Teen Chore Success v2010

8/4/2019 Teen Chore Success v2010

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Teen Chore Success

Getting Your Teen to do Chores

with Less He adache and Hassle



© www.money-and-kids.com

The legal stuff:

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Table of Contents

Welcome.............................................................................................. 1

Overview.............................................................................................. 2

The Steps:

Step 1. Start with the Basics – Figuring Out How to Communicate with

Your Teen...................................................................................... 4

Step 2. Basic Things to Consider Before You Make the List...................... 7

Step 3: Determining What Chores Need to Be Done............................... 9

Step 4: Dividing Up the Chores: What is Your Teen Going to Do?..........12

Step 5: Tracking What Gets Done – and What Doesn’t............................14

Step 6: Is It About Money…or Not?..........................................................17

Step 7: Write it Down – and Get Going!...................................................20

Extra Stuff to Help:

Appendix A: Spring and Summer Chore Ideas

Appendix B: Fall Chore Ideas

Appendix C: Teen Chore List Worksheet (Blank)

Appendix D: Teen Chore Contract (Blank)

Appendix E: Teen Chore Contract Supplement (Blank)

Appendix F: Teen Chore Contract (Completed Sample)

Appendix G: Teen Chore Contract Supplement (Completed Sample)



Welcome to Teen Chore Success!

Congratulations!

You have taken a great step on your journey to build a successful chore

program for your family and teens. I admire anyone who is willing to

accept the challenge and make an investment in their family. This is YOU!

This guide is designed to walk you through building a chore program,

including using a chore contract, that not only works now but which will

grow with you, your teens and the rest of your family.

Your job is simply to read this guide and take it step by step to get to theprogram and balance that works for you. It won’t always be easy – and

some days and weeks will go more smoothly than others. That is both the

challenge and the reward.

Sounds a lot like parenting in general, doesn’t it?

Good luck ~ and please email me at [email protected] anytime

and let me know how you’re doing. I’d love to celebrate your successes

with you!

~Brad Castro

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mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Teen Chores: Teaching and Encouraging Responsibility

Parents view chores as a way to teach kids that they have responsibilities as

members of the household. Teens think of chores as stuff their parents

think up to keep them from having fun. Ultimately, teen chores are reallyabout learning key life lessons that should start at home.

As Dr. Virginia Shiller, Ph.D. in child psychology wrote in her book,

“Rewards for Kids!,” many families in today’s society have few or no

expectations of their children working or helping out in their own home.

Without that structure, kids are more likely to take the comforts of home

for granted and learn little or nothing about personal responsibility. That

can become an even bigger issue when the kids become teens.

As kids get older, parents expect more. Teens can, and should, help out

more than they did when they were younger. But, teens that haven’t been

used to having chores or otherwise helping out may not come to the same

conclusion so easily.

At the core, teen chores usually represent an introduction (or continuation)

to work (paid or not) and household responsibility. These chores should:

• Instill that everyone in the family has a part in keeping the house

running smoothly, and that it’s not just part of being a parent to doall the work

• Demonstrate that there are rewards and penalties when something

gets done or doesn't. This is true whether money is attached or not.

• Come with a sense of accomplishment.

• Help build self-esteem.

• Help lay the groundwork for a good work ethic.

• Earn praise for a job well-done (and sometimes just done).

Most of these lessons apply to many other things in life: schoolwork, sportsand eventually paid work outside of the house. Why not get teens off to a

good start by teaching them at home through chores and household

responsibility?

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Once you decide to move forward with having your teen do chores, the

work begins - not just for them, but for you too. The biggest key to cashing

in on the positive aspects above is to follow through. That means assigning

chores that are appropriate for their age and then making sure that the

chores get done as agreed.

In the pages that follow, there are ideas on chores for teens as well as a

couple of ways to make sure they get done. Modify all suggestions to fit

your family as needed. Not every idea will work for every family – pick and

choose what will work for you. A critical part of this is being flexible to

finding a solution that balances getting stuff done with teaching teens their

household responsibilities.

