No child really wants to do chores but some kids complain less about it than others. Without kids helping around the house it would be nearly impossible to keep everything clean, tidy, and running smoothly, since kids often contribute considerably to the disorganization. So, most all parents assign chores for kids to do, from cleaning their rooms, to vacuuming the house, to cleaning the bathroom. Some parents give out allowance – money for helping out – and others see the roof over the head of the kids – and all that goes with it – payment enough for helping with chores. Still, for kids who do all of their chores without complaining, a reward could be in order.
You know how Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts earn badges for their accomplishments? Why not do something similar for your kids? Let them earn badges, which show that they’ve mastered certain skills and chores, and they’ll be happy to help around the house. And, if you want, each badge can come with a small reward.
Of course, a badge isn’t worth a lot if you can’t show it off so think about buying or making an apron for a girl and a tool pouch for a boy. As they earn badges for chores the badges can be sewn or glued to the chosen accessory with fabric glue.
Cut small felt shapes to make the badges. It’s a nice touch to cut around the edges of the badge with pinking shears. The badges can be round, square, or other shapes. If you want, each type of badge can have a particular shape. For example, kitchen badges can be shaped like skillets and yard work badges can be shaped like garden gates. Or, just choose a shape and make all the badges that shape.
It’s up to you how many different badges the kids can earn. Some inside badges include cooking, dish washing, floor cleaning, and laundry skills. Outside badges you can give include mowing, weed-eating, edging, and cleaning up.
Use a paint marker to draw a cupcake on a baking badge, a pair of hedge clippers on a gardening badge, and so forth. You can set the requirements for each badge and keep track of them on a card or paper. Check off the milestones for each badge, and when the child gets them all, he or she earns the badge.
Awards for earning a badge, besides the badge itself, can be a day off of chores, a trip to go get ice cream, a monetary amount, or another. You’ll find that your kids will be much more anxious to do their chores and really happy to show off their badges.