1- ORGANIZE/PLAN the work. Make routines and assignments.
This is so helpful in avoiding resistance- your children know what is expected- it's not just your whim at a given moment and they know it's fair.
(Some ways I have currently organized the family work are:
a. FOOD- everyone plants and cares for a section of the garden + everyone helps with harvesting
-everyone plans+ prepares meals- each person has a dinner night and a breakfast day once a week
-everyone helps clean up after meals (each person has a day of the week that is they are in charge of loading the dishwasher, next day wash dishes, dry dishes, wipe table, sweep floor, wiipe stove/counters.. they earns extra snacks by cleaning up after meals (They each have a snack shelf)
b. CLOTHES- everyone has a laundry day- they do their own load that day and earn $2 towards clothes/hygeine
c. HOME/YARD- everyone does a large work job on Sat morning before play (we call it "Saturday Suds") and they rotate each week. They earn $6 towards clothes/hygiene. (Mow(winter=repair job), Edge(winter=deep clean), Floors(Sweep,mop,vacuum), Bathrooms(all 4), Vehicles(inside+out)
2- REWARD/PAY them for their work and have them use the reward to meet their NEEDS/Wants.
They can learn young that their are rewards for work. (Food, Play, Clothes, Money)
They can learn to budget their money- especially if they have needs they need to pay for themselves so that it can't just be wasted with no negative effects on them.
3- TRAIN/TEACH and work with them. Be willing to put in the time and patience to teach them to fish and not just fish for them. It is an investment that will pay off in the long run- they will have more skills, be better prepared to serve their current family, future family, and others.