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Step 1:

Start with the Basics –

Figuring Out How to Communicate with Your Teen

Even if your teen has been doing chores since they were younger, hittingpuberty can change how you need to manage their chore program. If your

teen hasn’t had chores, you will be facing similar issues. It all starts with

the communication.

As your child goes from toddler to youngster to preteen to teenager,

something in what you say can get lost in translation. They can give you

that blank stare as if the words that are coming out of your mouth sound

like the unseen teacher in the Charlie Brown cartoons.

It’s not easy to improve the communication bridges with a teen, but it’s

important to try as these years and the choices they make now will have a

vital impact on their future.

Here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Watch your body language. How you move, stand and sit say a lot about

you and your current mood. When a person is tired, they tend to slump.

When angered, your jaw muscles tighten and your eyes narrow into slits.Teenagers are good at interpreting body language, especially that of their

parents. Your body language can give you away when you are talking to

them.

Keep it open and honest. Avoid sitting with your arms crossed, eyes

looking away from them or taking an aggressive stance. Conversations

about chores and responsibilities can easily turn negative, and everyone’s

body language will start to show that.

2. Make eye contact. When you don’t look at the person you are talking to

it says that you are either hiding something or you are not at all interested

in what they have to say. Your teenager will shut down emotionally when

they suspect that you are not “tuned in” to them.

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Sit comfortably and give your teen undivided attention with consistent eye

contact. It lets them know that you care. Do this as often as you can when

you are talking to them and not just when you are trying to get them to do

chores.

3. Keep your emotions in check. Remember back to when you were a

teenager. Some of the things you said to your parents were aimed at

freaking them out or just getting a reaction. Teenagers will push your

buttons if they can (lots of younger kids will, too, so you probably already

have a good idea if your teen falls into this category).

Don’t go overboard and get upset. Their target is the situations they know

make you mad. They know what buttons to push. Instead, take a deep

breath and ignore the taunt. Do the opposite of what they expect. Onsome level, they want you to see through their ploy and find out the real

problem.

For example, your teen may say that since he isn’t really home that much,

he doesn’t need to do any chores. Either you or the younger siblings can do

those things now. As tempting as it is to respond with “I’m not your maid

(or butler)!” that reaction won’t get go very far towards the goal of keeping

the house working smoothly and teaching him responsibility.

Instead, you can take out his chore contract and ask him which chores he

will no longer do – and which privileges or money/allowance he’d like to

also give up in return. If you don’t have a chore contract (yet!), you can still

have that conversation. It may be that if he doesn’t pitch in on the laundry,

he doesn’t have clean clothes when he wants or needs them. The key is to

do is as reasonably as you can.

4. Ask them about their day. This technique works with spouses also.

Even if your teen only grunts or says the obligatory, “It was okay,” askanyway. Your show of caring can go a long way to convince them that you

are interested in the things that they do and how they feel (although their

reaction may be that you are just being nosy). While it may not make them

jump up and want to help out immediately, it can help build a longer term

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bond that will make them more likely to pitch in (or at least not grouse

about it as much).

5. Be honest with them. If you don’t understand the situation they are

talking about then say so. Kids know when you are being insincere. Discussthe situation until you get an idea of where they are coming from. Your

teen may not mind explaining as much as long as they know you are

listening. Having you listen is a validation that you care about what is going

on in their lives. For most people – teens or not – it is easier to help out

others once you feel like you’ve had a chance to talk about your own stuff.

The biggest key, though, is to listen and let it stop unless they specifically

ask for something. They may not want or need help or suggestions.

Everyone needs to vent and to have a sounding board. In some cases, theymay also want advice. But, if they feel like each discussion results in advice

(potentially seen as meddling) or a lecture, they are going to share less and

less.

6. Allow them their privacy and give them some space. It can be

frustrating staring at a pile of dishes or laundry and an unmowed front lawn

while your teen is in their room for some private time. Everyone needs

time to decompress. The key is to finding a good balance between the teen

veg time and what needs to get done otherwise.

