Summer Rules, Routines, and Rewards

Things can get out of control pretty fast with 5 kids during the summer. Although it is a time to be laid back, kids still need structure. And my house, more than ever, needs to get cleaned. Before school gets out, we determine what everyone's responsibilities are and how our rules are going to be enforced.

Rules and Routine

During the school year, my kids have a list they need to finish every morning that includes getting ready, cleaning their room, and doing their homework. We modify it for the summertime. I like having everything that they need to do written out so instead of saying, "Did you brush your teeth?" "Did you clean your room?" I can just ask if they finished their list. Their summertime lists include the following: Get Dressed, Brush Teeth, Say Prayers, Clean Room, Do Chore. Since the boys all share a room, Kid Two gets room cleaning responsibility, Kid Three (age 5) has folding on his list and Kid Four (age 3) has the job of emptying bathroom trash cans.

I type up the list in the computer and let each child choose the pictures to go with each list item. This helps the non-readers recognize their list items and everyone to feel ownership of their list.

Each child also has a rotating weekly chore that has to be completed everyday. I plan to let them know my expectation for their chore on Monday and hopefully they will get better at it as the week goes on. Weekly chores will include Dishes, Bathrooms, Playroom, Vacuum and Dust, and more as I see a need.

Rewards

We work on a "token" system in the summer. My kids love pizza/arcades like Chuck E Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza. If they complete their lists by 10 AM, they get three tokens. This encourages them to get up and get going so we aren't waiting around for someone to finish their job. Tokens can be lost through misbehavior. If they kids fight or disobey, they lose tokens.  Then, periodically, we go to Chuck E Cheese (or a similar alternative) and the kids get to use their tokens. 

To save money, I usually stock up on Chuck E Cheese tokens when I have a coupon. Their coupons online aren't that great. Watch for better ones in mailers. Our Chuck E Cheese also offers get deals on tokens while school is in session (11-3 PM on weekdays). If yours does the same you could buy a bunch of tokens before summer break.