the issue with the other charts is that they are “chores” that must be done vs. jobs that they may do to earn their reward. Giving the boys the choice has worked out SO well, and they are happily doing many more tasks than they ever have before (yay!).
The chart is broken down into “to do” and “done” sections, that way I can easily move a task back to “to do” if it needs to be done several times a day (like sweeping the floor and wiping down the table). For each completed job my boys get to choose a colored star to move on to their section of the board; for every three stars they receive a ticket that can be exchanged for a half hour of screen time. My oldest loves to let his tickets roll-over from one day to the next and see how many he can save up!
I used the Citra-Solv method for transferring the lettering on to the disks, and I think it came out pretty well for my first attempt. I was worried that it wouldn’t work on painted wood, but it did, thank goodness! The favorite task (of both my boys and myself) is “Mom’s Choice” – they always choose to do it first, so sometimes I have to resort to delegating tasks that are already on other disks as my choice, but there’s always something to be done!
Carrie Sue says
Have just come across your chart just when I need it! Have been thinking about how I can get my girls doing more chores without the nagging and teaching them to be more discerning in what they watch and how they use their free time, so thank you very much!
Heidi says
Thanks, Carrie Sue! I hope it works well for you! 🙂
Heather says
Love your chore chart. I found you on Pinterest. I am going to modify yours a tiny bit for my two girls (one can read, the other can’t yet) but thank you so much for giving me the basis of how you did it!
GeekMomJen says
Love this idea! Chore charts have not worked for us either, but I like giving the kids the choice. Will be attempting to make one soon 🙂
Four Marrs and One Venus says
Heidi, I love how that Transfer with the writing worked.. I am so going to have to try that!! Great job on this chore board! I swear…chores…they are the death of me..actually is trying to keep the boys DOING them!! Never ending Challenge- this is a great idea! Jen