The best time to address that is before it becomes an issue. Agree with

your teen that they get a certain amount of time each day (30 minutes as

an example) to be in their room or other private place undisturbed. They

then need to agree, in return, that they will take on their share of

household responsibility based on their chore contract or list.

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Step 2:

Basic Things to Consider Before You Make the List

Before the first list of chores comes out (or you finalize that chore

contract), step back for a moment and think about how your house andyour teen really work. It can be tempting to make a long list of all the stuff

that needs to get done and start assigning it out. Sometimes, that may be

exactly what needs to happen if it’s been a couple of crazy days (or weeks)

and things are a big mess.

For a week in and week out chore routine, there are some basics to keep in

mind. Check these ideas out before you finish that list.

1. Consider what chores your teen might like doing – or at least like

doing more than some of the other options. There are teens who are

fine with vacuuming or doing laundry because they can plug in their

iPod at the same time. Other teens may like mowing the yard or

other outside chores. Just make sure that the chore is within their

capabilities and maturity.

The step alone can eliminate ongoing struggles with getting certain

things done, so don’t skip it without at least considering the options.

Be sure to involve your teen, too. You might be surprised by whatthey say.

2. Know what needs to be done – and be willing to let go of exactly

how it gets done. Not everyone will do a task the same. Teens and

parents are no different. As long as there are no safety issues and

the task is getting done as needed, be willing to accept that there

may be other ways to do the chore than the way you have been

doing it. Giving some freedom in the process may make your teenmore likely to do the chore (and may even result in a better way to

do it).

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3. Make sure they have the training that they need to do the chores.

They might need to be taught how to actually do the laundry or start

the dishwasher. As simple as those may sound to adults who do

them all the time, it’s worth the time to teach your teen the details

so the whites stay white and the dishes get clean.

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Step 3:

Determining What Chores Need to Be Done – The Family View

If your teen has been doing chores for some time, you might be thinking

that there aren’t other chore options. If your kid hasn’t had ongoinghousehold responsibilities, you may not even be sure where to start in

figuring out what and how much they should do.

One way to look at both situations is to take a step back and review

everything that needs to be done in your house in a typical week. Some

chores will be daily, others will be weekly and some may land in between.

A snapshot of a typical week will help give you an idea of the bigger picture

and a good list to divide up between everyone in the house to share

responsibilities.

As you review the lists below, keep in mind that any chore should be

adapted for your family and your teen. No list or recommendation is a one-

size-fits-all answer. Be flexible and make these fit your life (or toss them

out if that's what works best).

Here are the basic categories to consider:

• Routine household chores

o Washing dishes, loading/unloading dishwashero Setting the table for dinner

o Washing, drying, folding laundry

o Cleaning kitchen including wiping down counters

o Cleaning bathrooms (sinks, toilets, showers)

o Cleaning common family areas (halls, living room) including

vacuuming and dusting

o Cleaning own room

o Washing windows

o Emptying household trash and taking it to the curb

o Gathering recyclables and bundling them for pickup or delivery

o Cleaning the garage

o Clearing out and donating old clothes or other household

items

o Plan and cook one meal per week for the family

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• Pet-related chores

o Making sure there is food and fresh water available for all pets

o Walking the dog(s)

o Emptying litter boxo Changing/cleaning fish tank water

o Cleaning bird or other animal cages

o Bathing the dog

• Outside chores

o Mowing the lawn

o Watering plants, flowers, gardens

o Weeding flower beds or gardens

o Raking leaveso Shoveling snow

o Sweeping off porch, deck or patio

o Cleaning outdoor furniture

o Small painting and/or staining projects

o Scrubbing or powerwashing sidewalks or driveways

In addition to these ideas, there are even more seasonal chore ideas (inside

and out) that might work for you. Check out a full list of spring and summer

chores in Appendix A and a fall chores list in Appendix B.

