Programming Your Child for Household Jobs

Household chores, not a constructive activity for an eight year old.

Well, what would you do to get him to do them? He tends to wander off moments after starting a task, and he needs to be chivvied constantly.

To break the habit, we are now trying "job cards". The idea is based loosely on the hateful Welsh Knot, but here the stigma is reduced by him getting points for completing the job listed on the index card strung around his neck on elastic cord, and of course by explaining to him that we're actually giving him a computer program to execute while he works.

He thinks he is C3PO today, so all is well - for the time being at least.

The "job cards" are hung on a hook out of reach in the kitchen. We put the cards up there noting the time the job was finished, and points awarded, when the job is finally done.

Here's hoping.