Depending on your family and your house, some of these may not apply at

all or you may need to add other items. The important part is to complete

the list of everything (as best you can) before you start dividing it up. It

will help keep frustrations down to not have lots of changes to the chore

list or contract for stuff that got forgotten.

With your list in hand, write beside each item how often each task needs to

be done and how long it takes to do it. This is important because it will

help balance out each person’s list in terms of how much time it takes and

not just the number of chores on the list.

For example, you could have each person have 5 different chores. If one

person’s list is all daily chores and the other’s list is all weekly chores, that

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may not be the best balance. (Check out Appendix C for a template to use

to make your list with frequency, time involved, etc.)

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Step 4:

Dividing Up the Chores: What is Your Teen Going to Do?

Once you have an overall list for your entire household plus an idea of what

each family member might enjoy or prefer doing, you can move on tomaking a specific list for your tween or teen. It’s what you’ve been waiting

for!

Here are some simple steps to making that list:

1. Take your household chore list with the things that need to be done

and take a new look at it.

2. Add four new columns to it:

• Must be done by an adult

• Can be done by teen with training• Can be done by teen now

• Name of person who would like to do it

3. Go through each chore and figure out which of these new columns

they into.

This will give you a final list of chores that your teen can do and may even

prefer to do. Depending on what is now on the list, you might be done. For

example, if you have five total chores – some that are daily and some that

are weekly with about 30 minutes a day, that is a nice balance and a doableamount of time. On the other hand, if there are 10 chores on the list that

could take 90 minutes on one day, you probably need to whittle it down a

little more.

Next, look at your teen’s interests and their other obligations such as

school, clubs and sports. How much time is reasonable to have them doing

chores each day or week? Should most chores be done during the week or

on the weekends – or should it be both depending on your family?

Based on this final review, pick out the top 3 – 5 chores as starting a point.

This is true for all family members and for all chores. That may mean that

there are some chores that don’t make the cut to be initially tagged to

someone in the family. Don’t freak out if that is the case. It is more

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important to get started on stable ground. You can always add more as you

go along.

There are just two more things to consider before calling this a done deal:

1. how to keep track of the chores, and2. what privileges or compensation will be tied to the chores

Let’s tackle each of those now!

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Step 5:

Tracking What Gets Done – and What Doesn’t

There are a couple of ways to track the chores that need to be done – and

whether they are actually getting done. When kids are younger, chorecharts are a great visual way to do this. As kids move into the teen years,

they may feel like chore charts are too much like little kid things. That

makes the better options for this age group chore lists and chore contracts.

Chore Lists

A list is an easy thing to make, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. The list

should include a couple of columns to spell out the key parts of each task.

These could include the name of the chore, how often it gets done and how

much it earns (if applicable). It is best to have a separate list for each teento keep arguments about who did what to a minimum. There is an example

of this type of list in Appendix C for you to use or copy/modify.

Chore Contracts

The reasons to use a contract are not much different than the reasons for

using a chore list. Each provides a way to document the chores that are to

be done. By doing so, helps make sure that everyone agrees on what will

be done.

Contracts can help even more depending on how you write them. They can

put in writing nearly all aspects of chores - which is something that chore

charts usually don't do as well. It can be a challenge to put all the parts of

chores (how, when, where and consequences of not doing them) on to a

chart or list. All of those pieces can be put into a contract without much of

a problem.

Plus, for teens that need and want more independence, contracts are a

step toward adulthood. Most contracts are legal documents that teenscannot sign until they are 18. Having a contract that they can sign is

another step in their maturity. It gives them a chance to have something

more formal without the same risk as signing a binding contract with a third

party.

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That is really the only difference between the supplement and the original

chore contract. The other basic parts of the agreement are the same and

will likely include:

• What: Which chores will be done.

•

When: Timing of the chores. Are they daily? Weekly? Some of both?

• Where: Where the chores get done. This might all get covered in

the "what" section. For example "clean bedroom" is both what and

where.

• Why: Why the chores are being done. This could include how much

allowance or pay goes with each chore. Or what privileges are

earned (or can be taken away) for each chore.

• How: How each chore is to be done. This is where the parent and

teen definitions of "clean" can be ironed out.

One thing that might be different from the original contract is that the add-

on might end on a certain date. For example, if you do a supplemental

chore contract that is meant to cover winter snow shoveling, then you can

write it to end on March 31st (hopefully!). You can also leave it open-

ended and then just revisit it when chores move into the next season or

when it is no longer needed.

If you have already done a chore contract, doing this add-on will be no bigdeal. It can give you some more flexibility in your teen chore program. If

you are just starting with a chore contract, you can do a supplement at the

same time for chores you know will only be seasonal in nature.

If your teen is trying to earn extra money by doing chores around the

house, you may or may not want to use a chore contract supplement. A

supplement can be more work than it might be worth if it’s an afternoon or

weekend of chore work. This can also depend on your teen, though. If

having a contract will help make sure the job gets done well and the pay isfair, then definitely use one.

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Step 6:

Is It About Money…or Not?

There are all kinds of ways to look at what your teen gets for doing their

chores. This can range from personal satisfaction and contributing to therunning of the house to actual payment. There is really no right or wrong

view on this. It is more based on your personal and family views. Here are

the three most common views.

View #1: It’s Part of Being a Member of the Family

A household doesn’t magically run on its own. There are no laundry fairies

or elves that do the dishes. It takes real work to keep a house running – let

alone running smoothly. Everyone – in same way – should pitch in to make

sure that it does.

The reward for doing chores is a sense of personal satisfaction and

achievement as well as knowing that this is a key contribution to making

the family and the house run more smoothly. It’s just part of being a

responsible member of the family – and will be the most representative of

how chores will get done when the teen reaches adulthood and lives on

their own.

View #2: There is no money involved – just privilegesChores are something that needs to be done, but there should be

something connected to do them on time and well. It shouldn’t be money

because that adds all kinds of negative connections to the chores and to

earning money. It is also just a lot more complicated to add money into the

equation.

There should be privileges and consequences attached to the chores so

that there is accountability and personal responsibility for when chores get

done (or don’t). For example, if a teen needs a ride to meet their friends atthe movies every Friday, their associated chore could be to clean the family

car each week. If the car doesn’t get cleaned, they don’t get to go (letting

them hitch a ride is an easy way out). There is an immediate consequence

– and an ongoing privilege attached which helps the kid see the connection

between chores and benefits.

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That’s how it works in the rest of life too. If no one does the laundry, there

are no clean clothes to wear. Same with going to the grocery store, doing

the dishes or other routine chores that need to get done. This is real life.

View #3: Kids need a way to earn money from a young age besides having

to “get a job”

Chores are basically the first job that kids can have. There are rules to

follow on what needs to be done, how it should be done and by when.

Most kids don’t have a way to earn money when they are young, and this is

a good way to teach them that money doesn’t get handed to them without

them putting in some effort.

Sure, there are some chores that don’t pay anything. Those are basic housechores that everyone contributes to (putting your dishes in the sink) as well

as basic personal care (brushing their teeth, as an example). There are also

plenty of other ones that do get paid. Some people call the payment as an

allowance, others refer to it as a commission. In either case, the key is to

not pay if the chore is not completed. This is a basic money management

skill that everyone needs to learn starting at a young age.

One thing to note is that certain behaviors and expectations should never

have money attached to them. These are things like respecting others,speaking nicely and having a good attitude.

Which one is right for your family?

Only you can answer that question. You may find that one answer works

when the kids are younger but you need to change to a different mode as

the kids get older. This should be a combination of motivating your teen

(without making it all about the money), your family budget and your

beliefs.

You will also want to think about how this connects to any money

management skills you are trying to teach them. Instilling responsibility

through chores can be a great match for teaching money management

even if they are not directly tied together.

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No matter which option you choose (or create on your own), it needs to be

communicated across the family. Communicating means more than just

announcing it. It means that you should explain to your teen what comeswith getting chores done and what doesn’t. You should be ready to answer

their questions.

Sure, there are some things that are really just your decision, and they

don’t have to agree with all of it. But, helping them understand and buy

into the decision will be a BIG help in getting them to do the chores that

come out of that decision. This is a great way to keep the communication

lines open at the outset of a chore program – and to keep it on the right

path as you move forward.

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Step 7:

Write it Down – and Get Going!

This is the final step. It’s time to put into writing all the work you have

done so far. The best way to do that is to jump in and start getting thingson paper.

Take out the chore list or chore contract along with the list you have from

Step 4. Put the chores along with frequency and privileges (if applicable) in

the list or contract.

Sit down with your tween or teen and review it. Make sure everyone

agrees that what’s on the list is correct. It can be changed in the future, but

you really want to come up with something that is going to last through thefirst month.

After the end of the first month, you and your family can review the plan

and see if it’s working. Make it a friendly meeting and list what is going

well and what isn’t. Sure, there will be gripes that are just part of life.

There may be some real things that you didn’t think about at the beginning.

For example, your teen has early swim practice each Wednesday. It is all

everyone can do to get out the house to be at school at 6 a.m. Trash day isWednesday, and your neighborhood rules don’t allow for the trash to be

put out the night before. It may be that this is just part of life, and your

teen needs to get up an extra 10 minutes early. Or, you could consider

changing the chores around. The key part is to have the discussion so that

everyone’s views can be heard.

Make any changes or updates and keep going! There are two keys to any

chore program: getting started and keeping it going. By this time you have

gotten through the worst part of both of these. Now it’s time to giveyourself (and your family) a pat on the back for what you have

accomplished to not only make your house run more smoothly but to also

teach your teen responsibility.

Way to Go!

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Appendix A

Spring and Summer Chore Ideas

Ongoing chores (weekly)

1. Mow the yard

2. Cook dinner one night a week including making menu and staying

within a provided budget

3. Vacuum house (or clean floors if not carpeted)

4. Clean bathrooms

5. Take care of pets including feeding, watering and exercising

6. Wash, dry and fold own laundry

7. Do family laundry (such as bathroom towels, sheets)

8. Wash and clean out the family car (especially important if the teen is

using it!)

9. Water plants (inside and outside) and/or garden



One-time chores

1. Clear out flower beds for any dead plants from last year

2. Plant spring flowers and lay down fresh mulch

3. Apply lawn treatments (ideally with a push sprayer to minimize

contact)

4. Wash windows (outside or inside)

5. Take down curtains and wash

6. Fully dust or clean blinds

7. Get out and test garden hose; patch holes

8. Clean birdbath

9. Get out summer lawn furniture or cushions; check for pieces that

need to be washed or repaired

10.Wash and/or repair summer lawn furniture and cushions

11.Paint or stain outdoor woodwork, such as deck or fence

12.Check summer equipment (sports, swimming) for damage and

cleaning

13.Organize summer sporting equipment and lawn care implements so

that they are easily accessible

14. Change out air filters on furnace (may need to be done more than

once but not weekly)

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15.Clean out closets and sort outgrown clothes

16.Clean out basement and sort items no longer being used

17.Organize and run a garage or yard sale with the stuff from the

cleanings done in #15 and #16

18.Organize gloves and hats within easy access for cold mornings

19.Clean out garage and put away winter tools and supplies

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Appendix B

Fall Chore Ideas

1. Rake leaves

2. Clear out flower beds of dying summer flowers

3. Plant spring bulbs

4. Lay down a fresh layer of mulch for overwintering

5. Fertilize the lawn (ideally with a push sprayer to minimize contact)

6. Plant fall flowers (such as mums)

7. Clean outside flower containers and store (if not used for fall flowers)

8. Start a composting pile with all the yard debris

9. Check windows and doors for needed weatherproofing

10. Add weatherproofing to windows and doors

11. Store garden hose for winter (if no longer needed)

12. Clean birdbath and store for winter

13. Clear out garden

14. Lay down compost in garden for overwintering

15. Clean all blinds and windows

16. Take down and clean out birdhouses

17. Clean and store summer lawn furniture or cushions

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18. Clean and put away summer toys

19. Locate, organize and store summer swimming gear

20. Organize snow shovels, rock salt, etc.

21. Change out air filters on furnace

22. Clean out closets and donate outgrown winter coats and clothes

23. Organize gloves and hats within easy access for cold mornings

24. Wash curtains and rehang

25. Clean out garage and prepare it for winter

5



Appendix C

Teen Chore List

ChoreFrequency

(daily,

weekly)

Must be doneby (day of the

week)

Time toComplete

Task

Privilege orPayment

Must bedone by

adult

Teenneeds

training

Can bedone by

teen now

6



Appendix D

Teen Chore Contract – Blank

Chore Contract

Between

And

The purpose of this contract is to outline the household responsibilities and related

privileges of (teen name). The effective date of this contract is (date).

Section 1. Responsibilities of (teen name)

This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the householdresponsibilities of (teen name).

1. Daily: Make bed; ensure coats, shoes, backpacks and sports equipment are

properly stored

2. Each Wednesday: Empty all trash cans within house and take trash to curb

(pickup is on Thursday)

3. Once each week: Plan menu and prepare simple family meal

4. Weekly: Vacuum and dust living room and own bedroom

Section 2. Acceptable completion

The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by (parents’

name).

Note: Consider putting into writing what this means. For some tasks, it is really easy –

either the trash is taken out or its not. For others, such as making the bed, there may be

some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way around if as much as possible

is agreed to up front.

Section 3. Compensation

In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, (teen

name) will receive the following each week:

1. An allowance/commission of $202. An hour of uninterrupted computer time on the family computer 3 nights per

week.

3. The choice of one family activity per weekend.

7



In the event that the tasks in Section 1 are not completed either fully or according to the

conditions in Section 2 (without prior consent from parents), some or all of the

compensation may be reduced or withheld.

Section 4. Modifications to contract

From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of thiscontract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting

them and then agreed to by both parties.

These changes can include, but may not be limited to:

• Responsibilities of (teen name)

• Definition of acceptable completion

• Compensation/privileges earned

Section 5. Full contract and agreement

This contract is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may bedetermined). Agreed to this _____ day of _____ by:

Teen Signature

Parent Signature

8



Appendix E

Teen Chore Contract Supplement – Blank

Chore Contract Supplementbetween

(Teen Name)

and

(Parents’ Names)

The purpose of this contract supplement is to outline additional responsibilities and

related privileges of (teen name). The effective date of this contract is (date).

Section 1. Responsibilities of (teen name)This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the household

responsibilities of (teen name).

1. Weekly additional chores:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

2. One time additional chores:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. Other (as needed):

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________


The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by (parents’ name). This includes:

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

9




either the Christmas tree gets watered or it doesn’t (and the needles make a nice

blanket on the floor). For others, such as shoveling the drive (and how clear it really

needs to be), there may be some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way

around if as much as possible is agreed to up front.

Section 3. Compensation/Privileges

In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, (teen

name) will receive the following each week:

1. __________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________




Section 4. Modifications and supplements to contract

From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of this

contract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting

them and then agreed to by both parties. These changes can include, but may not be

limited to:

• Responsibilities of (teen name)



Section 5. Agreement

This supplement is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may

be determined) but should be considered along with the original chore contract dated

______________. Agreed to this _____ day of _____ by:

Teen Signature

Parent Signature

10



Appendix F

Teen Chore Contract – Completed Example

Chore Contract

Between

Joe Smith

and

John and Mary Smith

The purpose of this contract is to outline the household responsibilities and related

privileges of Joe Smith. The effective date of this contract is February 1, 2010.

Section 1. Responsibilities of Joe SmithThis section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the household

responsibilities of Joe Smith.

1. Daily: Make bed; ensure coats, backpacks and sports equipment are properly

stored

2. Each Wednesday: Empty all trash cans within house and take trash to curb

(pickup is on Thursday)

3. Once each week: Plan menu and prepare simple family meal

4. Weekly: Vacuum and dust living room and own bedroom


The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by John and

Mary Smith based on:

1. Bed is made so that covers are pulled fully over the bed and pillows are at the

head of the bed.

2. Coats, backpacks and sports equipment are not left lying on the floor in any main

family room/area.

3. Trash cans are emptied and trash is to the curb for pickup each week.

4. Meal is planned and served on agreed-upon day. Meal should include a main

dish and a vegetable.

5. Vacuuming includes main areas as well as under tables and picking up items on

the floor (and not just vacuuming around them).6. Dusting includes all main tabletops and shelves as well as TV and computer

screens.

11



Section 3. Compensation

In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, Joe

Smith will receive the following each week:

1. An allowance/commission of $20

2. An hour of uninterrupted computer time on the family computer 3 nights per

week.3. The choice of one family activity per weekend.




Section 4. Modifications to contract

From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of this

contract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting

them and then agreed to by both parties.

These changes can include, but may not be limited to:

• Responsibilities of Joe Smith



Section 5. Full contract and agreement

This contract is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may be

determined). Agreed to this 29th day of January by:

_Joe Smith _______

Joe Smith (signature)

__John Smith __ ____Mary Smith _______

John Smith Mary Smith

12



Appendix G

Teen Chore Contract Supplement – Completed Sample

Chore Contract Supplement

betweenSusan Jones

and

Sally Jones

The purpose of this contract supplement is to outline additional responsibilities and

related privileges of Susan Jones. The effective date of this contract is February 1, 2010.

Susan is taking on these additional tasks because her brother broke his leg while skiing.

Section 1. Responsibilities of Susan

This section outlines the responsibilities and timelines for completion of the householdresponsibilities of Susan Jones.

1. Weekly additional chores:

• Rinsing the dishes and putting them in the dishwasher on Tuesday and

Thursday (in addition to Monday and Wednesday)

• Taking the recycling to the curb each Friday morning

2. One time additional chores:

• Boxing up the old home computer and parts to be taken to the recycling

drive at church on February 13, 2010.

3. Other (as needed):

• Emptying the dishwasher and putting the dishes away (timing of this varies

depending on the family schedule)


The acceptable completion of the tasks in Section 1 will be determined by Sally Jones.

This includes:

• No food left on dishes after the dishwasher has been run (this means that

they weren’t rinsed well)

• Having the box of computer parts at the door to garage on the evening of

February 12th.

• No more than one meals’ worth of dishes in sink waiting to be put into the

dishwasher (more than one meal would mean that the dishwasher hasn’t

been emptied timely).


either the houseplants get watered or they don’t (and the leaves start turning brown

13



and dropping). For others, such as shoveling the drive (and how clear it really needs to

be), there may be some judgment. There will be less frustration all the way around if as

much as possible is agreed to up front.

Section 3. Compensation/Privileges

In return for full and acceptable completion of the responsibilities in Section 1, Susanwill receive the following each week:

1. An additional hour of computer time on the family each week.

2. An additional $2/week of allowance




Section 4. Modifications and supplements to contract

From time to time, either party to this contract may need to modify the terms of thiscontract. Such modifications should be proposed in writing by the party requesting

them and then agreed to by both parties. These changes can include, but may not be

limited to:

• Responsibilities of Susan Jones



Section 5. Agreement

This supplement is full and complete on its own (with any subsequent changes that may

be determined) but should be considered along with the original chore contract dated

May 15, 2009. Agreed to this 31st day of January 2010 by:

Susan Jones

Teen Signature

Sally JonesParent Signature

Teen Chore Success v2010

Documents

Transcript of Teen Chore Success v2010